We have 10 month old male golden lab. Over the last couple of days he has completely lost recall, barked incessantly at everything (falling leaves, moths, people obviously including us), pulled over my DH in the woods whilst he was trying to stop him running after 2 other dogs, pulling on his lead very hard after weeks of training and improvement, etc etc. TRying very hard to keep my cool and go back to basic training (with DH muttering about how long can I put up with this) but just need reassurance that we are not completely useless owners with a regressed puppy. I am SO tired of trying to keep the peace.
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The doghouse
fanoftheinvisibleman ·
23/06/2013 09:24
No, you just have a surly teenager on your hands.
Mine is nearly 11 months old and I guess it is partly my fault as I had started leaving theclicker at home. Recall has always been none existant in the face of another dog so I am lead ninja but his behaviour on lead can be embarrassing. Sometimes if he really wants someones attention he just lays down and won't move!
Back to basics with liver cake is helping (a little 
)
moosemama ·
23/06/2013 11:49
Bang on advice so far - typical teenager. Just keep on keeping on with consistent, positive training and you will eventually get your lovely dog back, instead of the hairy 'Kevin' you currently have.
You have my sympathies though. My own boy is 7 1/2 and has also decided to suddenly start testing out all the rules following the loss of our older bitch (and he doesn't have the hormones excuse cos he's neutered [hmm).
We are taking him back to basics and starting again at the bottom with all his clicker training to 'remind' him what's expected and where the boundaries lie. It's a pain in the rear, but we know that, as long as we stay consistent, he'll settle down again shortly.
It is horrible though when you think you've got a well trained dog and he suddenly thumbs his nose at you in the middle of a walk. He was such a pain yesterday that I felt myself getting grumpy, so I just put the lead on, cut the walk short and took him home before I got cross with him.
Then when I'd had time for a cuppa and a calm down we did some clicker training in the garden and I fell in love with him all over again. 
(To qualify, he still played up a bit in the garden, but he was so funny with it. He's not the brightest bulb in the box, my boy. )
HoneyDragon ·
23/06/2013 18:54
Sounds like your Labrador is text book to me.
Mines 14 months, its interesting.
HoneyDragon ·
23/06/2013 20:59
And yet people still persist in recommending Labradors as "easy" dogs for first timers and young family's
moosemama ·
25/06/2013 21:09
Lurcherboy and I met a lab pup of about the same age when we were out walking today and I thought of this thread as soon as I saw his owner's face.
His dog was being a real pain and refusing to do a thing he was told. Poor guy looked really worried when he was dragged him over to us, but we had a chat about the trials and tribulations of teenage dogs while Lurcherboy suitably chastised his pup for repeatedly leaping on his head and scragging him. The poor bloke looked so relieved that I understood and didn't think bad of him.
So, you are not alone. 
I told him something very similar to what you said in your last post - "He'll grow out of it and then he'll be the lovely dog you know he is really."
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