Got our Choc. Lab puppy at 8 weeks old, and she is quite intelligent. I spend as much time with her as possible (this sounds bad I know but...) to get experience in handling to somewhat prepare for a working line GSD. She learned really fast and did all of the "puppy" obedience routines quite easily, now all of the sudden she is "mouthy" barking at me and my G.F. all the time, then bolting under a table, biting my hands (more on my GF), and jumping up. She is also less apt to do a down (more sub. position) than before??

Since I don't have a lot of experience with handling/training I am inclined to say that she is a hard dog. I correct her hard (for a puppy, I think), she stops whatever action she is doing for about two seconds, then starts again (either same biting, or barking). Also she hasn't had any "accidents" in the house for weeks and now she has done it every day for about five or six days.

I'm confused bacause I have been on a break with school and work for about a month and have had much more time with her,but it seems to have been in Vein??? Going backwards here?

Anybody else have that problem, just a phase that requires more attention and harder correction???

Thanks for any info..

Adam

Oh, I forgot to tell ya, she'll be 16 weeks this coming week (mondday I think)

Hi Adam,

Since your schedule has changed did you change her normal schedule? How are you correcting the puppy that makes you think she is hard? Just a few questions to get a bit more info : )

Kimberly

Well as far as her schedule, she is with me more and alone less (not that she was ever alone very long). Still feed her about the same time everyday and night. A little more training on basic obedience stuff, nothing out of the ordinary, and I keep the sessions like two minutes at a time?

I think that she is hard because, no matter how much I correct her, she either shrugs it off, or listens for a brief time (say two seconds)?? As far as corrections, I snap her collar a bit, but not too much, my voice most times, put her down on her back and a little pinch on the side of the neck or scruff when she gets all mouthy and tries to run all over us (dominate??)

Thanks for any info??

Adam

Keep reminding yourself "she's a puppy, she's a puppy, she's a puppy". Most of what you described sounds like a fairly normal puppy. She isn't going to have a long attention span yet, and she isn't going to be as focused as a working line GSD pup. And she will be testing the boundries a bit. It's part of being a pup. It's your job to remain consistant.

I'd just walk away or crate a nippy pup for a minute or two - nip too hard and the fun ends now. She could think that you are playing with her when you roll her on her back. I'd be trying to stick pretty much to her usual crate scheldule even though you're around more. I know, easier said than done, but a consistant scheldule is very, very helpful for pups.

Adam, my lab is 2 months older than yours and the behavior you describe doesn't sound unusual to me.

My pup found his voice, so to speak, and while he certainly doesn't bark non-stop at things he suddenly began to vocalize more and more the older he got. The first time he really let fly a "woof" surprised him as much as it did me

Could she be teething? My pup's behavior changed a bit during teething. Check out her gums and teeth and see if they are red and swollen. I think it must really irritate some pups making them a little more ornery than usual. There are some good tips on this site for easing teething pain.

She'll settle down...mine did...but it can be tough going while you're in the thick of it.

(BTW, I don't think it's bad to say you're "practicing" for a GSD. We wanted one SO badly...but couldn't have one in our present home. I'm actually really glad it's worked out they way it has. I'll be a better owner to my future GSD thanks to the training my lab is giving ME )

Ok, been reading every book on dob behavior that I can get (good referenced ones al teast.) Got Ed's Obedience tape, but I am not gonna put a prong on her yet? Read the books by the Monks at New Skete, a couple of Schutzhund and many many websites? Thought that I readt that during this time the Puppies usually get a little bit "testy" but I was just wondering if it was normal...

Thanks for the help

ADam

I can't seem to get a clear answer on when a puppy is old enough for a prong collar. Is it an age thing or is it when he enters the phase of obedience training where corrections are used? Right now my puppy is 18 1/2 weeks old and wears a buckle collar. He doesn't seem to be affected much at all by a "pop" of the leash when we go for a walk. I have watched the Basic Obedience DVD regarding walking on a leash, using "slow", pop the leash if he doesn't slow down in a couple of seconds, etc. He will do OK for 20 feet or so but then surges ahead. This morning it was a real battle with him suddenly wanting to grab the snap end of the leash, jumping up at me, grabbing me around the leg with his front legs, etc. etc. Must have been pretty comical for the neighbors so early in the morning as we made our way down the street! I've been taking him for a walk daily since right before Christmas (a little further each week).

I started walking my pup with a prong roughly a month ago. He's a big boy and walks were becoming not very fun with me being towed along behind.

According to everything I've read here, you can walk a puppy with a prong provided you DON"T give corrections. The puppy self-corrects every time he pulls too far ahead on the leash.

I haven't used a prong for obedience. My feeling is that he's a little too young for that and his flat collar works fine for now.

Thanks Sarah - We bought a prong collar (medium weight) last weekend but have not used it yet. When I fit it to Nickie's neck, I had to take out 3 of the links and it still seems too loose (which would leave only 4 of the prongs on the collar). Just trying to fit it around his neck was a major struggle (he was trying to bite my hands the whole time - must be a two-person procedure??). For right now, guess I will stick with the flat collar (he does better each day so I will keep trying and have a positive outlook!)