Pooping in Crate

Question:
hello, i was just trying to get some advice with my new pup. He is 9 weeks old and we have had Titan-flexx for two weeks now. We were adjusting fine until he decided to start pooping in his carrier. Things have now stopped in our daily routine. I have two children and now am unable to take one of the out during the day to her gymnastics and swimming lessons becuase of this. Can you suggest anything to help. Does this eventually stop? How do I get him to feel ok when we are gone. We do put him out and he does his buisness before we go , so i actually think that he is so upset that he is pooping himself.
please if you can help. Email me
Thanks
chantale

Answer:
Having a 9-week old pup is just an exciting and nervous time for any Labrador Retriever dog owner. Not to worry - there are many ways to help you get through this time.

First, you mentioned that you have a "Titan-flexx". I have never heard of this and honestly don't even know what it is. I even did a search on Google and found only one result for some scuba gear so I am unfortunately not able to provide advice on this specifically. However, here are some articles I have written that should help you through the first weeks with your wonderful puppy:

A Letter from Lab Puppy
Separation Anxiety
Lab & Puppy Proofing Your Home
Labrador Retriever Stages
Housebreaking Your Labrador Retriever
Crate Training Your Lab
Lab Behavior Problems: Biting & Mouthing

I always recommend all of these articles for new puppy owners as it is best to understand all areas of a puppy's life in order to provide the best health and training support your puppy needs.

If you have any specific questions to the information provided in the articles, please feel free to email me.

Good luck and don't give up hope! It will get better!

Wet Balls

Get your mind out of the gutter. It is not what you think! *laugh*

This morning we were surrounded by wet balls all over our house. Every time I turned around, there would be another wet tennis ball lying on my carpet or in the middle of our Pergo flooring. Sure, wet balls are normal around this house because the Lab Brats tend to have a bit of drool when playing but these were soaking wet!

I watched as Dakota grabbed another ball from right under my nose and followed her to the kitchen. She then stood over her water bowl and let the ball take a head dive into the 4" deep dish. The little brat was dunking her balls to get them all wet so that they would make a squishy noise when she squeezed them between her teeth.

When that ball lost its "squishiness", she would go to grab another ball and do the same thing to it. This was her way of entertaining herself while mommy and daddy were getting ready for work. If we weren't going to entertain her, then she had to do something. So, as far as she probably figures, it is all our fault that she had to resort to such measures because we should have spent more than 30 minutes playing with her this morning. *laugh* I mean, that is what us dog owners are here for, right? To entertain our beloved canine companions?

Now I am surrounded by wet tennis balls from one end of this house to another and the Lab Brats are lying in their sun spots like they are innocent pups and the wet balls magically appeared on their own. What brats! *huge laugh*

Broccoli Toxicity & Dogs

Question:
Hello and thank you for sharing a wonderful site. I own a chocolate female and she loves broccoli and I see on your list that it is toxic. I have never heard of this before and wonder what the damage can result in for her? Thanks again.
Signed,
Teresa

Answer:
Yes, broccoli is toxic to dogs as their digestive system processes certain foods differently then humans. If you have already given broccoli to your dog, not to worry. As with any food, the key is in the amount of food given to the pup. So, if your Lab were to get into a piece of broccoli, it wouldn't do any damage. However, if it were to get into a large bag of broccoli, then I would suggest you seek a veterinarian's assistance immediately.

Each food on our Toxic Foods for Dogs list has different side effects in dogs. Some can cause neurological problems, while others can cause kidney failure. Just remember to not give those foods on the list to your dog but do not worry if you drop a small bit of one of them on the floor and your pup gets her mouth on it. A single raisin will not kill a dog but a large bag of them can cause acute renal (kidney) failure.

Per Mike Richards, DVM, "If the percentage of broccoli in the diet exceeds 10% it can cause gastrointestinal upsets and if it exceeds 25% it is fatal. The toxic ingredient in broccoli is isothiocyanate and it is reported to be a pretty potent gastrointestinal irritant."

There are plenty of other human foods that can be given to dogs that will not cause any problems. For instance, I give my Labrador Retrievers apples but cut out the seeds first as those can be toxic in large quantities. It is all about monitoring the intake of any human foods even though they may give us those puppy dog eyes when we are eating one of those foods, we need to resist in order to keep our dogs safe and healthy.

Dog Park Aggression

Question:
Help!

