I have a 12 week black lab dog that was homed at 9 weeks (Dam was a  very good natured family pet) and presumably should have picked up acceptable behaviours like bite inhibition. He mouths/bites/pulls trouser legs and sleeves/humps a lot of the time and though we have tried to stop him firmly but gently his behaviour is not improving. We have even tried holding him down as recommended to establish dominance which quietens him short term but he's biting again 10 mins later. Also, I gather that labs of this age should not be walked but he appears desperate for exercise (though we are both at home playing with him) and a run is the only thing that seems to tire him out; he does sleep a lot but when awake is a real handful. Please help - he's a beautiful dog but we feel at our wits' end...

my black lab is 10months now, when he was at the biting stage everytime he started biting we tried to ignore him if that didnt work we put him in the kitchen and closed the door it took time but it did work , good luck,
Heidi

Hi

Take a look at the Biting and Mouthing thread as this may answer some of your questions and give you some ideas

Try not to expect too much too soon. The bitch and his siblings will certainly have started the lessons on bite inhibition - but it will still need several more months of persistent reinforcement for it to be properly learned. He also has his teething to go through yet, when a lot of chewing takes place.

At 12 weeks he is too young for 'exercise' as such. When did he have his second injection and was allowed out in the street? As a general rule of thumb a pup should have 5 minutes walk for every month of age - so your 12 week pup should have walks of no more than 15 minutes each. These are not 'for exercise', but more for training and socialisation - he will get enough physical exercise around your house and garden.

Don't forget that mental exercise (training) is as tiring for a pup as physical games - and he is by no means too young to learn basic obedience. Do you take him to training classes?

Please continue this in your already active thread on this subject