Hi i'm a new member here with a few questions..but since they are very different i wil post different topics.
I have a 4 year old Labrador Retriever called Buddy. He is the craziest dog i have ever met but i love him :)

Ok, well, my first question is about being hyper...whenever anyone comes over he just jumps up and will not calm down. If even after hallf an hour of being there the visitor stands up to do something or go somewhere or do anything he gets all hyper again..i have tried everything i can think of..but nothing is working. We thought maybe it's because he's still young but i haven't met any dogs who are this friendly!!

I'll  post a 2nd question here because it's *kind of* similar...oversexuality (don't know how else to say it) ...with male dogs, females (non-stop!), he even used to do it to humans but thank god i stopped that! I can't even take him to the club anymore for fear that he will fight with dogs who don't let him do this...is this normal in  male dogs?  Is there any other solution other than castration?

Thanks! :)

Hi Talusha! Welcome to Champdogs!

Your two questions: How much exercise and training does Buddy get? He's of a breed that's been designed to be active all day, and he's in his prime ...

As for his humping - yes, there is a remedy other than castration (which would do no good at his age, as it's a learned behaviour; castrated dogs can stil mate and tie, they just don't sire puppies) - it's called training ...

Unfortunately Buddy doesnt get as much exercise as he needs...and that is my fault for being too worried to take him out other than for his walks...there are dogs in the street and he goes crazy. :( so u can blame me for that. As for the training, i train him everyday...its just that i think he needs more discipline...sometimes i feel he doesnt respect me at all...if he doesnt want to do something he ignores me. It's probably because i am always on his case lol! How do i teach him not to do this?? Sorry for the many questions....

But why is it a learned behavior when i tell him not to do it?..except when we mate him...and i've also realised something that i need to fix usually we tell him not to hump..but when we mate him we encourage it..which is probaby mixing him up..but what do i do?

And thanks alot for the warm welcome! :D

How long are Buddy's walks? And what training do you do every day?

>But why is it a learned behavior when i tell him not to do it?..except when we mate him...

He's been taught that mating behaviour is good. It's not something that can be switched on and off, with dogs. It's either always good or always bad. If he's been used at stud even once he's going to be 'up for it' at any time. If he has been allowed to mate I'm sure you're aware of all the tests for hereditary conditions he needs to be clear of (and have certificates to prove it), so I shan't go into them.

Yes, don't worry i know all the mating procedures lol so everythings fine :)

Buddy's walks usually range from half an hour to 45 mins..sometimes he actually runs back to the house lol!

Well, training.hmm let's see..sit, come,down, come when there is a distraction ( my current problem!) i don't know lots of things..if you meant something specific then i could be more clear.:)

Is there anyway i could post pics?

Well my old 13 1/2 year old gets more excersise then buddy, and they are not a hyper dog, but a laid back one at home, with plenty of stamina when out.

Your Labrador needs body and mind stimulating. 

Sorry Talusha, but this really is not something which should be laughed at, it really is quite a serious responsibility. But, if you are willing to take responsibility and re-train Buddy, all is not lost. However it will take time and patience, and lots of it.

A dog which is as high drive and as intelligent as a Labrador needs the time and effort he deserves. A minimum walk of 1 hour in the morning and again 1.5hours walk in the evening, plus brainwork. I would have said that he would be capable of a least 1 -1/5 hours brainwork per day, broken into 15/20 min intervals. 

If you nave spent little or no time training him, then you cannot expect a dog who understands and knows what you expect of him. Not only will you have to re-train Buddy, you will have to train yourself, be gentle, firm and most importantly consitant.

Its is understandable that he behaves this way with dogs when you are taking him for a walk, he is not being socialised, nor are you teaching him manners.  The more you walk him past these dogs around you home, the less he will take notice, but it is down to you to encourage good manners, rather than give up to make and easier life for you

As for the mating thing, well this is what he has been encourage to do, and there is nothing you can do about it now.  You would have known this before using him at stud, surely?

oooops, and welcome to the forum ;)

Yes, i did know about this kayc but i thought this was normal behavior..after all he is a male. I asked people at the club and people that i know and they all said their dog did this so i thought it was normal.

What kind of training does everyone suggest i do with him? Whenever we are in the street and he sees a dog it becomes a pulling match and it's like he goes completely deaf...how do i teach him good manners while we are out?

I have alot of patience when it comes to Buddy but i'm just not sure about what to do exactly. And now especially since it's summer i have alot of time for him too.

I'm willing to listen to all the suggestions i can get.:)

is there any way i can show you pics of him?

