My chocolate lab is now 16 months old. She can still be a terror at times she loves life soo much and loves to play and greet people, sometimes a little over the top! I have to be careful on walks as she has a good recall when we are on our own, but if she spots another dog it's another story, she wants to go play! I have lost count of the number of times I have apologised to people for my dog jumping up on people or not responding to my recalls when she's off playing with another dog, I always have that feeling that despite my great and dedicated attempts to train her, maybe I wasn't good enough to teach her properly. But today I went to see my friend and her dog and it made me realise how lucky I am to have such a friendly little girl. My friends dog barks at every thing and every one and today she made me feel really un comfortable, her barks were  turning into warning growls and I know she has bitten before so I was a little uneasy. When I got home I gave my girl an extra big hug, if her only fault is wanting to love every one, then I am very lucky to be owned by my lab!

Hi Joules, as you say be thankful for small mercies! Dont be too hard on yourself as it takes 2 to Tango. Even the best trained dogs are not robots and may disobey/be distracted whatever. 16 months is a dangerous age I find as Morse is more steady and reliable, then just as Im happily anticipating a good result in exactly the circumstances you describe, he blows it. :D Last night he blew it with a seriously undertrained/under exercised Welsh Springer whose owner sneered " I see you're as much in control as ever!" This from an owner whose dog barks constantly, cannot be let off lead and responds to not one command. Once given his character in fluent Anglo Saxon, Morse returned and lay down beside me " sorry, Mum " so standards were restored :D Hope this cheers you up with your girl who sounds a darling.

Joules,

As a lab owner myself, I know exactly what you mean, but please be aware of the fact that, as I understand it, you COULD be presecuted under the dangerous dogs act, if your friendly lab, jumps up and knocks someone over etc, and the person decided to prosecute.
  I don't want to put a downer on it, but labs, being the lovely nutters that they are, have got a somewhat bad reputation where jumping up is concerned.
  Please don't forget, that not everyone out walking likes dogs and some people are downright terrified of them.  It is, at the end of the day, our responsibility to be able to stop our dog launching itself at anyone.  That said, I'd hate to think about what would happen if your friends dog ran round a corner and met horseriders- I shudder to think of the consequences:(
Please don't take offence about what i've said, I don't mean to sound alarmist, I agree that even the best trained dogs can have off days, keep working on the training.....I'm sure that it'll work out in the end. (you can always re-inforce a recall using a long line)
Good luck- keep up the good work and maybe one day your hints to your friend will be heeded before something BAD happens.
Ali :)

Unforunately this is very true. I remember in the papers some years ago Wiliam Roache, (Ken Barlow in Coronation Street) was prosercuted under the DDA because his Labrador jumped up at someone. Trouble is, Labradors see everyone as their friends.

Best wishes, John

hi

my boxer is exactly the same she is so pleased to see people and other dogs, she greets them like their her best friend but people don't want to be jumped on and i don't blame them to be honest, the other week she ran off and came back with a swollen grazed eye i think that maybe a jogger gave her a kick! i was upset as she would'nt harm anyone and you can see she's a puppy but thats how some people react, she's got better touch wood so long as the people don't speak to her the minute they say hello its wam bam thankyou mam!

regards
jojo

Thanks every one for your replies. Jojo, I know exactly what you mean about how when some one says "hello" to her, that's it! It's like an invitation to lick them all over, yet if she is ignored she will ignore back!

I think I've grown grey hairs since I've had my lab from a pup. I so want the best for her and have put every effort I can into it! She is a little sweetheart when all said and done. Friendly, full of life and pretty much obedient, except those times that it really matters... other dogs around. I know this is where I must concentrate my efforts in training her. I'm very concious of how other dog owners might feel about a big lab running toward them, they don't know she's friendly and I don't know that they are!!!

But I think the point I was trying to get across is I spend so much time worring about her "naughty" habits, I sometimes forget what a beautiful dog I am lucky enough to own. My friends dog has a fantastic recall, but I'd rather have it my way round!!!!