Bundle of Energy - Never Stops!!!

[rochie427]

First let me start by saying I've had 2 dogs in the past (Golden and a Lab) so I am well aware of their energy. My current Lab is 4 1/2 months old. We got her when she was eight weeks old and were told that she was the most mellow out of the litter ( yeah right LOL). Anyway, my issue is she just never stops moving and the only time she will rest is when we put her in her crate. She gets taken for walks thru out the day, some for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes, some for 15 minutes and other times just in the backyard. No matter how we try to tire her out she still has this abundance of energy and will not just lie down and relax. Our previous dogs had just as much energy but at least they were able to just relax and lie down by us. With our current Lab, it's a struggle for anyone of us in the house to sit down on the couch without her jumping on us to play. She has plenty of toys that I switch off so she doesn't get bored with the same ones all the time.

At this point I gather we are doing something wrong but not sure what it is. We do go to puppy obedience class but that doesn't address the bundle of energy that she has. We are also still dealing with the biting and yes we have tried it all and have stuck with "NO BITE" and ignoring the behavior and it just makes her want to do it more.

When we go for walks and in the backyard she is fine. She is even very good when we just sit outside on our steps. It's once we come inside the devil comes out.

How do you get your pups to just relax without having to crate them ? Should I look into a trainer coming to our house to access the situation ?

I'm hoping to get positive feedback

[doubledip1]

She's only 4 1/2 months old!

I would definitely try NILF (Nothing in Life is Free) and more indoor training. Puppy push-ups really are great! Crate her if you need to relax, but make sure she has something good in there.

I don't think you need a trainer to come in your house, I just think you need to lower your expectations. She is a Labrador puppy. They never stop moving.

[Halcyon]

I remember this with Bobby! It drove me insane. He wouldn't let anyone sit down without jumping on them. He never stopped moving. If I looked away for a second, he was surfing the counter or jumping up onto the couch! Thinking he was just extremely, off-the-wall active, I would exercise him even more just to tire him out. Did it work? No. He didn't need more exercise. I needed breaks. He needed breaks. He needed to learn to take breaks himself without being crated. He needed to learn to just chill-out whilst I did things like watch TV (after exercise). He needed to learn to take naps himself when he was tired.

He needed an "off switch."

There are a few methods available. Snowshoe has a method called the "Forced Down." Here it is here:

You didn't ask but there's another one I learned that might help you teach a young dog some self control. It was taught by two of our trainers one of whom insisted all puppies in her class practice this regularly till a year old. It's called a Forced Down but there is little force and you don't want to call it Down as it is not a formal position and doing so might screw up response for obedience. Simple, put puppy lying down for 3 seconds, on leash so you can hold her, let her up, no words. Do 30 seconds several times, then a minute. Then stop. Later try again. Work up in minutes at her speed, 1 3 5 10 15 20 till, yay, 30 minutes. That's a whole TV sitcom and you can sit and watch it. Stand on the leash, kneel on it, whatever. She can flop around and change sides but she has to be reposing on the floor. It teaches her how to chill out and just be calm and quiet.

I also taught him the "mat" command which basically gets him to relax and stay on his mat. To do this, I first marked and rewarded for every time he had a paw on the mat. Eventually, I would raise criteria to two paws, four paws, stand and finally a down on the mat. After working on position and going to the mat, I would train distance and time. Two seconds on the mat? Mark and treat. Five seconds? Mark and treat. One step back? Mark and treat. One step and two seconds on the mat? Mark and treat. To do this exercise, you also have to train a release word.

What really worked for us long term was just making indoor time mostly about chilling out. When he came in from exercising, I would hand him a frozen Kong after doing a couple commands first. This changed his mindset of "go, go, go" to working patiently on finishing the Kong. I would encourage him for chewing on his toys with praise and the occasional treat. When he was lying down on his own, I would praise and randomly drop a treat. When I didn't have a Kong prepared, I would turn it into another training session to tire his mind out. Basically, I just rewarded for what I wanted. I found that it was also important not to amp him up with exuberant praise. Just calm pets and a calm, "Good boy." As he grew older (around 5 months), he finally took naps by himself and just chilled out and watched people. Of course, he still has his busybody moments but it's a lot easier to handle.

[sparky]

Yep! At 4 1/2 months she will be a bundle of energy for some time to come! Exercise is paramount to wear down a puppy but their recuperative skills are amazing.

[Maxx&Emma]

Walks are only a warm up for a puppy, they need lots of safe, off leash play at this age.

[Georgie]

Great advice above.

Also as Halycon mentioned, a frozen kong is a must in your situation as it will really give you some timeout. Your puppy will be kept occupied and will be exhausted after an hour of working for his meal.

[Coopspuppy]

Agree 100% with Halycon. The Mat methd worked for us.

Don't give up, it will be worth it.

Coopspuppy

[rochie427]

Halcyon: I will try that "force down". Thankfully she knows down so I'll just work on extending the amount of time. Everyone mentions using a "Kong" which I have but my Rosie could care less about it unless I haven't found the right one yet. I have tried giving her bones to chew on but after 5 minutes she loses interest.

Maxx&Emma: I totally agree with off leash playtime which is why I am considering doggie daycare so she can interact with other dogs. I'm not talking all day just for a few hours a couple days a week. I won't consider a dog park at this stage since her recall is not solid.

Doubledip1: I really don't think I have high expectations for wanting to have some quiet time without having to put her in her crate.

[Maxx&Emma]

What are you putting in the Kong? Cut up carrots and green beans with a little cottage cheese or apple and banana with a little plain yogurt, frozen, have never been turned down by any dog I have had.

[rochie427]

I'll try that and see how it goes, thanks