I have a 7 month old Black Lab mix, of whom I think of very highly. We've been to puppy pre-school and I've done my best to teach him good doggie manners. He knows it's wrong to jump on people, he lets us know it's time to go outside by ringing a bell tied to the doorknob, and he responds very well with sit, stay, lay down, speak, and roll over. He's crate trained and loves his "own special place."

However, I've noticed in the past two weeks or so that his behavior at our favorite dog park has been less than admirable. We go to the park daily, but at different times. Little Ares will find a dog in whom he's interested and follow him/ her, trying desperately to get him/her to play with him. It's as if he doesn't even know there are other dogs there! He will pester this dog until he/ she shows aggression (which I think he's interpreting as just play), then bark and bark and bark trying even harder to get this one poor dog to play with him. This morning, I heard two other owners talking about bringing their dogs to the other side because of my dog's deplorable behavior. "Oh no!" I thought to myself, "I've become 'that guy'!!" Of course, I apologized and asked the ladies to stay and enjoy the park; we would leave... which we did, in absolute embarrasment.

How can I get my little guy to stop being so aggressive in enticing other dogs to play with him? I hate the idea of someone thinking he's vicious and grabbing him away from his attempt at play while I'm over refilling the water bowls (which I seem to be the only person willing to do!). I'd like to train him to be a therapy dog at some point, and I'm concerned that his behavior is taking a turn for the absolute worst.

Jennifer, Ares (and all the other dogs at the park)

Answer:
Ahh! The 7-month old Labrador puppy stage. I remember it well.

First, realize that Ares is in what's equivalent to the terrible twos in humans. It is a stage in which they forget everything you have trained them and test you (and their environment) to the limits. This is where persistent and consistent training come into play.

The first thing I recommend is that you read this article on Labrador Retriever Stages which will help you become more familiar with the stage and what you should expect. Second, you did not mention if Ares was neutered or not. If not, you may want to consider neutering him as many dog owners have reported a decrease in aggressive behaviors after surgery. If you are not familiar with neutering or have questions about it, please read the myths and facts about neutering.

Being an avid dog park enjoyer, my last recommendation is based upon a wonderful dog owner, at our local dog park, with a mixed breed male dog that displays the same aggressive play behavior. He employed the following steps and now his dog (and others) are able to enjoy the park without his aggressive behavior.

1. Your dog should be kept next to you or within close proximity at all times.

2. Your dog should have your undivided attention. No talking on cells phones or typing on your laptop while your dog runs around. (Yes, I have seen both done at dog parks!)

3. Take your dog for a long walk before going to the park. This will reinforce your alpha role before letting him off leash and also take the edge off the rocket-like energy.

4. Don't be afraid to use a fabric dog muzzle at the dog park. Make sure to bring your pup to the store and ask an associate about proper fitting. Your dog should be able to pant and drink water freely while the muzzle remains secure.

Believe it or not, the specific dog owner I mentioned does at least 1, 2, and 4 without incident. Everyone knows Chaz the dog as "Hannibal Chaz" and eagerly greets, pets, and plays with him. He has also gotten more friendly with both people and dogs. At first he would go up to everyone and nuzzle them which people thought was cute. However, his owner did tell us the truth - Chaz was rubbing the muzzle on people in the hope that it would come off. *laugh* Sure, it took him a couple of days to get used to it but he now trots around the park as if there is nothing different about him... and better yet... he has yet to try any deplorable behavior!

Don't give up hope. Both you and Ares will get through this without being "That guy!". Just remain consistent with your training.

Ice Retriever

Beneath all the snow is a ton of ice. During our snow removal over the weekend, we noticed that not everyone hates the tons of ice left behind. Sure, we humans think it is a pain in the rear but to Cheyenne, it is a goldmine!

I would give both Dakota and Cheyenne ice as puppies to help with their teething. Dakota loved the ice while she needed it but soon turned her nose up to anything but the finest dog and human foods. Cheyenne though is a Labrador Retriever through and through. She immediately took to eating the ice as a puppy and hasn't stopped.

We thought her ice eating was limited to what lurks in our freezer but found out over the weekend that she is not picky. As my husband and I threw chunks of ice from the mouth of our driveway onto the huge snow pile to its side, we found Cheyenne diving head first into the 3ft snow pile to retrieve the huge chunks of ice and bring them over to front yard where the snow wasn't as deep so that she could chomp on them.

