First Dog - advice needed

Happy to report he is much better this morning and turned back into a bouncy, and somewhat mischevious pup.

Naughts said:

Not snapping, maybe a slight snarl. He stole some defrosting meat from the side, ran off and would not "leave it".
He can stay away from the cat's food when being watched/ warned but if he gets to it before we see him he won't stop until he's had it or we pull him away. This is in the kitchen where he's not allowed but we sometimes forget to close the door, other times (when unsupervised) he has banged into the door until it pops open.
He is fine when being given food, he sits and stays until we say yes. It's the illicit gains that are the issue, once he's got it he won't give it up!

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That may not be food aggression. They also do that with toys, sticks etc. Redirection will work (offer something more appropriate and reward when he accepts it). Although finding a better reward than raw meat is tricky , but I guess you will find an alternative defrosting spot now . If there is food aggression with his bowl another tactic is to walk up while he is feeding and once he accepts your hand in the vicinity drop a more tasty treat into the bowl. We have electronic feeders for the cats (Petsure IIRC) which are activated by their microchip. If you only have one cat you could just leave the food where the dog can't reach it. We also use litter trays that are dog proof as that was a source of irresistable snacks for our lab.

Naughts said:

Which brand are you using now?
We transitioned Charlie onto Royal Canin which we thought had worked well - but the vet said he'd gained weight a little too quickly. The issue might be that the instructions on the pack jump from 2 months to 6 months leaving it vague inbetween, and this brand doesn't correlate to a dog of his (potential) size. Anyway, we've added in a third daily walk for now to try and keep him on track as he grows.

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If he's gaining too much weight feed a bit less. Every vet I ever met recommends RC so I'm not going to argue with them. Labs are opportunistic feeders. If there is food available they will eat it, but they won't complain if you reduce portion sizes. I'm not a fan of restricting food for puppies or kittens but labs will usually keep eating far more than they need. I'm actually finding this a bit weird with the shepherd after my last two dogs were labs. When he has had enough he just switches off and walks away. The vet actually suggested he is slightly underweight, which is one of the reasons I am going for food with a higher calorific value and protein content.

Naughts said:

But completely ignores any command while we are out socialising. He is just beside himself with joy and excitement to meet new people and dogs, all the manners get forgotten.

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One of the reasons why the puppy classes are so important. Sounds like you are already doing the right things. Something to consider: I have already booked Siri in for play days with 2 local dog carers as soon as he is vaccinated. I know and trust them both (they are also vet nurses) - he will get far more interaction in a single day that way than I can provide, as well as get used to the fact that he needs to listen to other people too.

Naughts said:

We are having to work really hard at stopping him jumping and biting clothes. I actually thought Gary was exaggerating about the kefflar suits but with an ever increasing pile of clothes in tatters I see he was completely serious!!

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My first response is to turn my back and pretend I'm a tree. As @AdoraBelle Dearheart says they really are like having a baby (yes I had forgotton just how much ). My calves are covered in scrtach marks at the moment, I'm getting over an injury and still find it easier to wear shorts.

Final thoughts: I saw mention of harnesses and head halters. No idea if this is a problem for you by your lab is going to be a big lad capable of pulling people over. IMO he needs to learn to walk nicely on a regular lead - period! There are plenty of resources available on-line for how to achieve this and if you still struggle talk to your trainer. They are eager to learn and willing to please and getting it right is well worth the effort and patience.

@Naughts
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Mabel the mega puppy is calming down, at 8 months. These things are relative, as there are still moments of joyous destruction. She's a quick learner who no longer bites us, and has learned to channel her chewing into toys. She's still goofily enthusiastic about unexpected things - a friend to all deer and a sworn enemy of all birds except Canada geese, which she sensibly fears. If a dry leaf skitters across pavement, it pays. I'm hoping my left, leash side shoulder will have healed by next autumn.

Puppies are really cute, and the end justifies the means with them. She's a wonderful dog. Would I look for another? Maybe. Not if I could find a young rescue that wasn't a pit bull type. That's all that is available around here as rescues. The shelters around here are empty, and some import truckloads of dogs from the southern US, a practice I find quite sketchy and suspect is a for profit business.

I love my big galoot of a puppy. My wife and I are no longer puppies ourselves, and this has been an astonishing amount of work. At times, I have felt like it's the morning after a hockey game when I have crawled out in the darkness to walk her. There is light on the horizon, and this process has gotten us a dog worth every puncture wound, chewed clothing article, toothmarked wall, backyard open pit mine, and vet bill.

Hang in there.

GaryE said:

If a dry leaf skitters across pavement, it pays. I'm hoping my left, leash side shoulder will have healed by next autumn.

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This is great! Pixie also absolutely loves chasing leaves that skitter across paths or the grass, to the point that when it's windy enough, I have to pick up leaves for her to catch. She would do this until she's exhausted and panting if I let her. I have to be the one to end the game when I can see she's knackered out!

