Hi,
I am new to this message board so I am probably asking or needing advice on something that has already been discussed but I am still unclear. I have a lab who is 1 and 1/2 years old she is full of enthusiasm as most of you probably know what I am talking about. We have used the prong for her training and she seems to have learnt most of her commands quite well and we are able to take her off leash and I am fairly confident that she will listen. However what we seem to have problems with is when we are on walks or company is over visiting I have been using the prong as it is a quick and easy way to correct her however I do not want to have use the prong for these things for the rest of her life.

So we have started using the nylon collar on her walks and she is really great except when we stop to talk to the neighbours or any passer bys (with or without dogs) she forgets we are at the other end of the leash and she pulls on us with all her strenth and clearly acts out of control. It is really hard to control her and I am not sure she is even aware that this is not good behavior even though we make attempts to correct her. Once we continue on our walk she is once again on her best behavior???

I have yet to see how she will behave off the pinch when company is around as I am still unsure she will fully obey. I know she knows the commands but she seems to at times forget who is control.

If anyone has any useful suggestions I am all ears. I know patience and time with a lab retriever is essential however there must be other suggestions...Thanks!

Have you trained her with the prong on with a moderate to high level of distractions? She has to learn that obedience is not situational, and if you have not trained her with distractions, she may think all bets are off, that she can do as she pleases.

I would think that she still needs a prong on during those very distracting times of 'friend making' that most Labs seem to love. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What I was thinking was that we could keep using her prong but on limited basis like when company comes over or when we stop to chat to neighbours etc. She will learn to act properly I am sure as she did do well learning the other things we have taught her but maybe we just need more time and patience. Labs are full of life and excitment hopefully she will calm a little at 2... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Labs are full of life and excitment hopefully she will calm a little at 2.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


Be glad that you don't have an Irish Setter. They're excitable until they're 12....then they die. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Have your husband run with the dog till one of them passes out :-) Or have her start retrieving tennis balls, gradually work the weight up until you get her retrieving a 5-6 lb medicine ball. Like others pointed out, a Lab is a Lab. In other words, keep her well exercised and that should help keep her and your husband happy.

Originally posted by Thomas Mincher:
Have your husband run with the dog till one of them passes out :-) This I would like to see...

But I agree once she has been exercised she is a diffent dog and we have seen some improvements. Thanks for all the advice & encouragement!