I am not talking about little chunks of ice either! I am talking about chunks of ice weighing the same as at least a gallon of milk, if not more! To our 73lb Cheyenne, they were earthly treasures that should not be discarded in such fashion. No matter how many or how large, she would continue to dive into the huge snow pile, retrieve another piece and bring it to her already huge collection of ice chunks for her to enjoy eating at her leisure.

When we moved into the backyard to finish up our snow removal, we both turned to see her trotting up the driveway with one of her larger prized ice chunks. It was so large I was waiting for her back legs to come off the ground in order to balance out the weight. Cheyenne didn't care how large it was - it was ice and it was all hers!

Chewing up the House

Question:
I know you have labs, so here is my question. I adopted a black lab mix and didn't know their reputation for chewing things and how active they are. Along with all the other issues, my black lab is a great dog for me, but I am totally frustrated with the chewing. Help, I have tried everything and things really didn't look so dismal until she chewed up my leather chair. I am now confining her to a cage, but it is almost impossible to get her to go in and not wail her head off and she gets so anxious, it's unbelievable, actually. I am a really patient person, but I don't know what to do with her and am running low on what patience I have left.

Any ideas -- someone told me that Natura works, but I am not sure what that is and I can't even find it on the web. Anything you could suggest would be appreciated, as I am afraid she won't last very long in this world. I'll try anything to help her, but she just won't settle down. (P.S. - - When I got her the rescue said she was 1 1/2 - 2, but I don't think so. She seems more like 1 1/2 now -- I have had her for about six months or so. Also, she has had a litter of six pups and she was extremely thin when I got her, but she should be a little settled down by this age. I know that labs mature later than a lot of dogs. HELP!!!!!!!
Signed,
Linda

Answer:
Chewing is normal for the Labrador Retriever breed and the main thing to keep in mind is training to positively reinforce the innate "mouthing" need for these dogs. Yes, I want you to work with the pup to get her to learn what is good to put her mouth on and what is bad. In order to do this, I recommend you start from the beginning and read the following articles:

Lab Behavior Problems: Biting & Mouthing
Crate Training Your Lab
Lab & Puppy Proofing Your Home

These articles cover not only teaching your pup what is proper to chew on and what is not but also how to get your new canine companion used to the crate instead of fearing it. All the articles are based upon our own real-life experiences and successful methods we used on our Labs to train them. Remember that, as with any training methods, you must remain consistent and persistent in your training and may not see results for a few weeks. Each Lab is different but don't give up hope, you and your pup will get through this!

Happy Easter!

The Lab Brats and family want to wish one and all a very Happy Easter! May your day be filled with sunshine and your baskets be plenty!

We didn't have a picture of the Lab Brats with bunny ears so we thought we would borrow a picture of the Lab Brats' biological daddy looking Easter cute from our breeder. Yes, that is really their sire, Sam - not Dakota. :)

Milwaukee Area Lab Meetup

A couple of years ago, I held a Lab Fest at my home with 11 humans and 22 Labs. We had such a great time and I miss getting together with other Labrador Retriever owners: sharing stories, boasting about our Labs, and enjoying a common bond that all Lab owners and lovers have.

That is why I have decided to create a Milwaukee Area Labrador Retriever Meetup group. It is open to all that wish to meet in the Milwaukee (and surrounding areas) and are devoted to their loveable Labs.

So why not join up and meet other local Labrador Retriever owners and enthusiasts to trade tales and training tips. Our group is where Labrador Retrievers and Lab Mixes in the Milwaukee and surrounding areas can meet friends, get advice, set up play dates, and anything else fun we can think of.

This group will only work if everyone participates. So, don't hesitate to add stories or photos to our page. Also, all suggestions for meetups are appreciated. We want to make sure that all of our Labs get to show off their little slice of Milwaukee.

Let's get out there and have some Lab fun!

Click here to check out
The Milwaukee Area Labrador Retriever Meetup!

