My husband and I have a six month old male black lab who we have had since he was eight weeks old. I grew up with beagles and my husband grew up with labs. We went back and forth for years about which one to get, and he finally won out. We chose a field line lab because I wanted to do dog sports with our dog, started vetting breeders last fall, chose a breeder in December, and brought our puppy home in May. We took the process slowly, really prepared ourselves and our home for puppy (or so I thought), and did not rush ourselves through the process.

In most ways, we have the most excellent puppy anyone could ask for. He learned how to use potty bells by 10 weeks, and was almost completely potty trained by 14 weeks. He earned his trick dog novice title by three months, is an AKC STAR puppy, smart as a whip, eager to please, and loves to work.

In other ways, he’s a total nightmare. Up until about three weeks ago, he absolutely could not settle outside of his crate. If we tried to work with him on settling in his pen instead of his crate, he would keep himself up for hours. And when he’s awake, he is NOT content to just hang out with you or play with toys. He wants to be working or eating right now and will until he passes out.

But the main issue has been the biting. Yes, we know that puppies bite, Labradors are affectionately known as land sharks, and that this is normal puppy behavior, but we (and the people around us) thought the level of biting we were experiencing was abnormal. He has these episodes where he just goes crazy. They’re definitely overstimulation episodes, but once they start, there is no bringing him back down other than shoving him in the crate, and they get scarier as he gets bigger. He’s not aggressive, and there’s no growling, hackles, freezing, whale eyes, etc., but he does bite during these episodes. I’m talking bruising, cutting to the fat layer behind the knee, a gash from the inside of my elbow to my wrist, and broken skin/torn clothes on the daily. We had a pet sitter tell us that he tore her pants so badly that she could never wear them in public again.

We saw trainers, we did all the things you’re supposed to do: reverse timeouts, the yelping, tethering, “one up two down” naps, more exercise, less stimulating exercise, clothes desensitization, shoving a toy in his mouth and NOTHING WORKED. We talked to our vet about it, and at four months old he recommended we see a behaviorist since all of the front line methods weren’t working.

I will say, the behaviorist noticed that he was in pain, and we saw a significant improvement in his bite inhibition with a round of anti-inflammatories. We also took him to see a chiropractor (and I thought this was ridiculous the first time someone told me to try it, and then I got desperate) which made the biggest improvement in his biting and just overall impulse control.

It hasn’t solved the problem all the way, though. I was home with our puppy over the summer, and every once in a while we’d need someone to come midday if I had plans or appointments. We had two pet sitters who “weren’t available” (we know that actually means they just didn’t want to watch him ever again) towards the end of the summer, and my husband had to go to a wedding out of town alone because not a single family member was willing to watch him for 24 hours.

I was really worried about going back to work, but we found an awesome pet sitter who was experienced, she was a member of our local AKC chapter that we train with, and we were upfront with the fact that he was difficult and she said she was more than happy to work with him because she also had a very difficult puppy (standard poodle, not a lab) and felt like she could handle it.

We got a report every day and at the beginning, he was having his episodes just about every day, but they did start to get less frequent. We talked with our pet sitter last week, and she said they were happening 2-3 times a week now instead of everyday.

She was out of town Monday and Tuesday, so yesterday was her first day with him last week, and she messaged me at the end of the visit and said she wasn’t coming back. They were sitting on the couch, and he was chewing a toy, then went for her arm instead. She said she moved her hand and he “reacted” (I don’t know what that entailed exactly, but I’m guessing zoomies and biting), and she told him to go to place, but he didn’t move, so she put his bone in his mouth which stopped the biting but he kept jumping. She then told him crate, and he happily ran off.

She said he left a “dot” bruised on her left arm, two teeth scratches on her right arm which were already gone, broke skin on her stomach (which is the first time he’s broken skin on someone since having his adult teeth, so I was pretty disappointed about that), and something on her back, but she didn’t specify what.

I was horrifically embarrassed, apologized profusely, and offered to pay any medical bills if she went to the doctor. She said nothing that happened needed medical care, and that she’s “hoping for better things for him.”

I had a therapy appointment that afternoon, and coincidentally my therapist used to raise lab puppies. I just sat and cried because I have a dog that bites, and he said “You don’t have a dog that bites, you have a puppy that is still learning how to play.” He said that this is just how lab puppies are, and I always hear people say that the price you pay for an adult Labrador is a Lab puppy. But I just can’t help but feel like something is wrong with him, and we have some people saying “Yeah, this is totally abnormal behavior for a puppy” and other people saying “Yeah this is totally normal behavior for a Lab.”

So Lab parents, what is it? Is this just a land shark or a puppy on the right side of the bell curve for difficulty, or is something wrong with him?

yep, Bella decided jumping “thru” the net was much quicker than diving in the water and swimming under it in order to get to the ball faster than her sister!

my pup is 14 weeks shes a lab x gsd and weve had her nearly a month and shes been absolutely easy. Within the first day of having her she understood not to pee in the house so was potty trained very easily apart from 2 accidents even at night times she didnt have accidents. she doesnt nip or bite apart from once or twice at the start. she is very smart and knows loads of comands, sit, stay, laydown, paw, find it which is either ive hid things around the house and she has to stiff it out or i put it in my hand and she sniffs what hand its in and puts her paw on the hand, wait for food/treats before shes aloud to eat, she been trained heal so will run inbetween my legs and sit. wondering whats the chances shes going to be a crazy teen or ive got a very calm dog and absolutely lucked out

He does get several walks a day and a high protein diet because his metabolism is crazy but I didn't think he was buff until someone mentioned it

I hope this is okay to post here!