It's cute to see her chasing them as they're blowing from the trees, and at least when she was younger, it was a free way to give her some exercise and stimulation. Like throwing a tennis ball, but these are free toys. (I do buy a lot of toys for her, but she makes it a mission to shred them as fast as she can, so it gets expensive!)

Then again, here in the UK I can and do let her off lead to do the chasing, and as we walk around the parks and woodland/beaches. Her recall is 100% and she never strays too far, She's my shadow naturally, but when she was young I would also make calling her back something she associates with positive things. A lot of people who let their dogs off lead struggle with recall if they only call the dog when the walk is over and they want to leash them again, which obviously, like a toddler, the dog's not gonna want to end the walk.

Then they make the mistake of calling them repeatedly as the dog ignores them, having a wild time playing or running around, and the dog learns to ignore the recall word. Never do that when training a dog. If they ignore you, don't keep repeating or shouting at them to come in an escalating and frustrated voice. See people in parks shouting furiously at their dog, and no wonder he doesn't want to come back! He knows they're mad and he's in trouble, so who can blame them for not wanting to come back to that?

Dogs, especially young pups, respond much better and with excitement when you're excited and happy, and they are anticipating goods things like food, fuss, or playtime! So practice at home, in the garden, and once they're reliably coming back in those places, try enclosed park spaces and gradually make the difficulty harder, while remembering that it takes time and good training to build a really solid recall. Also remember that the more distracting and exciting the environment (like in open areas, when there are other dogs to play with and strangers to greet), that it's harder for the dog to listen and obey, especially if you're only calling them because it means fun time is over. So time your recalls carefully at a time when you can easily get your dogs attention, build up gradually by doing short, give minute training sessions at home, in the garden, in enclosed outdoor spaces etc, first.

Don't always use the same rewards either. I use praise, food, toys, and short training sessions (with a small food reward) as rewards when the dog comes bounding back to you. The faster and more enthusiastically they come back, the more praise and high value rewards they get! I would call Pixie back to me at random times, reward her, then send her off to play again. Do this a few times each time they're off-lead, and occasionally clipping the lead back on, walking for another few minutes with them on lead before letting them off again also reinforces that coming back to you is a wonderful, positive thing, and that the lead doesn't always mean the fun ends and you're going home.

Oh, and make use of high value treats while setting this groundwork training. Dry dog treats are okay, but no where near as exciting as a tiny bit of chicken, sausage, or cheese! I carried a treat bag with some basic treats, but also some high value diced up meat or tiny chunks of cheese, so when she came back immediately and enthusiastically, she'd get a high value reward... they soon learn! Oh, and keep training sessions short and frequent. Don't spend an hour teaching different commands and tricks, it overwhelms and gets confusing. Keep them short and positive, but a few times per day is much less frustrating for both owner and dog, and is much more successful.

I've just found a Zac George video that describes the techniques I used with Pix really well, and it can be helpful to see someone do it rather than just reading my essay like descriptions!

GaryE said:

Puppies are really cute, and the end justifies the means with them. She's a wonderful dog. Would I look for another? Maybe. Not if I could find a young rescue that wasn't a pit bull type. That's all that is available around here as rescues. The shelters around here are empty, and some import truckloads of dogs from the southern US, a practice I find quite sketchy and suspect is a for profit business

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Pixie just turned 11(!) so it's been a while since I've raised a pup, but I do still vividly remember going through the puppyhood and adolescent phases with her and Jack, and previous dogs, but I know that the next pup(s) I get will remind me that it's even tougher than I remember! It truly is like having a newborn, a toddler, and then a stubborn teenager at times, I imagine anyway! That's how it felt to me. Thankfully, they're so cute and bring so much joy, it makes it easier to get through, and they are only phases as they grow up. Putting the work in now to socialise and train well pays off so much for the rest of the dogs life, and gives you peace of mind to do things like woodland walks with your pup off lead and exploring, but remaining in sight and returning as soon as you call them.

I also agree about some shady stuff with some shelters, especially in the US. Not an anti-pit rant, I promise! Just that shelters aren't always honest about a dogs history, and there is some suspicious stuff about dogs being moved around and some other practices. I dislike the "adopt and never, ever shop" mentality. I don't think there's anything wrong with buying a pup from a good breeder. Rescue is lovely if you find a dog that you bond with and works with your lifestyle/abilities, and especially some breed specific rescues can be fantastic resources for someone wanting to give a good home to an adult dog. But different breeds work for different people. Not everyone should own a border collie for example. They're too smart, high energy and neurotic when bored to suit a busy family looking for a couch potato dog, but who would do great with a pug or corgi or something. Same goes with any other breed, it has to be the type of dog that the owner can provide a good life for.