Puppy Leash Introductions

Question:
Hi Shannon,
I have been reading your lab brats blog for a couple of months now getting ready to bring our own 8 week old Labrador puppy home. I have found your blog really interesting. Your labs are so beautiful. We have now had our yellow lab boy for 2 weeks and he is responding really well to his name and the commands come and sit. He is very adorable. But I was wondering if you had any tips on how to get him used to walking on a lead? He wears his collar all the time now, so we have been trying to get him used to a lead in our backyard but every time every time we try to walk him around the yard he sits down and grabs his lead and chews on it. It would be great if you had any useful tips as he is getting too big to carry!!!
Look forward to reading more about your lab adventures,
Bryden

Answer:
Congrats on your new family member! Brining home a new puppy is a very exciting and sometimes overwhelming time. I am glad the Lab Brats Blog has been helpful. *smile*

Getting a new puppy used to a lead is not that difficult but it does take some time. First, make sure that you are using a very light-weight lead with a small clasp. The more it weighs, the more it will annoy the puppy. If you already bought larger and heavier lead in anticipation for how big he is going to be in the end, just put it aside for now and get a smaller one to get you through the puppy training age.

Next, there are a couple of ways you can introduce your puppy to the lead. What I have seen work most often is putting it on the puppy while he is in the house and letting it drag behind him. You can do this for a few minutes at a time and then gradually increase the amount of time it is on him in the house. Don't tug on it and if you have children, let them know not to pull on it as well. The last thing you want to do is have the puppy think it is a play toy or worse, think it is something to fear.

When outside with it, there should not be any extra lead hanging down near the puppy for him to get his mouth on. The leash should have a little slack but not enough to hang down near his face. If he does get a hold of it, have a special toy or something available so you can give a stern "No!", remove the leash from his mouth, give him the toy/treat and then praise, praise, praise! This way the pup learns what it good and what is bad to chew on. It is actually on of the best methods of help curb Labrador Retriever chewing problems. This should help with getting your pup used to the leash and teaching him what he can and cannot chew on.

I did want to add one final note as you stated that your pup wears his collar all the time. That is great for getting him used to it but please remove the collar when crate training. Pups should never wear a collar in a crate (unattended) as the collar can get stuck on a part of the crate and strangle the pup. For more information on crate training, please check out this article on Crate Training Your Lab.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Mommy is busy

Mommy is really busy this morning and let us put our paws to work at last! She said she had to update stuff on the 'puter or something so Cheyenne and I are free to vent about whatever we want. The vents from my lil sister are quite annoying though. You see, she is not an eloquent Lab such as me. No. Her pitch is quite high and my human parents say that she reminds them of mommy's Italian grandmother when she is on a "roll". I have no clue what that means since I have yet to meet "Nonna" but from what I hear, she can easily make your ear drums burst! Now that's gotta hurt!

So, what shall I vent about? How about the bad rep we chocolate Labs get about being stupid! Honestly people! There are so many non-fur beings that claim that us dogs are less intelligent or even more hyper because of the color of our coats! Now, as gorgeous as our fur may be, it has absolutely nothing to do with the ability of our brains.

Sure, I have sniffed the butts of some of the most stupid Labrador Retrievers ever but they come in all colors. Some are purebred while others are mixes. For the love of chocolate - I have even seen some of the most stupid non-fur beings (humans) ever as well!

Contrary to popular belief, the color of our coats does not denote the amount of intelligent thinking. Did you ever think that maybe a chocolate Lab doesn’t listen to his or her owner because it is so intelligent that it doesn't want to do the stupid tricks you humans think are fun. Come on people! Do you think we want to balance a biscuit on our nose and wait for you to tell us when to eat it?? Just give us the blasted cookie and if we don’t feel like eating it, we will go and bury it somewhere for later! Ok - you are probably saying that us Labs never save food for later... it was just an example people. Geesh!

Did you ever think we were maybe too smart for you humans anyway? We are smart and we are living proof of it. Ok, maybe Cheyenne isn't smart but little sisters don't matter. Take my word for it - I can beat you in Sudoku any day! (loud dog laugh)

Well it seems mommy is stopping me there. She said that my "intelligent" ranting has gone on long enough and I have to let the nice people that read this blog get back to their jobs. (Let's not even get me started on humans leaving their pups alone all day to work when they should be home and available for spontaneous playing and belly rubs! The shame!)

In short, think twice about your Labs intelligence and if you are planning to get a new Lab puppy, don't judge it based on its color. Love it for who it is...

