My early waking Labrador

[nameychangio675]

Recently acquired a beautiful golden lab. She’s 15 months. She’s heaven, except for one tiny problem - she likes to wake before 6am and tries to wake the whole house up too.

DH is an early riser and gets up to work early anyway (we both wfh) however she’s jumping around full of beans trying to wake everyone else up and escape from the room he’s in with her (she’s only in there at that very early hour - apart from that has the run of the house). I get up at 7am usually, drink my tea, feed her then take her on her first walk. DCs (7&9) wake around that time too. If DH doesn’t watch her like a hawk and keep her with him she’s outside our bedrooms making noises and scratching to wake us up (bless). We have tried barricading the stairs but she’s then just making noises annoying him🙈

how can we encourage her to chill/sleep in more in the morning - or will it pass as she gets older? DH struggling to get any work done and getting grumpy.

Is there any reason why your DH can't take her for a walk for half an hour and start work slightly later?

@Beamur we did try that recently but then she came back and started barking outside to try and wake us up still. Plus that morning slot has traditionally been his time to get loads of work done so easier if I take her.

How much walking does she get each day - Labradors are very energetic dogs and need plenty of exercise.

Ours is 10.5 now, but still has 3 walks a day, 30mins minimum each but usually an hour around lunchtime and in evening. As a puppy, she was getting 4 walks, shorter in day, but longer walks in evenings and at weekends and my days off.

She's still very young. She will settle.. although maybe not til she's 4 or 5!!!

Mine is a lab cross. I wouldn't suggest DH doing an early walk because if they associate waking up with a walk it's likely to get earlier and earlier.
I think just keep trying to establish a firm routine, labradors are born half trained, once she understands that whatever she does things still happen at a set time/order she will settle down. Teaching her a settle command may also help.

Three walks a day. Depending on what day timing can vary but usually minimum of half an hour each walk. We live next to a dog beach. Her evening walk usually shortest because she gets super tired around 7/8pm.

I am wondering if I should do a bigger walk at night and smaller in the morning but she’s so energetic in the morning it seems her natural time to let loose.

Obviously she has slept all night and wants to play.

If he can't walk her, can you look at getting a ball feeder that you put her biscuits in and she has to push around to get it out. Should keep her amused for 10 mins.

Yes a longer evening walk may be the answer, does she just walk, or is there any ball throwing or similar involved, especially on the beach?

Ours loved ball throwing at the local park or on a beach, and it would give her extra exercise if we were limited on time. She generally only does it on a trip to the beach now but it does tire her out, compared to just walking.