Someone with a passion for their breed, and breeds for health and temperament, lets you meet the pups and parent(s) and get to choose your pup based on how they are with you means you can predict to a certain extent from the breed characteristics and parents what kind of dog you're going to get. If no one ever bred a dog again, in 15-18 years, there would be no more dogs! It's the backyard breeders and puppy mills churning dogs that trendy at the time, and status dogs like the bully/mastiff breeds and mixes that are filling the shelters and causing attacks on people and dogs. Not the dedicated breeders who love their breed and work to produce the best dogs they can.

reminder:
Pet of the Month is now accepting entries. Click banner at top of forum to be whisked away to the POTM entry thread.

First off, if I put a photo of my puppy in a contest, no honest person wouldn't vote for her. So I would discover who here was dishonest. I don't want to know this, so I will skip this contest.

Truth exists, and Mabel is an incomparable pooch. That isn't opinion, it's just a fact.

It is also true of every other person's pet. They just can't be compared, unlike fish, who CAN be compared but where mine have the nicest eyes.

Fishmanic said:

reminder:
Pet of the Month is now accepting entries. Click banner at top of forum to be whisked away to the POTM entry thread.

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And I thought PT Barnum was a promoter . He’s a piker compared to @Fishmanic .

Back in the fold said:

And I thought PT Barnum was a promoter . He’s a piker compared to @Fishmanic .

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Things like this and the "platy can be a guppy if she wants" thing are one of the reasons I love seeing your name around!

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

Things like this and the "platy can be a guppy if she wants" thing are one of the reasons I love seeing your name around!

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Thank you dear . I strive to keep my fans entertained .

Speaking of pups though - Pixie just turned 11 at the beginning of November. She's greying around the muzzle a bit, but people are still surprised when I tell them she's 11, since she's still lively and bouncy for her age.

She was begging me to play with her while I was tidying and cleaning the living and kitchen before bed, So I'd have to tell her to hang on a minute, before a quick fuss and tossing the ball for her. Then finally when I finished and went to bed (and she sleeps on my bed, she wouldn't have it any other way since we lost Jack), she dug around and circled and nudged the bedding until she was under her blanket, holding her tennis ball and lying on her back, kicking the wall now and then while wrigging and biting her ball, then pausing to see if I'd play along her and pat her belly. I say "are you wanting me to pat your belly?" and her tail starts flopping and the wriggling increases.

No matter how old they get, they still have their puppy moments sometimes!

@Naughts how are you and your pupster doing? Anything else I can help with? This is a nice distraction for me, and I'd love to help where I can.

This my dog about 34 pounds smaller, in the summer. Right after that shot we had to barricade off the couch behind her.

GaryE said:

This my dog about 34 pounds smaller, in the summer. Right after that shot we had to barricade off the couch behind her.

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Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Puuuuuuuuuuppppppyyy! She's so cuddly looking! I love that stage where they have those huge paws to grow into, and they're all clumsy legs and enthusiasm!

GaryE said:

This my dog about 34 pounds smaller, in the summer. Right after that shot we had to barricade off the couch behind her.

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Ha ha. Typically wet and muddy November here and Siri is 11 weeks today. Living room constantly looks like a disaster zone. I have half a mind to relocate the outdoor play pen indoors to barricade him from everything.

seangee said:

Ha ha. Typically wet and muddy November here and Siri is 11 weeks today. Living room constantly looks like a disaster zone. I have half a mind to relocate the outdoor play pen indoors to barricade him from everything.

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Since I have spaniels, did you know that they're magnetically drawn to mud? Seems to be a biological imperative for them. Pixie will deliberately seek out and wade around in every muddy puddle in our local park, and then push through the hedgerows to flush any game and get sticks and dead leaves all worked into her now muddy fur and feathering. In the depths of winter she'll even break through the ice on her usual mud wading spots. If you look up footage of artic foxes hunting, the pounce they do is exactly what she does, throwing her weight onto her front paws to break through the ice.

I could technically call her away and tell her to leave the puddle, and I know she'd listen - but she enjoys it so much and it makes me laugh when she does it (which only encourages it more!), and I'm of the belief that spoiling dogs is not about buying pretty collars or clothing - those things are for the human, not the dog - but in letting them be dogs. Spaniels are built for this, and she delights in getting herself into a complete state.

Dogs should be able to get filthy muddy and have fun regularly, even though it's a lot of work for us! Autumn and winter is a constant round of bathing and laundering dog towels, and wiping mud off the walls where a mucky tail has swiped against it! But it's worth it.

I'm not a fan of bathing dogs unless they need it. I did say that for the first 3 months I would do monthly as part of his socialisation / training. I lasted 4 days till his first - despite the fact that he was professionally groomed the day I collected him (breeder is a groomer). I have resisted since then but he is rarely the pure white little fluffy cloud we brought home. He is currently working on 2 passages to New Zealand in his play pen and loves to lie in these. It no longer matters of its been raining because right now the water table is at the same level as the lawn