Lab smiles,
Dakota (and Cheyenne, kinda)

PS - Mommy would like to place a disclaimer that she is in no way responsible for this blog entry and that all rants and complaints from humans should be sent to the Lab Brats directly. *laugh*

Hard of listening Lab

Question:
My fiancée and I adopted a 4 year old purebred female chocolate lab from friends of our family. She is very obedient both in the house and on a leash, but when she gets outside she does not respond to her name, won't sit, play or anything of the sort other than sit and bark at us when we approach her. When she is alone she wanders around the yard, but as soon as either of walk outside she barks at us as if she doesn't know us. However, like I mentioned before inside she is very obedient, playful, and friendly. Any advice on how to get her use to us outside to where she is responsive?

I have started putting her on a long rope so she has the freedom of the back yard and when I call her to go in, if she doesn't respond I yank on the rope and she comes in just fine, its when she is off the rope she's back to her normal self.
Signed, Adam

Answer:
This is a tricky situation as older rescued Labs can often come with some emotional baggage from their prior owners or with prior abuse. On the positive side, it seems you have the prior family to inquiry as to what may have happened in the past to make this chocolate beauty act in such a way. Sometimes it is as easy as finding out what spooked her when she was younger and working to create positive experiences.

If she were brought into my own family, I would do as you are doing with the rope in the backyard. This will assert your alpha role in the pack and let her put the command to come inside with the action more easily. Just make sure it is a quick tug on the rope to get her attention and don't reel her in as that will not serve the purpose.

I would also try to make it into a game. For instance, if I have a difficult time getting either of my dogs in from the backyard, I will use a high-pitch voice while saying the command "inside". It is just like they did the most wonderful thing ever and I am cheering for them. This easily gets their attention and they want to make me happy so they come inside for the fun and games. I also switch on and off with giving treats to come in the house so that way they come in and get a treat for being so good.

Just remember that whatever positive action you take to correct this; you continue to do it consistently and persistently. It may take days or even months for her to catch on but one day she will.

Oh! And ignore the barking. Giving attention to it will make her think it is what she needs to do to get your attention. Just go about spending time in the yard and ignore her until she comes over to you quietly and submissive.

Healthy Doggy Belly

After a week of hardly any sleep and worrying about our baby Lab, I am happy to report that Cheyenne's belly is all better now!

We wracked our brains trying to figure out what would get Cheyenne up at all hours of the night with an urgent need to poop. Slowly, we went through the list of extra "treats" we had given her throughout the week including apple, doggy ice cream, lamb flavored dog cookies (their normal), tuna fish, and so on. These were all normal treats they get from time to time and none of them ever upset her stomach before, so why now?

As it turns out, there has been one thing that she was getting daily and it would usually give her loose stools: Proin 50. Proin is a chewable tablet for the management and treatment of canine urinary incontinence. Both Lab Brats were on 1 tablet a day and Dakota never has had any problems with it but Cheyenne always had loose stools. Ironically, I had started to give them this pill after dinner and it seems Cheyenne's belly just could tolerate it. (or hold itself until morning)

Dakota is still on Proin 50 but Cheyenne has been taken off of it altogether. The veterinarian told us that some dogs need it for only short periods of time but others may need to stay on it for the rest of their lives. Well, after taking them both off of it for a couple of days, Dakota started to have urinary leaking again so she was put back on it last night. As for Cheyenne, she has had no problems with leakage so we will just keep her off of it and see how it goes. If she happens to have a problem again, we will call the vet and see what other options are available.

Until then, we will enjoy our sleep once again for sleep is most peaceful when you aren't worrying about your beloved puppy and canine companion.

Back to Basics?

A high-pitched bark wakes us from our slumber. It is Cheyenne letting us know once again that she needs us. Normally I wouldn't mind but at 1:30am, you have to be a little put out.

For the last week, the "wee one" in our house has been waking us up at 1:30am to go potty and poopy. Strange behavior it is. You see, both Labs go out around 10pm and don't have to go out again until at least 5:30am. So what's up with Cheyenne that she now has to go in the middle of the night?

It isn’t that she is wide awake and wants to play or anything. As soon as she is done going to the bathroom, she trots right back into the house and straight to the back of the house and in her crate to return to sleep. No commands are given for her to settle down. She just wakes us, does what she has to do, and returns to her bed.

