I'm very close to rehoming our puppy. :(

krlyr

Also there are ways to make the usual 20 minute walk a lot more stimulating. Games like fetch may wear a dog out but have also been linked to creating adrenaline and raising stress levels in dogs so may not be best (and the sharp stopping and turning in fetch can put a lot of stress on the joints too), it can be more stimulating for a dog to potter through long grass taking in all the local wildlife scents. Taking some of his breakfast with them (not huge amounts as big meals & exercise don't mix well, but just a handful of biscuits or small treats) and hiding/dropping this in the grass for him to sniff out will engage his brain as well as his muscles. Stick him on a longline (often much more practical than an extendable lead) and get everyone to stand in a circle/square and have someone recall puppy and reward him with treats or a game of tug - but mix up who calls him, don't have a set order. Fun game that makes his brain work and works on training recall too! The longline can be held onto by the person he's running from until the recaller grabs it, or it may be safe in some areas to let the line trail for a bit (as it's easier to step on/grab a line than catch up with the dog itself - and avoids turning recall into a game of chase). Do some impromptu training - sits, downs, stays, etc. for 30 seconds or a minute, then carry on your walk. Chopping and changing will keep his attention and also help him to realise that he has to listen to you whether you're at home, on the pavement, in the park and so on.
Be inventive rather than plod the same route at the same pace every day.

Person_one

MurphytheLabrador wrote: »

Like said above I am not sure in what way we have made him like this.

As for the link above, I also fail to see how this is anything to do with our situation.

Not sure how many times I have to repeat it - we have done everything we can. This behaviour is not improving at all.

I'm sorry, I have to ask, whose fault do you think it is if not yours? Do you think he was just born naughty?

If you aren't going to accept any blame then I do think rehoming him is best as you don't seem to understand the very important link between what you do and what he does.

There's no shame in admitting you've got it wrong, all of us have got it wrong, many times, we're human!

Herongull

Person_one wrote: »

I'm sorry, I have to ask, whose fault do you think it is if not yours? Do you think he was just born naughty?

If you aren't going to accept any blame then I do think rehoming him is best as you don't seem to understand the very important link between what you do and what he does.

There's no shame in admitting you've got it wrong, all of us have got it wrong, many times, we're human!

Why keep asking whose fault it is? How is it helping things?

It is a probably a meaningless question anyway.

The OP has put a massive amount of time, energy, money and emotion into trying to get this dog to fit in with her family. Nothing has worked. The dog isn't improving, but is steadily getting bigger and therefore more terrifying to those young children who can't even go into the kitchen without being badly bitten.

The current situation isn't fair on the children, nor is it fair on the rest of the family.

If you really want to play the blame game, it sounds to me like it was the breeder who sold her a pup with the wrong temperament for a family with young children.

The breeder must have known about the potential issues but chose not to even mention the implications of getting a working line lab.

They really did get sold a pup!

Person_one

Herongull wrote: »

Why keep asking whose fault it is? How is it helping things?

It is a probably a meaningless question anyway.

Its certainly not meaningless.

The OP seems to be completely unaware of or unwilling to accept the fact that its the owners actions that are the biggest single influence on a dog's behaviour, especially when you've had it since it was an 8 week pup.

Without this understanding, she'll never be able to fully take responsibility for the dog's training, its a fundamental thing that she needs to realise in order to turn the situation around. If that's not going to happen, the dog should be rehomed to someone who understands dogs better.

Paradigm

Person_one wrote: »

I'm sorry, I have to ask, whose fault do you think it is if not yours? Do you think he was just born naughty?

If you aren't going to accept any blame then I do think rehoming him is best as you don't seem to understand the very important link between what you do and what he does.

There's no shame in admitting you've got it wrong, all of us have got it wrong, many times, we're human!

Unless the OP (& family) are prepared to put some serious hard work into this pup then I agree with the above.

I would be putting 110% into this, using every bit of help I could find, with the aim of having a dog to be proud of.
See it as something to aim at & not a defeat With time & lots of work you could be back here in 12 months time telling us all how great he is .... Sadly I get the impression it's already too late?

MurphytheLabrador

It is probably pointless trying to explain myself, I'm not sure why I have to. I completely understand how an owner is will effect a dog, and we knew how much work a puppy would be, this is beside the point though. When he was a young puppy he was hard work but we never once considered rehoming him. However the biting, jumping, circling, that has just developed over time and got worse. No matter we do is not stopping him.

He understands us, but he doesn't listen when he starts to go mad, panting, circling. He has a good diet (well I think so - he is on Burns), the 20 minute walk may not sound like long, but he gets a third walk during the day and in the garden for 2 hours or so, so it is not just 40 minutes a day that he is getting.

We try play games with him but he is generally not interested. When he is outside and doing his own thing, the kids can not even touch him without him starting to go "funny" and start biting at them. Sorry, but no matter what anyone here is saying, this is not our fault or the kids fault. Will probably reply a few times but will just be best to let the thread slip down I think.

Rochelle

MurphytheLabrador

For the people who keep saying it is too late, are you reading my posts. This is something we have been trying to work at for literally months now, we have not just decided we're giving up without trying our best. We have tried so many different training methods, had him checked at the vets / spoken to the vets, called the breeder. We have kept up with his training for the past 7/5 months and he is looked after well, despite what people keep saying here.

Rochelle

Person_one

MurphytheLabrador wrote: »

I completely understand how an owner is will effect a dog

this is not our fault

Just rehome him, best for everybody.

Herongull

Person_one wrote: »

Its certainly not meaningless.

The OP seems to be completely unaware of or unwilling to accept the fact that its the owners actions that are the biggest single influence on a dog's behaviour, especially when you've had it since it was an 8 week pup.

Without this understanding, she'll never be able to fully take responsibility for the dog's training, its a fundamental thing that she needs to realise in order to turn the situation around. If that's not going to happen, the dog should be rehomed to someone who understands dogs better.

You've never met this dog, but you still seem to "know" it is all the fault of the owner.:eek:

This is just as bad as always blaming the parents for anti-social teenagers.

With both animals and people, nature and nurture are both potential reasons for problematic behaviour.

Careful study is needed to determine which factor is most significant in an individual case.

Why not contribute more constructively to this discussion?

poppyfield19

Maybe rehoming him is the best option for him.... and you know what - if it is... there is no shame in that at all. Rochelle, good luck in whatever your family decide to do. You sound completely sensible and I am sure you will make the right decision for your family and Murphy.