Thanks alot for all your replies! :D

Hi Talusha, and welcome to CD. :D

If anyone wants to see pics, they could PM you their e-mail address and you could send them that way. HTH. :-)

Hi Talusha

Welcome to CD.  You talk about a "club".  What sort of club is this?  Is it a dog training club?  If so, they should be teaching you how to teach Buddy good manners.  That is what training clubs are all about.  If they are not doing this then I suggest that you go to another club which is recommended to you by somebody who has been there.  Ensure they use positive reward methods.  They will help you to find ways of motivating Buddy to be responsive to you.

Good luck
Annie

Hi Talusha :-) Welcome to CD
I've PM'D you.

Your not in Bristol are you? 

We had a nice natured but untrained black Lab come to our club for one class. 

He came in pulling his owner and we showed him how to get the dog to understand by keeping his attention and correct use of the check chain he had on how to walk to heel. 

Sadly they didn't come back again.

What you have to remember that dogs atre programmed to be dogs.  Training is what we do to teach them how to behave appropriately in the human world.  This means modifying many of their natureal tendencies.

I'm wondering if you have fully understood JG's comments about pre-breeding health screening as I would not have described them as mating procedures.  To be specific they would include a hip Xray under the Kennel Club/British Veterinary Association scheme with an even score below the breed average, which I believe is about 16 in Labradors.  I am not sure what else is recommended for Labradors but it may well include an eye test and elbow Xray both also under the KC/BVA.  Has Buddy had these tests and what were his scores?
As you do not seem to have shown your dog I am also curious as to how the bitch owners found him as a possible stud dog and how you had he judged as a suitable specimen to contribute to the general improvement of the breed.

>i know all the mating procedures

That's not what I was referring to. I meant the health screening.

Also I would think he's not getting nearly enough exercise or brainwork. Does he do retrieves? Does he sit and wait while you throw two separate toys in different directions into long grass, then go and retrieve one to hand, then get the other? That's the sort of thing a labrador's designed to do. They need activity like that or else yes, they will be hyper - because they're bored out of their brains!
:)

mackleback- Thank you :)

dogdeli1- No, it's not a dog training club..its just a normal club but there is a section for dogs.:)

Brainless- No i don't live in Bristol but that poor dog! If the owner care about him/her he should'be come back. :(

Jeangenie-Yes, Buddy does retrieve ansd all the answer to your questions are yes.:D

Isabel-i love my dog and take try to take the best care of him, i would never do something that would hurt him or his puppies, i appreciate your advice but right now u are making me feel like i am an idiot who doesnt care for her dog so i would prefer not to answer your question.

I don't see why you should feel an idiot.  It may be that you have allowed your dog to be used at stud whithout being aware of all the requirements of responsible breeding but we can't know what we don't know :)  What would be idiotic is finding out that such responsibilities exist but ignoring them and not taking the opportunity to find out more about them before contemplating doing the same thing again.  I would suggest if that is the case here you contact the breeder of your dog, or someone else very experienced in the breed to confirm that he is of sufficient breed quality and that being the case contact the breed club to find out fully what is recommended in terms of health screening bearing in mind that it has been known for puppy purchasers to successfully sue breeders (and that means anyone who breeds a litter) who have not taken steps to limit the possibility of health problems occuring.

Oh ok Isabel..thanks for your advice! :)

But is there anyway i can tteach him to be calm and not be so hyper or oversexual?
How do i teach him manners out of the house?

Awww i wish we could post pics without sending to emails though much easier and more fun!

The first approach to teach him manners out of the house is training classes. If you go to the APDT site you'll find details of reputable training classes near you. Calmness isn't really a thing that can be taught, though, not like a sit or a down-stay - it's a state that's achieved when the dog's needs are being met. A labrador is a breed that was designed to be out all day working - a lot of that time involves sitting still and quiet, but watching all that's going on, and always in company, not alone. This is achieved by long hours of training - it's one of the the things where the more effort we put in, the quicker and better the results we get.
:)

Hi Jeangenie.

I don't think this site will be of use to me unforunately because i live in a place very far away from the UK lol! Egypt!!

And i don't think we have training classes for dogs over here...but i'll still have a look around and let you know. :)

My apologies! I assumed you were in the UK! :o :D

Still, the principle holds good - the more time you can spend with him, probably exercising his brain more than exercising his body in the heat I imagine you have over there, the happier and the calmer he'll be. When all's said and done, labradors generally like nothing more than pleasing their owners. Good luck!

Hi Talusha :-) you have a gorgeous boy
Good luck with him :-D

Jeangenie- It's fine. dont worry about it! Thanks for trying to help me! :D

Thanks justlou! :D:D:D

Anyone who wants to see a piccie of my boy just PM me lol! i just love showing him off!!!:D and please send me your dog's pics too! ;)

i have pm'd you