Fireworks and Labrador Retrievers

KEEPING YOUR LAB SAFE DURING THE CELEBRATIONS
Independence Day and similar holidays are supposed to be a time for celebration, so why is your Lab not celebrating? Fireworks! Sure, they are pretty and give us a warm feeling of independence, but these big boomers are nothing to bark at! Some Labrador Retrievers actually enjoy the festivities and are able to stay next to their owners without flinching. However, most Labs would rather have nothing to do with the elaborate colors and ground-shaking boomers. For them, there is no place too small in which they cannot squeeze into in order to get as far away from the 4th of July celebrations as possible. This is why we have comprised a list of hints to help your Lab get through the day (and night) with as little stress as possible. [more]

"Runway" Milwaukee Dog Park

Saturday is normally our day to take the girls to the Granville dog park in northern Milwaukee. As we did so, we came across many of the same dogs we see there each and every week. Sure, it was the same day and time that we normally go there, but we had figured that other people wouldn't be as devoted as we were to go during the same day and time every week.

While we walked, we watched the girls interact with other dogs and have their play time in the river. Dakota just loved the water but Cheyenne, well, let's just say she is a mud dog. Her once dark chocolate fur changes quickly into that of a hippo in the far reaches of Southern Africa. It was then that we decided that we need to find another dog park to frequent on those days where we don't feel like hosing down the Lab brats (and the car) when we finally get home.

So, it was off to the local Milwaukee off-leash dog park, formally known as the "Runway". The noise wasn't as bad as we had thought, given that it is physically next to the airport's plane take strips.

This double-gated fenced area offers a wide space for dogs to exercise. The area is southeast of the Cudahy Nature Preserve and can be accessed by a gravel road at 1214 E. Rawson Ave. Beyond the gravel parking lot are trails 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 miles long. This permit-based area offers daily and annual passes for admission. (Milwaukee Dog Parks, 2006)

It didn't offer the hiking ambiance as the Granville Dog park, but it seems to be a suitable backup. Unlike the Granville Dog Park, the Runway is a fee-based park and both permits and licenses are needed. So, if you are looking for a nice stretch of land and don't mind paying for a yearly permit, this would be a good place to bring your pup. If you are looking for more of a hiking atmosphere with woods, hills, a river, and no fees, then check out the Granville Dog Park. We are sure you wont be sorry.

The Summer Heat and Labs

With the dog days of summer here it's important to help keep our Labs cool and protected. We have compiled a list of some things every Labrador Retriever owner needs to keep in mind and some helpful ideas to keep your dogs cool.

[Read Full Article]

Lab Nervousness

Maybe you could answer - or point me in the right direction. I have a 3.5 year old yellow lab - Bernie. Her problem: pacing, not relaxing. When it's just me in the house (I've been her mom since she was 8 weeks old) - she's fine. She'll lay down - for hours while I work or watch tv - or whatever. But at night - when my boyfriend comes over - and were hanging out - she cannot relax. I'm constantly (like every 10 minutes) having to tell her to lay down. And when I do - she takes a long time doing it (plays dumb). Needless to say, my evenings are never relaxing - no matter what the activity is. What's her deal? Please help. ~Heather

Dear Heather,

Thank you for contacting me about Bernie's behavior. This is actually normal in many Labs as she doesn’t know where she stands in the hierarchy when your boyfriend comes over. When she is alone with you, she as your undivided attention and then this human comes along and she has to share you. Instead of showing aggressiveness, she displays a nervous tension. Do you both take her for walks when he is around? Do you both play with her? Does he ever spend any time alone with her?

If I were in your situation, I would try to make Bernie at ease with boyfriend by giving her loads of attention even when he is around. Take 15 minutes or more and sit on the floor, petting her, while your boyfriend is sitting on the couch. After a while, she will relax and then you can have both of you sit on the floor and pet her, giving her love and attention. Telling her to lay down is not going to solve the problem because her mind is focused on the lack of attention she is getting and this other person being a threat to your relationship with her. You want to move in small steps to help the pup understand that she is not being replaced and that there is room in your life for both of them.

Of course, if this doesn't work and your pup starts to show fear or aggression towards your boyfriend, pay attention to that action. My own Labs can easily sense when something is not right, even when we cannot sense it ourselves. In the last year, they have warned us of 3 or more people to be cautious of and all 3 have proved to be "off" in some way. Since Bernie isn't showing any aggression or any action like fear, it simply means that she does not know her place in the relationship when he enters it. Just show her that he is not a threat and you still have love and time for her no matter who is around. The rest should fall into place.

