Haven't anything to add to the advice but thought I'd let you know that I can sympathise with you and hope that things improve for you soon. From my own experiences over the last two and a half weeks things can change so much very quickly. Bozo had me in tears so often and I thought I couldn't cope but that seems along time ago now but things have improved so much over the last few days.
Hi Sarah, I really understand how you feel, but honestly like everyone else says it will get better it really will. I lost count how many sets of pyjamas my 3 kids went through, even my sofa got chewed and the 3 of them screaming each time Bailey went near them, but now we all wouldn't be without him and i'm doing it all again.
You can see from your posts how much you love bailey
Just wondered would it help to go to the training class on your own and perhaps watch or speak to one of the trainers didn't know if this may help you.
Wishing you all the best and everyone is always here
Sarah, noticed you live in Cheshire, so do we, we have a 2.5 month old lab. Just a suggestion, but maybe we could all meet up - socialisation with another boistrous (sp) pup may teach Bailey (and hopefully Duggy) the rights and wrongs! May of course also encourage both pups to be pains in the backside forever though!
Poor you - won't reiterate the excellent advice from others, but would stress that pups can turn round so quickly.
But can I also be so bold as to suggest that if OH and kids are so keen to keep the pup, then perhaps they ought to take some of the weight off your shoulders. There's no reason why a pup's routine shouldn't be busy first thing in the morning and later in the evening, with lots of time for sleep and crated entertainment (kongs etc) during the day.
My partner is not a dog person (ok she adores them, now) and still couldn't with any certainty identify Moo as a Lab. She made it perfectly clear from the off that whilst she was happy to keep an eye on him and now our cocker pup on the days I'm out with work, training, exercise, general welfare etc would be down to me. This was the deal and I was happy to sign up to it.
I can sleep through anything except the sharp 6:30 dig in the ribs reminding me that they need to go out, and yes a cup of tea would be nice.
Hope you do keep him, but don't make a rod for your own back!
Hi Sarah if it makes you feel any better i used to feel the same way about Frankie, what ever I told him not to do he would carry on, he would ignore me, he would constantly naw me. My arms looked as if i was self harming. He would jump up and pounce. Unfortunatly OH is in forces so I was left with the little mite on my own, even ended up in tears.
In the end it got better, I would ignore him or shut him in his room for time out. He slowly learnt that I was the leader.
Now we are bestest mates and he is lovely - it just takes time and a hell of a lot of patience... However I still think kids sound easier to have lol.
Good luck and keep it up, She is prob just testing leadership.
Hmmm Puppyhood, seemed so long ago for me Jack is now coming up to 5 and if I think about it I really miss his cheekiness, he was a little sod in actual fact.
At 3 months he is learning so much and you need to be his teacher.
Simple things can help with his behaviour:
1. Don't have excitable greetings, when you come in from work, shopping, down from bed, make the greetings low key, ignore him for a few minutes while you put the kettle on or take your coat off, then call him to you when he is nice and calm, if he starts jumping around IGNORE, turn away, he needs to know that CORRECT behaviour gets a reward YOU and naughty behaviour means ISOLATION.
2. If he runs at you, IGNORE, turn away, if he attacks your feet, calmy without any words (Speaking is a reward, you are acknowledging the behaviour) put him outside a door, close it, count to 20 let him back in, if he is nice and calm, reward him with a treat, if he is manic back outside again.
3. You instigate play, this means his favourite toys should only be brought out when you want to play and put away at the end.
Think Supernanny for dogs if you have ever seen that programme, so much of what she does for children you can apply to dog,
4. When you sit down and he barks at you, DO NOT REWARD him with acknowledgement of his behaviour, IGNORE IGNORE IGNORE, if he carries on IGNORE, he will eventually realise that HEY this ain't getting me no where.
5. BE the BOSS, take back control of your house, use a treat reward system, have treats in your pocket so when he does something good you can instantly praise him and reward.
6. Same applies when you are out, he probably dawdles as (I hate to say this) but he thinks you are boring, make the walk the most exciting thing on the planet, take a squeeky ball, treats, play hide and seek (this is excellent for teaching recall), lots of praise and high voices.
There are so many things you can do to ENJOY your puppy, you need to relax, smile, laugh sometime even cry, but enjoy the time you have, as all too soon they start getting grey.
____________ Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator and Forum Administrator for my sins
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
Oh I fell what you are going through I had the yellow pages out and Majic's things packed away more than once when she was a pup it is extremely difficult.
You need everyone on board even the kids, my 3 year old can get our dogs in bed on his own just with practice so don't think they can't help they can.
have you looked throught the puppy section and training section on here there are loads of things, just print them out and give them ago and if you are having difficulty come back to us and someone will be around to help
Also what food are you feeding him as labs can get hyper on some foods which Majic did and after changing her she was a lot calmer and manageable
Also after a time out preferably behind a stair gate not the crate (not sure where oyu are timing out) if he starts again straight back behind the stair gate until he is quite.
You feel like a jack in a box up and down all the to=ime with this, but it does sink in, just rememebr to praise highly when he is calm and doing something you like.
Have you got a kong that you could stuff softened kibble in (from his daily allowance) and freeze and this keeps them occupied for ages and it tires them as it is mental stimulation trying to work out how to get the food out.
I would do 10 min training sessions 3 times a day finishing with a positive command he can do eg sit just so he gets positive praise at the end and knows he has finished doing well.
You have been given loads of great advice here. We have all been where you are now and out through the other side. 3 month old pups are hard work there is no doubt about it. But remember who is in charge, when pup is exhibiting unruly behaviour i.e. barking/jumping at you/nipping, take pup by the collar and pop them in crate/other room thus teaching them this behaviour gets no attention and you'll end up on your own. If you have to do it ten times a day do it and whn you need a break put pup somewhere for time out.
They do grow out of it and you'll be surprised how they calm down within another couple of months. Before you know it they are a year old and if you have persevered with the training a joy.
Sarah - Please don't give up on him! He is showing signs of a perfectly normal and, believe it or not, intelligent puppy!! The behaviour you describe is identical to what I experienced with Willow when she was Bailey's age.
You need to remember he is only a pup and he is trying to display dominant behaviour. He is trying to find his place in the pack, and like all pups, he is routing for the top (naturally). Your job is make sure he knows exactly who is boss, which is why it's really important you are not fearful of him. When he goes down to bark at you, he is trying it on. Completely turn your back on him and ignore the behaviour. If he challenges you to an extent, stand over him and shout NO very sternly.
When he is passive and sitting nicely, tell him he's a good boy and give lots of fuss.
I'm no expert and you'll find out much more from others who have posted on here. Also read books. An excellent writer on behaviour is Jan Fennell. I have read her books and they are brilliant. Definitely worth checking out.
Don't give up. Times will be tough, but it's so so so worth it in the end. Willow is the best dog ever at 19 months old and the hard work has paid off.
I forgot to mention as well, at his age, it's the most important time for learning. Doing the following things will instill your dominance over him, but you have to be consistent:
Go through doors before him. Make him sit and wait while you go through (you may need to teach him to wait during this - use loads of treats!)
Always eat before him. If not possible, pretend to eat some of his food (the leader in the wild always eats first).
Play with him lots (teach him as many commands as he is willing to learn - sit, stay, find your toy, down, leave, roll over etc). Reward him when he does it right and ignore him when he gets boisterous. YOU always initiate the beginning and end of play and YOU always end up with the toy so he knows who is boss.
Stand tall and firm, and enjoy every minute you have with him!!
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Jack is now coming up to 5 and if I think about it I really miss his cheekiness, he was a little sod in actual fact.