Originally I thought it was some treat we may have given that has upset her stomach. Of course, you can keep an eagle eye on Cheyenne and she will still eat something she shouldn’t outside. (She is a Labrador Retriever after all!) So, I figured we would not give her any treats (other than her normal dog treat) and let this emergency middle of the night bathroom call run itself out. But, it is not running itself out after a whole week. So, now I have to wonder - did she truly get into something that is upsetting her tummy or has her body decided to put itself on a new (and annoying) bathroom schedule?

This leads me with a decision to make. Do I go back to basics and crate her during the night, like we did when she was a pup, so that we have control over slowly bringing her bathroom habits back to 5:30am or let nature run its course? Definitely a tough call... definitely something that needs a bit of thinking...

Wish us luck!

About Spaying and Neutering

There are so many people that keep asking whether or not to spay their Labrador Retriever. I have to admit that when we were ready to spay Dakota, my aunt went into a tizzy about how we shouldn’t spay her because she was a purebred and we should at least get one litter out of her. For us, it was more about protecting her from any future deadly illness then having puppies. Sure, she would have made an excellent mom but luckily we did spay her at 6 months old because when she was just under 2 years old, she was diagnosed with Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD). No responsible breeder will ever breed a dog with CHD.

With all the questions surrounding spaying and neutering dogs, I finally sat down and wrote an article about spaying and neutering. It is my hope that dog owners will get the facts about spaying and neutering their dogs; from surgery and benefits to myths and facts so they can make a responsible decision that best suits their family.

Read the article here and let me know what you think.

Out of my way Squirt!

It seems we have a bit of canine sibling rivalry stirring up in the Lab Brats house...

While giving some much needed love to Cheyenne last night, Dakota decided to come over to me and push her sister out of the way. I know this may be the norm in some dog households across the globe but our dogs have been trained to wait their turn. That is why this is so... well, odd. Well, that and the fact that Cheyenne used to be the one to push her way into the area whenever we gave love to Dakota.

Of course, we ignore the one that pushes into the action and continue to give love to the one we already had our attention on. But, it is quite difficult when 83lbs of Lab "innocently" pushes 70lbs of Lab to the side and out of reach of the mommy or daddy. *laugh* When Dakota wants to get noticed, she has a way of using her size to her advantage.

But, for the life of me, I can't figure out why Dakota has become so "needy" all of a sudden. Whenever we give love to one, we always give love to the other. Whenever one gets petted, the other will sit quietly on the side and wait for their petting. This is an equal doggy love opportunity house and the love is never short. So why is our big mush all of a sudden being a naughty, but non-aggressive, big sister?

Re-Housebreaking Pup

Question:
I hope you don't mind the PM but I am one of those in search of the impossible flawless way to housetrain my 16 weeker, Melo...My biggest problem is that he will NOT GO POTTY when outside...he waits until we're back home to go...I think the biggest problem is that, we've had him since 7 weeks but he couldn't go outside bc of lack of vaccinations, so he was therefore trained on wee-wee pads in the house...Now that he is allowed outside, he will not eliminate outdoors....AT ALL!! And bc we constatnly stop him mid-stream when he is trying to go in the house and run him outside to go, he is starting to hide when he's going in the house...not even on the pads...do you have any suggestions for this??

Thanks so much and sorry if i'm bugging you...

By the way, u're dogs are AMAZING looking...they are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Signed, Jennifer - Izzy35

Answer:
First, a huge thanks for the awesome comment about the Lab Brats. Of course, I am always bias to their beauty so it is wonderful to "hear" other people feel the same. *smile* Now onto answering your question...

This is definitely a tricky one because I am not sure why you wouldn’t be able to bring your pup outside when it is young. There are really no restrictions to bringing a young puppy outside in your own yard unless you have some things (plants, livestock, etc.) that may cause health concerns. Either way, you are now at the stage that you need to curb Melo back into a normal dog potty routine.

First, you need to clean every area of your house that Melo could have possibly gone potty on or near (even if there was a pad on top of that area) with a product called Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor Remover. This product will help neutralize any scents of urination or defecation that may lead Melo to believing that it is fine to go potty in that area.

Next, you will need to establish a routine schedule. It is time to go back to square one with housebreaking. In order to help housebreaking pups, I have written an article titled Housebreaking Your Labrador Retriever. This article will lead you through What is housebreaking?, Importance of Schedules and Training to go Potty. It is written specifically for the Labrador Retriever dog breed but can be applied to any other dog or mixed-breed.

