A year of lab | Mumsnet

autienotnayghty · 2022-04-19T06:11:50+00:00

Month 1 He's so beautiful I just wish he'd sleep! Month 2 what's with all the biting??? Month 3 it's getting easier just need to nail the biting oh and the chewing. Putting things out of reach won't work for ever Month 4 puppy training needed Month 5 need to solve pulling on lead he's getting big and how much food a week? Month 6-10 wtf???? Month 11 maybe he has a psychological condition we should get a behaviourist. Month 12 I think it's getting easier or have I just been conditioned? Anyone relate? My lab has given me more grey hairs than any of my children!! 👵🏼

Primrosefields · 19/04/2022 07:16

Our labrador was hard work too. Now he is 9 and he is so calm. So glad those years are behind us now. Just the constant moulting to deal with now.

XelaM · 19/04/2022 07:56

Beesmakehoney · 19/04/2022 11:42

Just hitting month 6 here. WTAF. Help us.

Original poster

autienotnayghty · 19/04/2022 12:46

@Beesmakehoney

Just hitting month 6 here. WTAF. Help us.

Tell me about it !! Mines 14m now and definitely easier. But still not 'easy' I get such dog envy when I see well behaved dogs 😩

OP posts:

ApolloandDaphne · 19/04/2022 12:49

Sounds like our lab was when she was younger. She is now 10 and a lovely calm old lady. It does pass.

Original poster

autienotnayghty · 19/04/2022 15:35

@ApolloandDaphne

Sounds like our lab was when she was younger. She is now 10 and a lovely calm old lady. It does pass.

Do you have a rough age? I feel like it's getting easier. Then today........😩

OP posts:

Primrosefields · 19/04/2022 17:08

Ours was 4 when he calmed right down. He is so calm and relaxed now.

LabraDabraDoo · 19/04/2022 19:26

That made me laugh! I can completely relate. We’ve lived for eighteen months with this ridiculous hound. I’ve lost count of the number of shoes, Victoria sponges and pairs of swimming goggles we’ve lost. He’s now a strutty adolescent and goes crazy when any vehicle drives down our track- hackles raised, barking madly to protect his family. His recall is excellent but he’s still strong on the lead ( I’m currently nursing a sprained ankle- cheers mate). He is hard work but makes all of us ( even the grumpy teenager) smile every single day. As as I tell him, as I walk past and have a little sniff, his ears do be smelling of biscuits ❤️

Bon courage!

Suzi888 · 19/04/2022 19:29

@ApolloandDaphne

Sounds like our lab was when she was younger. She is now 10 and a lovely calm old lady. It does pass.

Does it.

Mine has turned 11 and only just calmed down!

InTheNightWeWillWish · 19/04/2022 19:38

20 month old lab here.

The 12-16m when you think they get better is just lulling you into a false sense of security before they have their final push of boundary pushing and being a complete idiot. Hopefully it’s the final push anyway Today has been one, long cry of “just stop being a knob”.

Original poster

autienotnayghty · 19/04/2022 20:41

@InTheNightWeWillWish

20 month old lab here.

The 12-16m when you think they get better is just lulling you into a false sense of security before they have their final push of boundary pushing and being a complete idiot. Hopefully it’s the final push anyway Today has been one, long cry of “just stop being a knob”.

Noooooooooo!!!!!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

autienotnayghty · 19/04/2022 20:42

@LabraDabraDoo

That made me laugh! I can completely relate. We’ve lived for eighteen months with this ridiculous hound. I’ve lost count of the number of shoes, Victoria sponges and pairs of swimming goggles we’ve lost. He’s now a strutty adolescent and goes crazy when any vehicle drives down our track- hackles raised, barking madly to protect his family. His recall is excellent but he’s still strong on the lead ( I’m currently nursing a sprained ankle- cheers mate). He is hard work but makes all of us ( even the grumpy teenager) smile every single day. As as I tell him, as I walk past and have a little sniff, his ears do be smelling of biscuits ❤️

Bon courage!

We just bought a canny collar for pulling it's fab.

OP posts:

EcoCustard · 19/04/2022 20:45

no lab here but have two spaniels, these posts have made me laugh.

longlivetheking · 19/04/2022 20:56

OMG yes!!
Our first lab and she’s now 6 months - am just about feeling we’re getting somewhere now after having Boxers we naively thought a Lab would be easier!!! As a puppy, she has been SO much harder.
My experienced lab-owner friends tell me after a year they become much easier and more rewarding…

Downsize2021 · 19/04/2022 21:04

Brilliant, Op!

Ilikewinter · 19/04/2022 21:19

Not a lab mum but weve got a border collie who is 1 on Friday - not sure how hes reached 1 though! - just as I think hes growing up he does a spectacular 360, Sunday we lost him for 10 minutes a he set off chasing geese along the canal path..... hes back on the long line now 🙈

LadyCatStark · 19/04/2022 21:24

That’s pretty accurate 😂. Ours is 12 months and just calming down nicely so I’m a bit perturbed to hear about an 18 month blip!!

PuppyMonkey · 19/04/2022 21:33

My golden retriever was exactly the same, he’s four now and is still a massive twat.

WeLoveHaribo · 20/04/2022 11:37

14 mth lab here, calmed down loads, still pain on lead (heels when wants!) so excited to see anyone/other dogs..
hope we don’t experience a blip 🙈

sillysmiles · 20/04/2022 11:43

My lab is an old man now. I feel sad for him that his body isn't able for the mischief anymore.

itsneilthebaby · 20/04/2022 12:05

Ours got to about 14 months and we really thought we'd cracked it and had the perfect dog. Then they go through a stage of forgetting everything you've ever taught them, and they push every boundary they possibly can. Took until he was about 2.5 to really settle down again