I'm going to have to rehome my girl.

[harboromummy]

I'm absloutely heartbroken.

I'm really struggling with my 4 year old chocolate Labrador. Iv had her since she was 7 weeks, been training & she's always been there for me.

But she so hyper and can't be in the same room if people come round as she just jumps all over them.

Iv had trainers out but no help. She's walked 3x a day which I'm struggling with, I'm having a tough pregnancy with spd and children already. She is loving and adores attention but I just don't have the time for her.

I feel physically sick, more for my daughter who will miss her like mad.

She's wrecked my garden and the kids can't even go out anymore :( we're moving in March and I worry she will do the same. I spent hundreds doing the garden up last summer and within a week she pulled all the flowers and things up.

I'm sorry, it's sounds awful and I don't have any advice but three walks a day? It doesn't sound as though you're tiring her out, it sounds like you're winding her up.

I'm not tiring her out, she's a Labrador and would go for miles if i let her.

Do not wind her up. She has full use of the downstairs when we are all at home but as soon as someone knocks on the door she's a nightmare. I usually put her in the kitchen when people come over but obv that isn't ideal.

My dogs jump around when people come, it's not really the end of the world to shut them in another room/crate. Annoying yes but hardly enough to get rid of them over. How often do people realistically knock?!

She sounds bored, no amount of excersise will solve the problem as its proberbly mental stimulation she needs. Have you tried kongs/treat balls/maybe something like agility to keep her mind busy?
Maybe a dog walker could give you a hand if you are struggling at the moment?

Does she get any off lead walks?

She only goes off lead. We live opposite a field we take her on x

I have two labs. They would destroy the garden if I left them out there unsupervised... So I don't . Fairly simple to just let them out for a quick wee and call them back in, esp in this weather when the ground is so waterlogged it is immediately churned up if they play.

Same with visitors, the puppy especially would leap in everyone if I let her. So she gets given a treat in her crate, let out ten min later when she's calmed down, if she's silly then she's popped back in.

Also what's she fed? Lots if crappy foods like bakers et al are full of colours and send some dogs loopy.

It doesn't seem as if any of this is insurmountable if you want to fix it?

My friend has a Chocolate Lab. He was mental until recently when he turned five. He is so calm now I can take him for a walk whereas 18 mths ago I couldn't have held him. Perhaps someone that would love a dog but can't could give it another long walk. It might be worth advertising. I'm surprised the trainers haven't been able to help. You need the Dog Whisperer.
Sorry I can't be of help. I had to give up my dog years ago I was heart broken.

So she's not 'walked' so much as 'let loose in a field'? How long for each time?

I agree that none of these issues seem unfixable. What did the trainer say when you had them out?

Can I ask what you're feeding her?

Can you at least get a dog walker to take her for a proper walk once a day? A run in the field isn't really the same.

I was going to ask the same regarding diet, what are you feeding? Many temperament issues, this includes hyperactivity can be related to diet

She's raw fed.

Consisting of raw what?

I agree look at her food, a good quality kibble, high protein low carbs or try raw it calmed my dogs right down.

Also letting her out in the field isn't enough 3 x a day, she's yah-hoo-ing around & winding herself up.

If you have SPD its agony I know, could you get a dog walker to exercise her with some bombing around but some on lead walks & maybe games or activities to tire her out? A variety of exercise might work better for her.

If you do rehome her please go via a reputable rescue or a lab rescue to get her a good home. Wheer did you get her would they help you find a new home.

Heartbreaking for you.

Training WILL help. Labs are one of the easiest dogs in the world to train.

You may not have time to train and may have not had a good trainer which has prevented this from happening.

Roughly what percentages of protein etc?

When I was first studying canine behaviour, too much protein was often linked to behavioural problems, including hyperactivity. I think this is being questioned by some now, but personally I have seen many cases where this has appeared to be true. Maybe raw just doesn't suit? Would you consider changing to a good quality kibble to see if it helps?

Cross post dory! Interesting you say high protein and I say low. Op maybe try a gradual change to something else and see what happens?

There are lots of rescues especially for Labs. Find the one nearest you. These links might be helpful

www.labrador-rescue.com
www.labradorsinneed.co.uk
loveyourlabrador.co.uk
labrador-lifeline.com
www.labrescuekent.co.uk
labradorwelfare.org

I would agree that just being let out to hare round a field isn't doing her self control any good. She needs proper walks with proper heel work. She needs to be trained to control herself. You say you've done some training but how much? It's really a lifelong thing, not a six week crash course in learning how to sit. She needs to learn to walk nicely on the lead and not pull because she wants to. Ditto with the jumping up. She needs to learn that she has to do as she's told. She's not being taught anything.

I appreciate that you're pregnant and first of all I would get an experienced dog walker to take her round the field on a lead. Then when you can get yourself back to a decent dog trainer and resign yourself to an hour a week for life. It won't be easy though. But as others have said its not impossible.

Our three dogs would wreck the place if they thought it was OK, but I've trained them though that they are only allowed to tear around and roughhouse in their fenced off area. The rest of the time they behave calmly, unless we have intruders of course .

Ddog3, our youngest is 14 months old and is not of a breed typically easy to train (she's a Fila Brasiliero) but she picked things up very quickly and our other two dogs (both Caucasian Ovcharkas) can be equally obnoxious, but all are immaculately trained, it just takes time and perseverence, and as others have said, training has to be maintained lifelong.

Our dogs are were death row rescues (we're not in the UK) and it does sometimes take the patience of a saint, but the results are absolutely worth it.

I'd love to see your hellbeasts Mother, they sound beyond awesome. I followed your thread about your parents wanting to move in with you and I am a fan of your dogs now (and your DH after the way he handled your parents :o )

OP does she have things to keep her mentally stimulated, like Kongs, doggy puzzles etc? She does sound like she's bored, not necessarily physically but mentally, she needs something to keep her brain occupied for a while each day. Good luck, I hope you manage to find a solution so you can keep her.

3 walks a day in the same field will be boring as hell for her.

She needs 2 x 30-60 min proper off lead/varying places/chasing balls etc walks a day to tire her out. She also needs continuous training every day.

doesnt sound like unsurmountable issues if you are still interested in your dog.

LetThereBeCupcakes I've heard that same, that we give dogs too much protein and they need carbs which will calm them down.

If you want to make it work OP, I think training and self control is the way to go. If not, I would try a lab rescue.

Our dogs would go made if someone came too, they would also dig up the garden, so we have crates, stairgates, kongs, bones etc.

If you can't manage it, I'm sure as a labrador that she will find a lovely home

• go mad