Lastly, please don't get discouraged as it will take time to get Melo on a schedule and housebreak him. The important thing is that the house is neutralized of any "doggy bathroom" scent. And remember that each dog is different. For us, Dakota was housebroken by the time she was 12 weeks old... on the other hand... Cheyenne wasn’t housebroken until she was 24 weeks (6 months) old. Just remain consistent and persistent in your training efforts and Melo will finally start to catch on.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Picture Pose: BatLab

Eat your heart out, Batman!

Wanted: Dogs that don't pull on leash

Question:
I have a 9 month old female lab by the name of Gracie. She is adorable,and full of energy. I walk her 3 times a day,but she is a real puller. She yanks the arm off me. She loves to be out and about,and goes crazy in the snow. The minute I mention walk,she runs and gets her leash and heads for the door all the way dragging me along. I've tried those halti straps around the face,but she hates it to no end. I'm trying so hard to keep her by my side,but she is literally gasping for air,because its like I'm choking her, and I feel bad. She is so good otherwise, comes when I call her off the leash, but its just when I take her for a walk, she pulls and wants to jump on everyone passing by, and I'm finding it hard to restrain her. Any suggestions.
Thanks
Mary

Answer:
You are not alone Mary! So many dog owners experience the same problem with walks and there are ways to correct any "pulling your arm off" action.

It seems that you took the first steps to correcting the behavior on your own by trying all the non-evasive collars and restraints. Now I would like you to think about using a prong collar as part of your leash training. No, prong collars are not as bad as people think; if used properly. Both Dakota and Cheyenne have been using prong collars since they have been about a year old each and it is the only thing that stops them from dragging this little 5'5" 140lbs woman down the block.

To help other dog owners understand the prong collar better, I have written an article on Prong Collars & Lab Training. This article introduces you to prong collars, the types of collars, when prong collars should be used, who should use them, and the correct use of a prong collar. Please read the article completely before going out and buying one because it is important to understand the prong collars as part of your pup's normal training routine and feel comfortable with it.

The prong collar is not only a wonderful training tool but it also decreases damage to the windpipes caused by extensive pulling with normal collars. Believe it or not, most people that have used the prong collars have been able to train the dogs so well using them that over time they no longer need to use them and that's what we all want in the long run: a happy and obedient Lab that doesn't pull no matter what collar is being used.

Good luck and feel free to email me with any further questions about the prong collars.

Snow Yes. Ice No.

With doggy daycare just a distant dream, Mr. Lab Brats Daddy has begun taking the girls for a long walk in the early morning hours. Normally both girls are just excited as Mexican jumping beans to go on a walk with daddy. This time was different.

Daddy went to fetch their collars and as soon as he called for Cheyenne, she got up and walked slowly away from him, down the hallway, and into her crate. She wanted no part of what he was looking to do and this was her way of screaming it out to him.

Why the sudden change in personality? From what I understand, their daddy was walking them a few weeks ago and he slipped and fell on a patch of ice. No damage was done physically but mentally Cheyenne has now linked ice with being bad. It scared her and it scared her good.

He told me that since that time Cheyenne has resorted to walking on the high mounds of snow piled on either side of the sidewalk. She loves... no... adores snow! From rolling in it to burying herself alive... snow is her friend. This thing called "ice" on the other hand is the enemy: it hurt her daddy and she wants nothing to do with it. Ok, she will eat it but walking on it is another story!

When we first let her out in the morning, she now judges how much slippery ice there is on the ground. The smart Lab has gauged whether it is safe walking on it or not. If not, then she doesn't care how much she really wants to go with daddy. If the ice is going to be there then she much rather stay as far away from it as her little paws can get her.

So Cheyenne stayed home and played with mommy while Dakota and daddy went for a walk. Although it was great 1-on-1 quality time with each dog, I can't help but feel bad for my little Labbie. Humans mean a lot to Labrador Retrievers and this girl wasn't ready to risk seeing her daddy fall and get hurt again.

Don't upset the Lab!

Have you ever seen the energizer bunny in a Labrador Retriever package? If not, then take a look at Cheyenne's picture because she is most definitely one and she is driving me crazy!

A little background information... about a month ago I hurt my foot and only a week ago was I diagnosed with Morton's Neuroma. Now, it is nothing that some time off my foot wouldn’t solve but this leaves me in a peculiar situation: the Lab Brats.

