1 YEAR OLD FEMALE BLACK LAB, HASN'T BEEN SPAYED..HELP!!!!!!!

[Mystery Peepers]

Thank you!

I'll try the walking. I've attempted it before, but she pulled me down and jumped on me. Will a choke chain help that? Thanks again for all great posts!

-M.P.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Choke chain NO. Pinch collar YES.

Choke chains can cause permanant damage to the trachea, especially if the dog is a puller. A pinch collar looks evil, but is safer than the choke chain. It brings the skin together and "pinches" it. The dog learns VERY quickly not to pull.

 

[mypicklebird]

Ditto that--- some dog will stay quiet for a few days after major abdominal surgery (which a spay is, though it has become very standard). SOme do not, and most vets now send home dogs with heavy duty pain medications- as the thought is that post surgical pain is not an appropriate way to keep an animal quiet. Meaning- keep them comfortable AND keep them quiet. The typical dog that breaks down it's incision a few days after surgery is the high energy vertical leaper and runner, the one that the owners can't or won't keep quiet. Sedatives and an e-collar for these dogs is very important. The cost of the spay and recovery from the spay for the pet pales in comparison to the cost and recovery from a herniation.

I also don't understand why you can't get the dog to the vet, is it that you can't get it in the car? Part of the training of your pet, is training it to get in the car. Most dogs will willingly jump in a car, if the car generally takes it somewhere fun (like a park, beach ect). If you dog is just totally untrained and high energy- the vet staff can handle it. If it is a high energy aggressive dog (ie jumps and bites) they may decline.

If you cannot handle this dog, and cannot commit to put the time, money and energy into making this a family dog- you need to rehome it NOW while she is still young and more easily trainable. Lab rescue will probably be your best bet. Or bring a good private trainer to your house to try to sort out this mess. Do not condemn this poor dog to a life time of tie down in a chain link cage, with periodic escape & destruction of property, manhandling by upset owners and brief negative contact with said people. Who is primarily responsible for this dog? Who bought it and buys it's food ect? They need to step up and properly take care of this dog. Dogs are so social, she is attention starved, and does not understand why she is being treated the way she is. The longer this goes on, the more work it will be to help her be a good dog that people want to be around. Get professional help now, or get her to a group that can.

Quote:
Not necessarily....I've known a lot of dogs that did themselves a lot of damage by trying to do too much too soon. She will need to be contained to an area that she doesn't have room to run around.

 

[BroncoHollow]

You've been given really great advise. I'm assuming this your first experience with a young lab?

A 7 week old pup is at a critical stage in their mental development. I know a lot will let their pups go at that age, but we believe it is too young for a lab, especially if the home is not skilled with raising labs. It makes me very sad to hear of problems like you are experencing.

Your lab, hun, is simply out of control and you need someone who can give you guidance in establishing structure for her. Not to sound mean or harsh, but you have the behavior of what you have allowed since you brought the pup home... such as allowing Liberty at 7 weeks to jump up on you because it was cute and she's 'just a pup', to now at around 60 pounds, it isn't fun or cute anymore.

No excuses, find someone to take you, make payment plans, whatever it takes - get her spayed!! If she hasn't cycled yet she will soon and you'll have lots of unwanted visitors or she will escape. Don't think a chain link fence will hold hold her, she'll dig out, jump out, climb out or just simply blow through the chain link. The LAST thing you need is a litter - and BTW, having a litter will not calm her down.

Starting today make the time to make sure she is walked and has 30 minutes of intense play, that will help greatly to lower the energy level. No excuses, just do it, everyday.

As mentioned Ceasar is a good source and Don Sullivan - The Perfect Dog training method, is also very good. But I'd like to see you try and get to someone who can one on one interact with you and Liberty especially since you said you are afraid of her.

It won't happen overnight and it will take a concentrated effort on your family acting as a unit. It will be inconvenient at times and starting out, probably most of time, but with the right tools it WILL get better. The payoff with correct guidance is you'll have a not just a good dog - but a great dog.

Wishing you and Liberty the best hun, take care.

 

[wyo-helpmeet]

Quote:
Martingale collars are EXCELLENT for training as well. We have a black lab mix, and a lot of what you describe is so her! A Martingale is a "safe" choke collar. It doesn't pinch, but does tighten when they pull or when you pull. As soon as tension is released, the Martingale also releases. They aren't expensive either. The one we got has a lifetime guarantee, NO questions asked. I was introduced to the Martingale by the lady at the county vet who is also studying to be a certified trainer.

