Lab puppy HELP

[Luceeeee]

We have a friend’s lab puppy staying who is 8 months. We also have a lab just turned 3.

Puppy lab is insane. He does not stop. He sleeps in a crate and woke at 4am. He was in our room so woke us and our girl up. He’s bonkers.

How do we settle him down? I wonder if I put our crate in the lounge and pop him in there for downtime during the day. HELP

Why is he crated at 8 months? It's no wonder he's bonkers! That is too big a dog to be living its life in a cage.

How much exercise and company is he getting in the day?

Why don't you speak to your friend to ask her advice?

He's still an absolute puppy at 8 months. What is your routine like during the day?

Hahaha mine was beyond bonkers at that age and was never crated, she hated the crate.
Are you taking out for a few short walks? Playing in the garden? Enrichment toys?

Night I’m not sure, ours slept upstairs either us and would often get up at 4 or so and one of us would let her out. If she wouldn’t settle, one of us would stay downstairs with her.

Don’t forget puppy is in a strange space so will be unsettled.

At 8 months old you feel as though you never taught your puppy anything.
He's 8 months old and has loads of energy etc, take him for stimulating walks and play during the day.
When he wakes at 4am, say firmly sleep time and don't respond to him. Get your dog to settle down again quickly.

He’s an adolescent puppy - there’s not much of can do except be patient and very grateful that you get to hand him back 🤣

Not much to add, just sympathy, My dog was play hard/sleep hard at that age, appeared to have forgotten all training some days. I think he’s probably unsettled with change of routine? How long do you have him? I’d say just try and wear him out with exercise and play, but mine was even worse if he was overtired. Can he sleep somewhere else overnight? Even hallway rather than directly in your room might help.

Firstly, he’s probably overstimulated from being in your house and the new environment. Did his owners not give you any guidance on his routine?

I think enforced naps may be a good idea, if he’s not getting any rest. We established a routine for ours where he Would be awake for a couple of hours, then sleep during the morning, awake at lunch, then afternoon sleep etc. I wouldn’t have the crate in the lounge but in a quiet place.

He is in a different house, with different people. It is pretty standard puppy behaviour, he just happens to be a Lab. Our two labs are milder equivalents of this in new surroundings, even at 12 and 5.

Dogs miss their humans, just as much as kids do at similar stages. They are hard wired to be part of a pack and if that pak goes, they struggle. Just keep reassuring him, keep him active, and try and stick as much to his normal routine as possible.