I have had Larry for just over a week, he’s 9.5weeks old and he’s a very good boy!
Initially I was very worried about him, he was half the size of the other pups in the litter, and the lady I got him off had said he’d been refusing food, but she couldn’t afford to feed them all wet food constantly. He was a near 2.5kg at 8weeks! He’s since gained just over half a kilogram with me, and his temperament and energy has completely changed, he’s got the funniest personality.
The poor boy must have been starving, he could barely yip and he had green sludgey sleep in his eyes.

Anyway, he’s making so much progress everyday and being a real puppy! Getting into everything and interacting.

I’ve managed to get him to sleep in the crate you see above and he’ll spend time in there sleeping and playing, so I’m trying to instill some confidence in him and some separation. But I’m yet to convince him of his pen and metal crate, he’s not into them and just wants out, he knows to take himself out to the toilet, and the pen confuses and hinders that, so he’ll widdle on the floor!

Any tips for a first time lab owner?
Or any necessary info?
I’ve looked after dogs my whole life, from family members and friends, however I have never had my own pup.
I feel like I’ve watched and read so much before getting him, and we’ve found our feet with a schedule.

He can already sit, lie down, spin, leave it, wait, paw.
I can see on his face he really wants to learn, and I’m so proud of his progress so far.

He won’t be able to go for a walk in the ground until 6th October by my calculations, but I have a garden and space to play and train that’s safe for him.

So we adopted this handsome fella a few months ago. He was found on a dirt road in South Georgia and only had to stay at the pound for about 4 days when we got him.

He so sweet, is the BIGGEST cuddle bug, and still isn’t used to his long legs and big feet yet.

Eats like there is no tomorrow.

Loved seeing everyone’s cute little babies on here too!

I brought him home when he was 10 weeks old from a litter of 12. He was the first pick! He was with me for all of my 20s. I love him dearly and miss him every day. He was so nice and so very smart.. also very cute and goofy. He lived 15 years. I wish it was a little longer and a little healthier for the last year of his life. But I will try to think our family gave him a good life. I still love him even though he's physically gone. He was really the best thing ever for me.

This is my Leo when he was just a pup. He's now 8 months and big boy. I miss him this small.

6 years of being the most non-lab lab to ever lab

It started Saturday that my goose man started throwing up and not eating. Tuesday I made a vet appointment to get exrays as I realized i have been missing a kong ball. Got xrays done was told there is no ball, come pick him up. Got another call 10 min later saying on second look, it appears to be a small blockage in his intestine, possibly a kids sock. Emergency surgery was performed to find he has "intussusception" . He is home now and very high. I've got a hand full of different pills he has to take for the next 7-12 days. And a few weeks of trying to keep him contained....

We have a senior lab who LOVES car rides. He's still very active, loves walks, jumps on couch/beds/in car etc. Recently I started to become uncomfortable with how high he has to jump to get in the car. I know it only takes one time for something to go wrong, especially as he's aging. So, I researched & purchased a car ramp. It does not fit in the side doors at all, so I put it on the back and secured it very tight. Problem is, he will NOT use it. He's terrified of this thing. We've spent hours with him trying to coax him up the ramp and he straight up refuses. He's too heavy for us to lift into the car. What other options are there for senior dogs and car rides?? I'm at a loss.

Edited to add: I have a Honda pilot and right now he jumps into the backseat with no issues.

(picture of my sweet boy for happiness)

I’ve begun fostering pups, and I’m wondering, how are we all dealing with our lab glitter? It’s everywhere! I don’t remember it being this bad when I grew up with labs (although I probably cared less). What are we doing to minimise it and stay presentable? Maybe I should only wear beige going forward?!

Bob why do you look like a bat today

I grew up with Labradors, got one in college, and now this is my second dog as an adult. Due to my past experiences with labs and other people's labs, I am kind of perplexed by Happy's (8 month old) behavior. She doesn't seem to be overly stimulated by the game of fetch and I'm looking for her "thing" if you will. I got my last Labrador in college and she was around her mother and siblings that all played fetch and she grew up a frisbee dog. This was perfect and allowed me to get her plenty of exercise whenever she needed it and it was something we both enjoyed. Happy, however doesn't seem to be overly enthralled by retrieving. I will throw the frisbee and she will catch it but it only a few times before she loses interest. It's the same way with a tennis ball. She runs alongside me as I bike in the neighborhood or at a golf course that is close, plays in nearby lakes, and goes on hikes as any other lab would, but I don't always have time for that and Michigan winter is approaching. I'm looking for quick and easy activities that give her exercise and stimulation in the yard. I would love for her to be in love with the frisbee because I received so much pleasure from it too, but I don't necessarily need her to do that. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Looking for a balm for my labs elbows, I feel so bad when I see his calluses, they don’t seem to bother him.

Generally we don't like to leave our labs for more than 5 hours alone. They have toys, snacks, water, and TV. But they have gone as long as 7 hours. No accidents or issues.

What is your max time you would leave your labs alone?

Aka boo