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

Raksha

He's an adolescent now, not a puppy, so puppy classes aren't appropriate (beware of any trainer who tells you it's OK).

He sounds like a classic adolescent clever dog. Crates are useful, also you might like to use a house line to enforce recall in and around the house/garden.

Using treats? Why not - if the dog finds them rewarding he will be more likely to repeat the behaviour he performed before getting the treat (but your timing has to be good - if you want him to 'sit' then he gets the reward while he IS sitting, not if he gets up to reach the treat)

The adolescent phase is when most dogs find themselves being offered for rehoming, as they are so much work.

Try and find yourself a APDT registered trainer in your area.

Person_one

Raksha wrote: »

He's an adolescent now, not a puppy, so puppy classes aren't appropriate (beware of any trainer who tells you it's OK).

I can't see why puppy classes would be an issue, he is still a puppy, most trainers are happy to take dogs up to a year.

Classes for adult dogs tend to be full of troubled rescue dogs with loads of bad habits, great if that's what you're dealing with but not right for these circumstances!

dorisday

Labradors ARE hard work. I look after two 6 years old (not mine) and the one that hasnt been neutored is a right handful. I have walked them for 4 years and he still insists on running off and doing his own thing so I now keep a very long lead on him when I remember but I can tell he likes to be top dog and does challenge me every now and then (never manages thougth)
The other one - his brother - who has been neutered is fine and has good recall although the odd occasion pretends to be deaf but he does know whose boss. Their owner no longer takes them out because of the one who likes to do his own thing as he has ran away on a few occasions and got lost. Treats dont work either even human food - if there is a better smell going on somewhere else hes there.
Having had dogs for over 50 years and now looking after other peoples dogs I would never have believed that neutering could make such a difference but I have found it does and I can name 5 dogs i have looked after from being pups up to around the age of 5 years who have been a pain in the b-m before being neutered to being well behaved boy dogs after the event!!
Also labs i find are notorious for barking at any little noise try spraying him with water when he does it it may work for a short time until he realises that it doesnt hurt. best of luck you will need it.

alyssa_liss

dont know if your on FB but thins group is run by Dog Trainers http://www.facebook.com/groups/374160792599484/

its great for advice and when you need a moan or some help

Caroline_a

I would also echo keep with the dog classes. Good Citizen classes are very good grounding for family dogs and are progressive with previous classes being reinforced all the time. At 6 months your pup is just going into teenage years in dog terms. Expect bad behaviour! However, if you stick with the training, maintain each rule every single time, you will get through it.

I have previously used a really long training lead such as this
Then the dog can run free, but you have a really long line that you can grab and pull the dog in towards you when you practice recall.

Also, when my children were young it was me who did all dog training and 'management' of puppy play. Children can get sometimes quite silly with pups - it isn't their fault, they are all young animals together, but play for pups should be supervised so that it's controlled, and that pup knows that when you say no it means no. I may get slated for this, but I actually didn't let my children play on their own at all with any pups we had - walks were different, but no crazy running around and shouting at home.

Do persevere, it will be worth it in the end, and you will feel so much better when your pup finally grows up!

Welshwoofs

In my experience, it's not a case of a few weeks training and bingo...you have a well rounded, polite dog. All the Labradors I've known have been a ruddy pain in the bum for the first 18 months and all seem to suffer from selective hearing if there's something more interesting going on. My Mother's current one is an absolte gem....now....but he went through his adolescent stage of running off at every opportunity and chewing furniture to bits.

If you have a Lab I'd suggest getting him proper gun dog training - it's training that really plays to the stuff that stimulates the breed and I've yet to see a Lab come out of it with bad habits intact.

con1888

I echo the training part, we are just about to take our puppy to training, he is doing semi okay at home.

Also, what is he being fed on ? Certain types of kibble make a dog hyper.

rising_from_the_ashes

Welshwoofs wrote: »

All the Labradors I've known have been a ruddy pain in the bum for the first 18 months

Maisie's just started to "mouth" like they do at that age (she's 6 next week:eek:) - think she's having the puppyhood she obviously never got!:D

dannymccann

jumpedtheshark wrote: »

Ignore anyone talking to you about pack theory and alpha dogs (outdated Cesar Millan, etc.). Domesticated dogs aren't like that.

In your experience, maybe, but with our rescue staffy who is extremely strong willed, our trainer taught us to be a leader to the dog and it has helped dramatically...

For example, when we came in he used to hump us (even though he's been done), we were taught to give a swift knee in the chest (not to wind him or anything like that, but to knock him down) followed by a 'NO!' or 'HEY!'. If that doesn't work, you have to grab his paws and hold them, it gives him a sense of being trapped and he doesn't like it, ergo, he doesn't do it anymore. It's not a case of bullying him, it's a case of showing him who is boss, and because of the type of dog he is he needs to know he cannot dominate us.

Certainly though, please don't rehome your lab, it's really hard work, TRUST ME, our dog was a complete nightmare (and can still be sometimes, also still a puppy) but for all the disheartening times if you get rid of him you will miss him dearly

Person_one

OP, don't do anything the above poster is suggesting!

This is why its important to go to a reputable trainer rather than keep trying methods posted by strangers on the internet!