Labradors Galore

Hi everybody (or anybody),

Just wondering how everybody is doing with a little less sleep and alot of rain and our new puppies we picked up in May! 

Abby is doing very good...sleeps through the night and has since we got her, but you still have to wake up a little earlier to add her schedule to the routine!  She LOVES people and kids and other dogs. We're definitely looking forward to the end of the nipping/chewing stage!

Hope somebody shares their story. It would be interesting to hear what others are experiencing with her litter mates!

We are feeling the same!!  We love our Abby!!  The biting and nipping will hopefully pass soon!  She is so smart.  Crate training has been great - she goes in on her own.....its hard to be angry at such a cute puppy!!!  Exercise has defintely been our friend! Along with toys and chewy bones - keeps her busy! 

We love her so much!

Christine Villeneuve - Abby's mom (the other abby!!)

Hi this is Caseys Dad (Ron).

Casry is 28 lbs at 13 weeks and is in that mouthing stage as well.  Glad to hear we are not alone in that area. 

Casey has taken to his crate with no problems at all.  He will run in and sit at feeding times and sleeps the night through.  He is up at 6am ready to go.  He has no fear and is very social with people and other dogs.

Casey will sit on command and is very smart so getting him to train other commands should be no problem.

Look forward to hearing more on Abby real soon.

Ron Phillips

28 lbs!  Wow!!  Our Abby (there are two from the litter) is clocking in at 22 lbs, but she was the runt of the litter and I guess she still is.  Although, she looks huge to us compared to day-1!

I guess we really do have the same dogs, different color!  Abby also loves her crate and is learning commands so fast. We took her to Puppy Pre-K to start her 7-week "boot camp" and she did really well with her 'sits" and even her "heals".  Then she gets worked up and starts biting the laces on my husband's sneakers, but it's a start!

Thanks for sharing...this is great to hear how the other 9 sisters and brothers are doing.  Your Casey is going to be a big boy and he's very handsome!

Lisa (Chocolate Abby's moms)

Lisa, our pups sound like the acorns definitely don't fall far from the tree. 

Abby is gorgeous and I love looking at her photo alblum.  Keep them coming as she grows.  I uploaded a few of Casey today at the 13 week old stage. 

This forum posting was a great idea I hope more of the pups owners start posting soon.

It's so nice to see you guys posting and sharing stories about the babies!!!   I miss them all so much.  Thank you for posting!

Hugs ~ Wendy

this nipping stage is absolutely normal for this bread my husband and I use the LL Bean hunting dog method and it works really well, just like children puppies need to learn what is acceptable behavior and what is not these are very intelligent dogs they think we are littermates and that we are playing with them when they nip, because we reach at them to diciplline them and they see this as play, holding  them still until them calm down is a very effective way to tell them you don't like the behavior. Wanda:)

Thanks Wanda for the tip.  I will give it a try. 

This is a sporting breed and are very active dogs, if you tire them out at least twice a day to burn off all that energy it will reduce  bad chewing habits. When they chew on a shoe for instance take the shoe away and instantly give them a toy, after a few seconds praise them alot for chewing on the toy. This can be exausting because it has to be constantly repeated but it's the best way for them to learn what they can and can't chew on. These dogs are a big training investment but if you put in the effort the are the best dogs in the world. My Mia will be volunteering with the handicapped and at our local library  with the children's programing so I have to go the extra mile with the training. I have had a lab in my life for 14 years now so I would be happy to give advice to anyone I can. I am extremely fond of this breed, If I have a dog it will be a lab, they can be a pain in the butt at first but the end result will be the best dog you have ever had. Wanda:)

Well its been 5 months now and I was wondering how everyones doing with there pup?

Casey is getting huge.  Loves to swim in the pool and like any Lab is full of energy.  He is real good with not chewing on anything he's not supose to chew so we are lucky in the respect.

His main issue is his biting.  He bites me all the time.  I have tried everything in the book to get him to stop this behavior but he is stubborn. This week when he was going for my hand I pulled my hand away and frmly told him no like I always do.  But unfortunately, one  of his bottom baby teeth caught my thumb and ripped my thumb open pretty good.  I ended up with three stitches to close it.  I was wondering if anyone else's pup is prone to biting and nipping their owners.  Does anyone have any idea how long this stage is?  Right now my method to try to stop it is to tell him no in a firm voice and turn my back and break eye contact with him, showing him no attention and praising him when he sits and calms down.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

unfortunatly when we pull away to quickly we can cause extra damage to ourselves but It's a natural reaction, Try letting him know this is unacceptable by being dominate over him, imediatly push him to the floor and press your weight on him firmly but not too much the point is to control him not to hurt him, you are the pack leader not Casey and he needs to learn that if he bites something unpleasant is going to happen  tell no bite! very firmly and them put him away from you in sort of a time out, neither of these things will make him happy, and he should get the point after a few times.  Hope this helpes Wanda