 

[stormylady]

My black lab Sally was super easy to train when we got her,we got her when she was 6 wks now 13 years old. she was so eager to please and so laid back, even today Sally is the best dog ever, Her daughter Cinnomon, another story, she was aggressive and i thought that she might be hard of hearing or had bad eyesight, turns out all she needed was to know who was boss because the top member of our pack was her mother and what sally said went! Turns out all she needed was to be dominated put down and held every time she showed an aggressive or over excited behavior. She was never aggressive toward the Immediate family, but anyone she did not know was at risk! Neither one of the girls have ever been runners, and would come right to the door if they did get loose. But after the dominance training I haven't had another problem out of her she is the lovingest girl now. Don't get me wrong she WILL gaurd us and the house with a vengence the difference now is when I say enough that is the end and she goes back to being her sweet self! Everything I read just about so far on this post has been correct: Labs need alot of exercise, they need alot of there own toys to chew on, they need alot of time with the ones they love, They also need and this is very very important...... They need you to stay calm, don't panic or scream .They can sense when your aggitated and will react to it. That will only add to her excitement. and will make matters worse. A year old is not that old and she can be trained!She is still a puppy! A big one but a puppy still. Ceasar Milan is a wonder with dogs, and I have used his techniques alot of times with my dogs. LOL , I think she is showing alot of her inner puppy still, and it will take time and alot of effort but she will be a wonderful dog once you start the training , labs are very intellengent and she should learn fairly quickly, good luck with her. Sandy BTW: Cinnomon is 11 yrs old now! There were times when I wondered if she would make it that long, but I wouldn't trade her for the world today! And also fixing your dog is a good thing and only good things can come from it!

 

[Southern Gardener]

Quote:
Not necessarily....I've known a lot of dogs that did themselves a lot of damage by trying to do too much too soon. She will need to be contained to an area that she doesn't have room to run around.

My lab had to be contained and I highly recommend yours be contained after surgery as well.

 

[freshegg]

www.dogbreedinfo.com go to the alpha doggie bootcamp article it has tips on training your dog. we have a stbernard/boxer 60lbs at 6 months and he jumps on people so I feel your pain but they can be trained hes starting to listen pretty good just by the tone of my voice.

 

[Mystery Peepers]

Thank you all soooooo much!
This is very encouraging and helpful!

Here is one other thing in Liberty's life since we got her. We got her when she was seven weeks old. For TWO days, she was very sweet. She slept almost all the time, and when she wasn't sleeping, she ate or just sat at your feet and licked your toes. But, on the third day we had her, the night after we put her outside in a kennel, she's been purely puppy. She still is very sweet once she stops jumping on you. She is a full blooded lab, I can't remember if i mentioned that. My Dad got her from a man he works with who raises lab puppies. She had papers, but Daddy would have had to pay 150$ for her with them. Instead, he got her without papers for 20$. Here's something else, the man who sold her to us said that Liberty's brother Rex and her sister where returned to him when they where about 8 months old!! Figure that out!!! I've seen that most of ya'll who've answered my post said a Pinch collar is the way to go. Where do I find one? Also, what I meant by we can't get her to the vet is, once we unhook her from her ground cable, she's off like a rocket for our pond, then to the chickens, then to the kittens, then the garbage, then our toddler..... we can't catch her to put her in the bed of our pick up to take her to the vet. I'm afraid she'll jump out, even if we do! She does like to play rough. I'm only 90 pounds and she will knock me over with a few hard jumps. She want attention I can tell, it's just hard to do anything with her when she's jumping on top of you, and biting at my hand. I think I try the spending more time with her just hangin' out for a while, so she's not SO glad to see me. In answer to the questions, " who's responsible for this dog, who buys her food...?" That would be me. My sisters already had pets when we got Libby(the name we call her) so I said I would train her and she'd be partially my pet. I said this BEFORE she turned, "puppy" My Dad buys the food. Anyway, sorry I made this post SO long!!!! That's some of her history anyway. Thanks again for all the great advice!!!! Also, once she learns a few basic commands, will she do them for other people besides me?

- Tannassee Gal'
Part owner of Liberty Jubilee

 

[wyo-helpmeet]

Put a leash on AS WELL before you unchain her.