Hi-New Breed for me in Boston- 11wks & can ALL this be Normal? I'm used to GSD's...

[BaconsMom]

Labrador puppies are furry, needle-toothed chainsaws on meth.

Wine helps.

The truest statement I have ever seen. But they grow up into the best dogs!

[Deacondog]

That's such a beautiful dog! (and a very funny comment!)

[Deacondog]

Thank you for ALL of that info- it will be very helpful for both her problems. There is a Lab Breeder/Trainer nearby so I plan to contact them re: her "issues"- esp surrounding her very strong willed personality and this guarding thing. Thankfully just re: certain items which seem to be "raw" type bones/hoof stuff or when they are NEW to her and she feels entitled to have full control first (i get it) but she needs to understand her Place here. We work on Drop it & Leave it a lot- she does very well (until THIS- lol) Most of my friends just say leave a dog alone with a bone... Well, I'm not of that mind. I believe the dog should still Drop it for the Alpha in the family- It may take some time. Ideally WITHOUT the prying- it's a little risky. I will definitely ask about the Tylan and HOPE she won't need the Sulfasalazine catagory meds.

[Deacondog]

Thank you!!! I will definitely read those because i have always been trained to "own" the bowl and give permission for them to eat, etc... so therefore they should KNOW "I" control the bowl & the food? The bone thing is another issue- i guess not surprising considering her temperament. Not sure how i feel about the "trading" thing~ but guess if that's what it takes- it's better than a dog fight. I just feel she isn't seeing me as In Charge yet and these are important & formative months for her and me. Might be time to step it up from Petsmart to a personal trainer? She is Very Smart and Self Willed... (I was SO Hoping for a laid back, more passive dog- kinda why i got a Lab) I keep holding out that in a couple yrs she will be a great dog like everyone says!

[zd262]

I definitely understand wanting to deter any guarding issues now, it always really bothers me when I see dogs at the park or in training classes who intensely resource guard. People provided a lot of good links, and the best advice which is to get into a training class.

Here are the steps to another really easy thing to do. I think the concept is called "Trading up":
1. See pup playing with something she loves that in the past she has shown guarding tendencies with
2. Approach her with a really delicious treat or another bone that is of higher value than what she has (ex. a piece of hotdog or cheese, a bully stick).
3. Hold that out to her and say "drop it" (or leave it, whatever you want to use)
4. When she turns her attention to the new treat, take the bone.
5. Lots of praise.
6. When she is done eating the treat, return her old bone to her.

This teaches her that it's not a bad thing to give things up because she gets something delicious in return and in the end she gets back what she had before!

[Shelley]

Thank you!!! I will definitely read those because i have always been trained to "own" the bowl and give permission for them to eat, etc... so therefore they should KNOW "I" control the bowl & the food? The bone thing is another issue- i guess not surprising considering her temperament. Not sure how i feel about the "trading" thing~ but guess if that's what it takes- it's better than a dog fight. I just feel she isn't seeing me as In Charge yet and these are important & formative months for her and me. Might be time to step it up from Petsmart to a personal trainer? She is Very Smart and Self Willed... (I was SO Hoping for a laid back, more passive dog- kinda why i got a Lab) I keep holding out that in a couple yrs she will be a great dog like everyone says!

Yeah, no, his food and his bowl is his. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't be able to take/add food and his bowl away with out incident though, but this comes with trust, training and time. I send this document at the bottom home with my puppies.

I also tell my families to "trade" what they have for something better, a high value treat, and never ever call your puppy to you, then do something negative like fish stuff out of their mouth, or take a 'prize" away. Thats why the trade up method works, they drop what they have, when you have something better, you give them the cookie, and take what you don't want them to have. They get rewarded for giving you what they have. You must be patient though, this doesn't happen over night. One of my girls loves my socks, she bring them to me, and because she has always had a reward for doing so, she doesn't run and try to swallow them when I want to take it from her, verbal praise is all she needs now. Things they can have like a stick or something, I ask to 'see it', then give it right back, so they learn from that too.


