Hi I have a 3 and a half year old lab called Willow. She has 2 decent walks a day  - maybe totalling 2 hours. She also comes and tootles round in the garden with me and sometimes comes for rides in the car. Occasionally she'll come and hang out in the kitchen or sitting room. HOWEVER, she spends nearly all the rest of the time in her bed. She seems quite happy and will come out and make a big welcome if we have visitors. I do worry that she spends so long in her basket. What has really started me thinking is that I met my sister in Wales for a few days break and her 2 spaniels are in your face all the time ( don't get me wrong they're lovely ), leaping about and wagging their tails. They are allowed on the furniture ( Willow isn't). It made me think that Willow is so different. My previous dog was the same. Willow is well trained - she has KC gold cert and I do agility with her.

Maybe she's getting the right outlet that her sister isn't. With walks, agility and the obedience you've done with her, she's getting what she needs. Having an overly hyper dog in the house isn't much fun, plus the sister has spaniels to keep her going too. I wouldn't worry unless you think there is something wrong with her? But if she's lively on her walks and also at agility then you've got yourself a nice companion who isn't a pest

Think you have a happy well adjusted and content dog Treacle...

Firstly, labs aren't spaniels so there's no need to compare her with them - spaniels are typically very busy dogs, always into something and labs are often considerably more laid back than them.

With what she's getting and how she is, I'd say she sounds like a happy and contented dog - they don't need to be doing something all the time and given sufficient input, will spent most of the day lazing about.  Some dogs are lazier than others too, just like us!

Hi Cambria. My sister just has the spaniels - not willows sister!

Haha misread your post and thought it was willows sister living with spaniels. Spaniels are always on the go and I wouldn't compare a Lab to them. She to me sounds like she's a happy girl and doesn't need for anything more. You are giving her what she needs which is great.
Sounds like you have got the perfect balance for her :-)

It sounds as though Willow has a great off-switch and is getting enough physical and mental exercise to keep her happy.  If she were off her food or lethargic on walks or at training then I would be inclined to take her to the vet for a check-up, but as this isn't the case then it seems you have a well adjusted, happy companion.  Different dogs of the same breed have varying energy levels and drives, and spaniels (especially those from working stock) tend to be uber energetic and bouncy, whereas Labs do tend, on the whole, to be calmer.

Brilliant, most people would be delighted with the sort of scenario you have, doing everything right by the sound of it and she is happy to be in her bed not being made to get in there, top marks

You could see if she would like a basket in the lounge so she can be nearer, but otherwise I wouldn't worry too much. 3 of my spaniels spend all their time on the sofa on my lap, and the 4th one spends some time on the sofa and the rest of it in his bed in the kitchen, or occasionally on the front doormat, which is never a good plan if hubby comes home and doesn't remember there might be a dog snoozing there! I expect Willow is perfectly happy to chill out after her lovely walks and training classes.

My girls get an hour in the morning when they charge about and have a great time, then home for brekkie and then...sleep then they have another 1/2 - 3/4 hr in the afternoons and come home to ...sleep !! They do come round the garden with me if I go out to the front "Special" garden but most of the time they are happy to snooze the day away. They seem very content and are happy well adjusted dogs. They will come out and spend the whole day with us if we go off for the day but if not then sleeping is fine by them. They are not much into playing but on odd occasions will have a rough and tumble with each other, balls and tuggies are Oh so boooring ! Typical Bernese attitude. A day out is always fun but if its a long drive they are happy to snooze the trip away in the car. A day at a country fair is welcome and treats and cuddles from everyone expected and received with good grace..Mine is a calm breed by nature (or should be ) and a lazy life suits them just fine. Don't worry but be thankful you don't have a nutter on your hands

Sounds perfect to me, an active dog with an off switch, politely there, affectionate when called for.

Wow ! Seems you have the perfect dog -and she has a great life too.
Wish mine wouldn't take over the sofas .I know I shouldn't have allowed it in the first place  .
Our old boy Tag ( Border Collie)was like Willow. He had his special place in the kitchen and would sleep there peacefully ,even as a young dog. When there was any action to be had, he was up and as eager as the rest to get out. He died last year, along with two of our old girls.
Miss them all.

I also agree with everyone else.........

Labs up to maturity can be very bouncy and active, often hard to handle, when I bump into some new Lab owners I don't think they believe me when I say once mature and trained they will calm down completely, but they do.
 
She gets everything she needs from you and unlike a lot of Labs from 3 onwards she'll keep her 'figure' as she is getting enough exercise, **thumbs up** and the KC training keeps her occupied, continue to do play sessions at home too even well after you've got them all.

Trouble with a lot of Labs over the age of 3 years once they hit the 'laid back button', their metabolism obviously slows down and if they do not get enough exercise they get overweight very quickly, it's why so many Labs are overweight today, we all see them on walks........ as they will just sit around......... if they have nothing to occupy them.

Doing a good job Treacle and she sounds perfect.