We had a 3 yr old lab. very loving and one day she started snapping, snapped at our daughter while i was in the room, and bite a couple friends kids that were here one different occasions...our of no where. She was my 11 yr old sons best friend slept together etc. These kids and others were not strangers to our home...they had for the most part been around her since we got her...I could no longer trust her when we had people over that also included adults.
She got a one way ticket to Tenn. when my brother left this morning...she will live on 10 acreas and have a wonderful life but it leaves us still empty and very sad, not knowing what happened to her...please help us...for we would like to get another lab soon...Our son is heart broken...and tells me I wouldn't have given him or his sister away for bad behavior, although I would sometimes think about it...he is right...any help for our future Lab we would so appriciate...asap.
Pam Warren and family...Zachary's Dog Jake.
DeVe2@aol.com

What went wrong??? That’s something it is impossible to say from a distance. The behaviour shows it's self with children so points to something connected to the children.

Maybe over exuberant playing making for over excitement on the part of the dog?

Possibly some child or children has hurt the dog some way either intentionally or even unintentionally.

Is the dog seeing the children taking over her place in the family pack? Not so likely because dogs really don't see us quite in that light as a rule

These are a few of the specific things which can happen but apart from these there are plenty of other things. Though it upsets me to have to say it about my breed, some people are not breeding for the wonderful Labrador temperament. One of the few dogs which has ever bitten me and really meant it was a Labrador! A terrible indictment of a wonderful breed! To me, a Labrador should be bred for three reasons. To look like a Labrador, to work like a Labrador and to act like a Labrador.
A Labrador should want to please it's owner. It is that facet of their character which we used to make them into the finest working gundog in the world. They are often called upon to travel in the back of a Landrover with up to 10 other dogs and 12 people! I've seen them carried in situations where there was not enough floor space for them all to stand. In that kind of situation temperament is paramount.
The appearance of a Labrador is not an arbitory thing, something created to look pretty in the ring. A Labrador is designed to do the job of work for which it was originally bred. Something I believe show people should always remember. A cobby dog with the strength to carry a heavy Hare, to clear fences with ease and to be able to work all day long. A reach of neck to be able to pick something from the ground with ease but not so long that the leverage will cause undue tiredness when carrying a heavy load. Patience! No working gundog can be without that! A good eye. And BRAIN! Lots of brain! And there is where the problem often comes in. The dog is brighter than the owner!

Labradors are not the easy dog some people think. In particular they are masters of finding something to do to occupy their mind. Exploring the next door garden, eating the kitchen floor. Digging the Lab equivalent of the Channel Tunnel. You name it and Labradors can do it!

I'm not suggesting any of this applies to you, it is only suggestions for you to think about.

Regards, John

With any change in behaviour - particularly when it involves a normally placid dog becoming agressive - a full check with the vet for a health cause should be your first port of call - with Labs joint problems can cause them to become defensive.........