Labrador Behavior !!

my3_girlz

New Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
2
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Bedford, Virginia
#1
My Male Chocolate lab will be 1 year old tommorrow. He is so sweet, but he is still so full of energy like a puppy. And he is stubborn. Doesnt want to calm down when told. Any ideas of what to do or when this should stop.
 

sillysally

Obey the Toad.
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
5,074
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
A hole in the bottom of the sea.
#2
Congrats, you have a normal one year old lab :)! Labs tend to keep many puppylike tendencies for several years.

My best advice is consistency, training, and exercise. He should be getting plenty of daily exercise as well as short sessions of daily training/obedience work. Also make sure his brain is getting a work out. Get him a treat ball, buster cube, tug-a-jug or other toy where he has to work to get his food out of it. My lab LOVES that!
 

misfitz

Ruddy Buttinski
Joined
Jul 19, 2009
Messages
457
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
LaLa Land
#3
sillysally is right. Like most larger breed dogs, Labs don't tend to settle down until at least two years, and they reach maturity at around 4. (Mental/emotional maturity that is.) My aunt has two labs, the oldest is just 2 and she's finally settling down a bit. The 18 month old is still a ball of energy.
 

MicksMom

Active Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
3,978
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Warren Co, NJ
#4
Congrats, you have a normal one year old lab :)! Labs tend to keep many puppylike tendencies for several years.

My best advice is consistency, training, and exercise. He should be getting plenty of daily exercise as well as short sessions of daily training/obedience work. Also make sure his brain is getting a work out. Get him a treat ball, buster cube, tug-a-jug or other toy where he has to work to get his food out of it. My lab LOVES that!
Well, she said everything I was going to. My vet's answer to clients asking when will their Lab calm down is the day before it dies. That's just one of the many things we love about Labs.
 

Barb04

Super Moderator
Joined
Sep 28, 2004
Messages
27,429
Likes
4
Points
38
#7
My first black lab was calmer. The chocolate lab we have now which we rescued is between 6 and 8 years old according to the vet is still a nut!!!!
 

Kat09Tails

*Now with Snark*
Joined
Jun 10, 2010
Messages
3,452
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Upper Left hand corner, USA
#8
Puppy behaviors - especially being a mouthy PITA didn't really disappear until my lab turned about 3. As far as calm - LOL yeah... whoever said it would be the day before they die has it about right. That said there are things you can do to help - meaningful amounts of exercise being probably the most important part.
 

Doberluv

Active Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2004
Messages
22,038
Likes
2
Points
38
Location
western Wa
#9
My Male Chocolate lab will be 1 year old tommorrow. He is so sweet, but he is still so full of energy like a puppy. And he is stubborn. Doesnt want to calm down when told. Any ideas of what to do or when this should stop.
Stop "telling" him. Stop paying any attention, good or bad while he's bouncing off the walls. Notice when he displays a second or two of calm, mark it with an enthusiastic, "YESSSS!" and toss him a tiny treat. Like it was said, be sure he's getting more exercise and romping play AND give him something to do with his mind. (obedience training) Make it fun for him. When you want him to stop his wild horse play in the house for example, distract him with having him do something he's learned, like come, sit, down. You can teach him a couple tricks, like the names of a few different toys. A dog that has something to think about becomes more focused on more constructive things. He's not stubborn. Dogs just don't think that way. He's simply a puppy with probably a need for more lessons.
 

thehoundgirl

Active Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2004
Messages
2,353
Likes
0
Points
36
#10
Yeah, you got yourself a normal lab. They usually are pretty energetic.. even in their later years. We have a 12 yr. old lab at the shelter who acts like a puppy. :) Get him into some sports.. agility, dock dogs, or something. Take him swimming when the weather gets warmed up. Take him for long hikes. Make him a flirt pole! Play fetch if he likes to play fetch. Those are ways to wear out a young dog.. good luck! :)
 

Members online

Top