Have I got the most boisterous labrador alive?

[Iamblossom]

Black lab, 2.5 years old. Absolutely beautiful to look at, incredibly loving, super clever.

I walk and run with him in an area that you can let dogs off leads. I regularly revisit recall and take a lead and treats on all walks and runs I take him on, and his recall is very good 98% of the time.

But oh my goodness, when I let him, he runs like Lindford Christie crossed with a greyhound, back and forth back and forth, barks very very loudly with joy at nothing in particular, is a total whirling dervish of energy. I see other dogs running about, and barking, but not like him, I get comments of amusement from people all the time.

Are all Labs like this or is he just super exuberant?

@therapyclient I use a Halti on Jackson, works well, it's the only way I can walk him on a lead.

Does he swim? Play 'fetch' with a floating ball or gun dog dummy in the water.

Five minutes of swimming is roughly the same as forty minutes of mad running about, and will give his joints less stress, as he has issues with his elbows.

Some labradors are just bonkers, though! My dog sometimes plays with an off-duty guide dog who really knows how to cut loose. Those I work with seem to pass through two distinct stages on their way to 'great family dog': 'cutest puppy ever' and 'hectic whirling dervish'.

He absolutely loves to swim, took him to a local lake loads in the summer, its a good shout, will take him more. Hilarious watching my miniature daschund stand on the bank patrolling until he gets back on dry land, she hates the water.

Yeah, I use one on mine too! She really strong though, and sometimes a bird or squirrel will be enough to be like a sudden booster pack!

We have a bonkers working cocker who sounds much like this

He is so bloody quick and has so much energy. We adore him and knew what we were getting into. He's such a happy dog!

I can't wait to do proper scent work with him because he will love it. We already do hide and seek and he loves it. Maybe yours would enjoy it?

Your dog sounds very happy and surely that's the most important thing

It'll calm down when he's 4.

I have a beautiful boy, a lab-vizsla cross who still bounces around a fair bit at the age of 5. But he was like your dog until around 3 1/2. By 4 he started calming down. Once in a blue moon, he still gets a little crazy. But when he bounds, he bounds! He's like a racehorse. But mostly he just sniffs his way through his walks now. I love it. I needed him to mellow out a bit. And he was stellar when I had a heart attack and collapsed. Stayed right by my side and shoved himself underneath me so I could lay on him. I don't remember the rest. But I lived to walk with him another day and that is a great, great pleasure. Here's to many happy years with your boy.

I have a Springer so evening you described is just the normal in Springers world

I think I have the whippet version of your lab. Some of his most memorable moments include running into a pole at puppy school (he was fine) and jumping over other dogs while running around the local park. He also likes to run up to strangers at the park, lean on them and ask for pats. He can be a handful but I love his special ‘spark’.

@TheVanguardSix omigoodness how amazing of your dog to do this. He sounds fantastic, what a clever boy.

And to all PPs oh yes, I get huge pleasure from his joy, every time he goes outside it is like it is the first time ever, he is soooo happy and joyful, busy living his best life. It is a delight to watch and be part of.

My next training with Jackson is going to be to sit while I go through a door first. He barrels past me and knocks me sideways! So rude.

Love to know what this is ...

I have a dachshund who had back problems at 4... so am keen to do all I can to keep him fit.

He's never been overweight but I'm working on losing half a kilo so he is back under 5 kg....

What else is farm dog physique?

He sounds fun

Do we get a photo (don’t worry if you want to be anon!)

@loveyouradvice I took it to mean rangy,,,he has no excess fat anyway, borderline skinny. But not. If that makes sense.

My daxie on the other hand is carrying some lockdown timber . Not overweight (just) but it's very hard to keep her weight down. And she runs 20-30km a week with me.

@rainbowducks he is great fun.

Pic of both my dogs attached - what you have to do when the garage gives you a loan car with no boot...

OMG gorgeous! Look at that coat!

they both have cod liver oil every day

My dog is like yours, full of life!
Sometimes I look at the other dogs walking nicely and plodding along - then at mine, running around like a manic, and my heart fills with pride!

(I've had 3 labs in the past, they do grow out of it, about age 6 if I recall!)

We’ve had several labs over the years. All from pups. But we have a four month old one now who is really impossible. He isn’t listening to any training at all. Has a aggressive side to him and bites with meaning multiple times a day. Random attacks for no reason any time of day, on walks. He is from a working dog line and I wonder if he’s the wrong dog for a pet.

Never known an aggressive lab before.

Any idea what to do?

@DobbyTheHouseElk you need a behaviourist if the pup is aggressive, you know how quickly labs grow and how strong they can be.

@puttergal yes, we’ve seen a behaviouralist recommended by the vet. Unfortunately it was a waste of time, they didn’t suggest anything new and didn’t think there was a problem. Pup was on best behaviour and looking like a little angel.

@DobbyTheHouseElk I'd be tempted to send pup away to one of those intensive training places - I know they are expensive - but I would be keen for the pup to have a fresh slate and start training in a non-home environment.
Where did you get the pup from?
I assume working lines? I've never known an aggressive lab, what does the breeder say? Would they be happy to take the pup back for assessment? (Assuming it's a decent, experienced breeder).

@puttergal

Yes, it’s from a working line.

The breeder has taken him back for the day. On occasion and he does behave himself ish for 24 hrs after.

Breeder is going to do intensive training soon.

I’ve never known an aggressive lab ever. Usually they are goofy and happy family dogs. But we suspect there was an aggressive dog in the family history (local knowledge has confirmed this) again unusual in the breed.

No medical problems. Vet has checked.

I didn’t know there were intensive training places. I did joke he needs to be sent away to boarding school.

He is much loved and it would be heartbreaking to give pup up. But with children I don’t want an aggressive dog.

I have an excitable, bonkers, working line red fox/yellow (slim) lab. 2 years old nearly

His recall is good unless his prey drive kicks in (hard to train that out of him) or he sees another dog that he wants to play with. So to be honest he can’t be off lead around other dogs as he just won’t come back.

@DobbyTheHouseElk our lab has reactive/ aggression issues due to fear. He was attacked a few times as a puppy unfortunately. He gets scared of other dogs on lead and can take a dislike to random dogs. Aggression is often down to fear but so hard to figure out the causes.

I love him but it’s such hard work. He’s had months and months of training. Personal trainers, gun dog training. I do training every day. Yet I have friends with better behaved dogs who haven’t done a days training with them! They just trot along by their side ignoring other dogs and not running around like lunatics.

My dog trainer did say there’s certain percentage of labs that are ‘highly excitable ’ I guess I got one of those.

I wouldn't have an aggressive dog in my home for 10 plus years.
I personally would pull out all the stops to get this sorted now, or be prepared to rehome pup to a home without children.
Would the breeder take the pup back and swap him for another pup when they have another litter? What solution have they suggested?
I'm a bit surprised that you have found that pup had an aggressive ancestor - they shouldn't have ever been bred. Unfortunately sometimes outdoors/gun dogs are bred (who are great for the gun) but aren't suitable for pet home & end up as family pets which doesn't always work out.
My last lab had not the friendliest parents and I wouldn't have had him (dp insisted) but we had a child free home, calm home. Our pup was timid which made him slightly fear aggressive, but we were able to control his environment so this wasn't an issue.
Not possible if you have children around.

I put a GroPro thing on mine and he ran 23 miles during my 5 miles walk -23 miles! 23 that's more than a marathon he's 3 and full of beans. And lean lean lean