If this continue to be a problem after a month or so of doing this, or she shows any aggression or fear, I would recommend visit the Labrador Retriever Dog Chat Board (http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/). There are over 8,000 members on this board that have one or more Lab in their household and would be a great resource if needed.

Please let me know how Bernie does!

Lab Smiles!
Shannon

http://www.8pawsup.com

Dog Park and Aggressive Dogs

The dog park is a fun time for everyone as long as certain rules are followed. Of course, among these is the most important rule of not bringing an aggressive dog to the park. It is amazing that one two separate occasions, we have been to the same dog park and this owner insists there is nothing wrong with his aggressive dog.

What do I mean by aggressive? Well the dog is highly protective of his owner and forms a circle around his owner the whole time they are there. The man will notice an innocent dog, bend over to say hello to it, and "wham!", his dog attacks the innocent pooch! The first time we met this man, he was surrounded by other dogs and people but it seems they were there for a while before we got there because everyone was staying clear of him and his bully. Our girls are very friendly and he called them over to say hello. Cheyenne got closest to his and all of a sudden there was a rumble. Our girls don't fight back much because they are so submissive (something we need to work on a little so that they can better protect themselves) and Cheyenne just rolled over onto her back. My husband went to break them up but I knew better as the aggressive dog was not mine and the man did jump to attention. He pulled his dog off our 7-month old Lab puppy and did even apologize. He just said "Oh yeah, he is a little possessive of me." Oh thanks for telling us after the fact!

Needless to say, this aggressive behavior has no place in a dog park if it cannot be controlled. So, I had thought he would not return. This past weekend, as we are on top of one of the hills, we heard a dog fight and to our amazement, it was the same man and his dog - pulling his dog off of another small victim. Of course, we turned and walked the other way; making sure not to cross paths. However, if I do happen to see this man and his dog again, I will be reporting him and his dog to the park officials. As the park rules state:

• Owners are strictly liable for their dog's actions
• Aggressive dogs must be removed from the Park immediately without debate. We realize that what constitutes an aggressive dog isn't always easy, if your dog is routinely involved in altercations with other dogs, chances are your dog shouldn't be at the park.
• Pay attention to your dog(s) interactions with other dogs. Be aware of potential problems. Learn to read and respond to your dog's behavior. Be alert to the behavior of other dogs.

With that being stated, it is evident that the 3rd time will, in fact, be a charm. Someone needs to speak up for our beloved dogs that cannot speak up for themselves.

Update on the Labs

The summer is upon us and life just gets busier by the second for us and the Lab girls. They are now down to 1 day of doggie daycare a week and actually doing quite well. We had thought there was going to be some separation anxiety issues, as they were used to going 3 days a week, but they are actually enjoying their time home. The doggie daycare has served a major purpose in socializing the pups and now that the dogs are 15 months and 7 months old, they no longer need extra socialization.

In order to compensate the difference in the amount of socialization, the dog park has become a regular weekend trip. Early on Saturday mornings, we pack the girls up and head 20 minutes north to a large fenced in dog park that not only has hills and heavily wooded areas, but also a river that flows down the west side of the park. Here the girls are starting to test out their water wings. That is not saying that the girls do not like water; it just gives them an extra appreciation of it and a greater desire for us to get a pickup truck to drive the muddy girls back home in after.

Both Labs, Dakota and Cheyenne, love the outdoors so much that we will be making routine visits to other dog parks throughout the summer. Some are free, while others cost a yearly permit. Of course, I don't believe in those that cost a permit fee and will tend to stay away from them. Why? It is just another way for the city to make money. That does not mean that we don't believe in giving something back to the free parks; in fact, we are active members and pay a yearly donation to the girls' favorite dog park - Granville Dog Park in Milwaukee, WI , which is more than the permit fee at the city park. Why do for one and not the other? Well, because the girls enjoy the free park more and with our Labs eating so much (since they are still pups), any place that makes us pay money is not the place for us.

June Lab of the Month

8 Paws Up Labrador Retriever of the Month for June 2006 is this black beauty, Pearl.

She was one of close to a hundred entries for our Lab of the Month contest and our own Labs, Dakota and Cheyenne, gave this picture all 8 paws up! Can you blame them?

Do you think your Lab is the most beautiful or handsome looking of its breed? Send us a photo of this beautiful creature and you could win a free mousepad with your Lab's picture on it and be highlighted as our "Lab of the Month" for July! That's right - we are giving away another free mousepad because there are so many beautiful Labrador Retrievers out there!

8 Paws Up June Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with all the happenings at 8 Paws Up. Be the first to learn about new features, promotions and products.

Take a look at our June Montly Newsletter!