Hi,

My choc lab has just turned six months old the main problem we have is that she is very excitable but only at certain times. It mainly occurs when people come to the house or we're out for a walk. She walks off the lead mostly through the woods where she strays no more than 6ft away from us and always returns when called. The problem is when there are other people or dogs around, she just bounds straight up to them sniffs the other dog and then continues to jump up their owners and will not come back when called until we've actually walked past them.

We have tried a couple of methods none of which seem to work. Just completely ignoring her and asking other people to do the same - she justs continues to jump until they have stroked her. Shouting 'down' every time she jumps up - she doesn't jump again but she has still left our control by bounding up to them in the first place. Putting her on the lead whenever we meet other people/dogs - she pulls very hard on the lead virtually choking herself as we're walking past.

Is this just normal lab behaviour and she will eventually get the message or do we need to reinforce some other sort of training?

Sorry this is long winded and I hope I have got my point across. Thank you in advance for your help and I look forward to hearing from you.

Cara & Sacha

I would say this is typical lab puppy behaviour. Labs just love everyone.
She sounds very well behaved for such a young puppy.
I find with mine that by about 18 months of age they are more settled when you meet someone out on a walk. I would try to find a toy she loves and then when you see someone whilst out get the toy out and encourage her to stay with you.
Good luck.

Sorry but it is just lab behaviour.
Mine has to say hello to absolutely everyone!!!!!!!!

WE try to put Darcy back on the lead when we see someone and then make her sit before the person strokes her or gives her any fuss!!!!!!!

We also use the toy trick as well
WE have banded a squeaky toy from the house (has to be a very loud squeak) we carry it on walks and if she runs off we give it a good squeak and she comes running back and we have a good tug of war and if the people are still in range we put her back on the lead

Its worked every time except for those when shes managed to get the toy during hte tug of war and then she just runs up to the people with a big squeaky newspaper in her mouth!!!! :D

Have you thought of trying a whistle for recall ? It may well help in getting her to come back rather than calling ? It worked with my middle Lab !

Lucy

ps She is being a normal Lab by the way ! :D

Thank you for all your replies, I'm glad this is just normal behaviour and we're not doing it all wrong.

She is our first dog (although I have grown up with whippets and terriers) and we tend to be a little over anxious. Everything else we seem to have sorted out and she is an absolute joy to be with it's just when we're out walking. I will try either a toy or whistle tonight and see how we go.

Cara

The only thing that works to recall my choc loony is a bag of treats.He is so greedy that he comes back every time just to check if he's really going to get one.Amber at 13 weeks also a choccy lab is going to be much better trained, i am determined!!!
Having said that all labs love people, other dogs etc and will try and run up just to get that extra bit of attention, so it is perfectly normal behaviour.:) ps amber got a new little boyfriend tonight, a really cute lakeland terrier called max, milo was very jealous:)