Food Bowl Exercises
Standard Prevention Exercises for All Non-Guarding Dogs and Puppies
Resource guarding is a natural behavior in dogs. Dogs in the wild go to a lot of trouble to find food, and it is no wonder that guarding is built into them. This behavior is hard wired into your dog, and we must do a few exercises to teach him that it’s OK for us to touch his dinner or possessions.
A dog that guards his food or toys is not a dominant dog. One of the rules of dogdom is that possession is 9/10ths of the law. Any dog, regardless of rank, is entitled to an object until he is done with it…then it is up for grabs. This is the principle your dog will work on unless you teach him otherwise.
Prevention:
Approach your dog while he is eating, and add a bonus, (something that is better than his food), to the dish. Approach from all angles and at different points during the meal, and get others to do likewise. Hide the bonus and add from pocket, pouch or from behind your back, so it is not “previewed” if your dog is okay, lift his bowl to add the bonus, and then give the bowl back.


Here is a simple program for teaching your dog that sharing is cool! This exercise is also a maintenance spot check for former guarders.


Signs of Guarding
• Accelerated eating
• Cessation of eating/”freezing up”
• Glassy or hard eyes
• Growling
• Lip lifting
• Snapping
• Biting




Rehab Exercise 1
1) At mealtime, put down empty food dish
2) Approach dog and empty dish and add a few pieces of kibble
3) Withdraw and repeat until entire meal fed in this manner
4) If dog guards, end mealtime: “too bad”
5) Feed 2-3 meals this way
6) On 4th meal, gradually begin to reduce the time between approaches and increase the amount of kibble per installment so that overlap develops: dog is eating while you re-fill
7) When you have reached the point that you are giving meal in 2-3 installments without any guarding, switch to bonus-addition, as per prevention instructions above (adding bonus while eating and removing bowl to add bonus)




Rehab Exercise 2
1) Approach dog while eating to “safety distance” (pre-guarding distance) and flip bonus at bowl (don’t worry about accuracy), repeating several times in a row
2) Do this for 2-3 meals
3) On 4th meal, decrease distance slightly after first flip
4) If successful (no guarding), continue gradually decreasing distance until you can approach bowl and drop bonus in
5) Switch to prevention exercises

[Tanya]

x100 the above.

this isn't about his being alpha or "strong willed" he is eating/chewing his bone and you are bothering him. Please read the above post by shelly and my links. DO NOT get into a battle of wills where you practice taking away. this just justified the guarding to them and can amp things up. work on making your presence a positive thing and trades. eventually you will be able to ask for a trade.

[Jennifer]

I'm new to labs too. But is your pup getting enough exercise? And like others have said, do not pin her down. There are much better ways to let her know that you are the pack leader. Again, but familiar at all with labs. But my experience is with pitts, who are more than happy to rule the roost if you don't. If it truly is a dominance issue, voice and body language can communicate a lot more than the pinning the dog down. Apple bitters may help with the chewing, at least on furniture, etc. I've had pretty good luck just saying no and giving them a favorite toy or a kong full of peanut butter. I know you mentioned a kong, not sure if you were putting anything in it or not. Food puzzles might keep the pup busy too.

[silverfz]

Welcome . Labs are chewers.i did not know this before I got Gigi. No one told me about the crazy chewing and they are head strong . Of course mine is 3/4 lab and 1/4 German shepard got the bad gene I think from both.

Gigi is 6 months and it does get better. chew toys , walks and puppy social and training at PetSmart.

She acts like a nutty dig at home but in training aces everything ... Figures right. She gets walked over an hr in 2 slots , plays fetch and runs around the house all day .

Weekend hikes now that it is past labour day swimming is open in state parks. Wompatuck is great and also for 10$ u can wash the dog at the Petco outside after all the beech and water play.

Labs need expertise ,also do not over do it then they will become real naighty

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