FFS lab puppy hyper after long walks!

[punter]

3.5 month lab puppy had 2 lovely walks today in the woods, off lead, met other dogs etc etc. Now he is home and instead of having a nap or settling down with a kong, he is roaring about like a caged animal, chewing all the laundry, eating kitchen towel. Any hints - should we just stop feeding him? (joke)

[ijustwant8hours]

My pup goes nuts when he is tired. He is 5 months now and still cannot just settle. He goes on his crate, cries for 20 seconds then passes out.

[ijustwant8hours]

In his crate, not on!

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

Both of my labs are hyper after a long day at daycare. It lasts about 30 minutes and then they crash for the night. I have found that long, calm strokes down their backs helps. Although this does require keeping hold of them for more than two seconds...

[Mynewmoniker]

He may have aching teeth. be careful not to over excercise due to growing joints. How about a little smooth peanut butter inside the kong to make it more interesting?...inside the crate to teach the puppy 'time-out'.

[littlewhitebag]

My lab gets all hyper after walks then crashes out all evening! It is fantastic, she doesn't move from about 7.30 at night!

[FayeKorgasm]

My lab is the same but again settles after a short while.

She has just taken herself off to bed now. Peace!

She was much more hyper when a puppy, but at the great age of 2.5 she is starting to grow up a bit.

[thegriffon]

good discussion on the labrador forum about the need to restrict exercise for lab pups. Scroll down to see see Jules post about how exercise produces adrenaline and gets dogs hyped up rather than tired out.

[BCBG]

was just about to say what thegriffon said.... too much exercise by the sound of it. Over exercise can damage growing legs as well and that is something I have sadly witnessed first hand when a neighbour used to take his young lab running with him, it was awful.

[punter]

Accept what you say about excessive exercise getting him hyped up, but if he does not go out for a walk he is stir crazy in the house and garden, and the chewing is bad. I do everything standing up now as when I sit down I get jumped on, nipped and generally nagged. He has plenty of chewable toys but prefers me! I really thought that a walk would take the edge off. Hey ho, second puppy class this week - the trainer said 'oh he's full of energy isn't he?!' and he had not been for a walk beforehand. Dogs certainly differ in temperament don't they. Not sure I like the puppy at the moment, saving grace is that he sleeps through the night in his crate with no mess.

[Whippoorwhill]

Rather than risk his delicate joints with over exercise could you redirect some of his energy into puzzle toys and training? Clicker training in particular is great for tiring them out mentally without the over stimulation of going for a walk.

[Mrsjay]

put him for a nap honestly we have had to do that with our puppy well he is 9 months he is a bit nutty anyway but if he naps he is loads better, and he is a puppy puppies chew everything

[Mrsjay]

and yes mental stimulation tires them out much better than a big walk

[digerd]

At 3 months pups lose their baby teeth - he is teething, hence the manic chewing.
He should have lots of chew toys, and normally they lay down to do this as have to hold the chew toy in both their paws.

Adult teeth are usually through at 6 months so only 2.5 months to go !!
Good luck

[punter]

thank you all so much for your comments and advice. We had just a 20 minute walk in the wood this morning and that will be all for the day. Clicker training - already do that but will save for the afternoon instead of a second walk.

[midori1999]

You can do training all day. While the kettle is on, while the dinner's cooking. Lots of short sessions are much better than one long one.

I agree about exercise over stimulating.
One of mine is mad after a 10 mile run but exhausted after a 20 min on lead walk with lots of training.

[TheCatInTheHairnet]

I agree about the over stimulation of exercise. One of my dogs (who's 2 1/2) always comes in from a decent walk and goes straight to the back door. He then runs like crazy in the back garden until he mentally settles back down.

If I do smaller walks and then give him one of those puzzle balls filled with treats (on the days that's all I have time for), he is much more tired and settled. Dogs are weird!!