Sure, dogs can feel that there is something wrong with their human parents but they just don't grasp what that problem is. So, they give all the loving attention and loads of wet kisses to their owners to make everything right in the world once again. For a Lab, this is sure to solve everything and anything so that the mommy or daddy can get back on their feet and play, play, play!

So now back to Cheyenne... for the love of chocolate that pup doesn't grasp that mommy can't run around, take her for long walks, or even enter the dog park as I have one of my own paws in the air. To let me know that she is upset, she has now resorted to going into her crate (with the crate door open) and letting out one high pitch bark every 5 minutes or so. Just to make sure that I know she has a ton of energy and is not happy at the moment that mommy isn't braving through her ailment and shower her royal-energizer-bunny-highness with some much needed Labbie play time. *laugh*

Yes, I do feel bad because I know she is a Lab and I understand that she has a ton of energy to burn given how the extreme Midwest winter has been making it impossible for us to get outside most days. Why, oh why, can't she just be like Dakota and find pleasure in the sunspots? No! Not Cheyenne! She wants mommy to play and she wants it now before she bursts!

What's a Lab mommy to do? Maybe I should go lay in Dakota's crate and bark at Cheyenne for a change. *big laugh*

Lab Advice: Bark-less Dog

Question:
I have a 2 1/2 year old chocolate lab which will be 3 in June. He doesn't hardly bark at all unless he's playing or speaking for treats. We have is leash by the door and when he wants out, he will bump his leash. Is that normal? I thought he would be more vocal, especial if he needs out. Did I mess up in the training somewhere? Someone strange can come to the door and all he does is try to push is butt through to see who it is.
Signed, Anonymous

Answer:
Although it may not seem normal for a Labrador Retriever to be quiet, it is quite normal. Our Dakota is 3 years old and she hardly ever barks. When she goes out, she will brush her paw against the back door and the same when she wants back in. No matter what she wants in our house, she will always brush her paw against something to let us know what she wants. It is pretty funny actually because she will paw the air if she wants her stuffed duck from the top cabinet in the kitchen. She can't reach the cabinet so she just keeps pawing the air in the direction of the cabinet.

We have tried to teach Dakota to be more verbal about going out and stuff but even if she is going to explode, she would rather brush the door in a manic behavior then bark.

Does that mean there is something wrong with Dakota? Nope. Just like there can be quieter kids, there can be quieter dogs. It even isn't tied into the bloodline: you know how some kids in a family are loud and others are quiet. Well, Dakota and Cheyenne are full blood siblings and we can't shut Cheyenne up at times! *laugh* She barks to go out, when she wants something, or even when she is bored and wants attention. Not Dakota though.

I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Your pup may not fit the "norm" for Labrador Retrievers but it is a true blessing to get one of the ones that rather be silent and cute.

Wanting another pup

A couple of weeks ago I happen upon a kiosk at our mall that was closing up shop. $1 calendar sale! All calendars must go!

Now I promised myself that I would refrain from buying another Chocolate Labrador Retriever calendar because the cute faces and expressions on those dogs make my heart melt each and every day. So, what did I do? I bought a new one of course! *laugh*

Yep! The calendar is titled "For the Love of Chocolate Labrador Retrievers" and it is hanging right on my wall next to this very laptop I am typing on. I only need glance slightly to my left in order to enjoy the cute puppy faces that are not my own.

The problem? Well, Mr. Daddy Lab Brats came into my office yesterday and pointed to the calendar. "We need to cover that up", he said with a smile on his face. He was pointing to the smaller picture of this large and beautiful 8-10 week old chocolate puppy. You see, Mr. Daddy Lab Brats is not only into chocolate Labs but the bigger (stockier) the better! When I looked up at him to inquiry what was so wrong with the picture, he looked at me with a sparkle in his eye and said "Makes me want another one."

A laugh automatically erupted from me; scaring both Dakota and Cheyenne from their slumber at my feet. "Oh no!" I replied. "Not you too!" And laughed some more while he blushed.

Ok, maybe the new calendar wasn't such a bright idea for this family... even if it was on sale for only $1! *laugh*

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EDIT: Opps - did I leave out our yellow and black Lab family? Sorry.. here are the beautiful black and yellow Lab calendars:

For the Love of Black Labrador Retrievers 2008 Calendar
For the Love of Yellow Labrador Retrievers 2008 Calendar
For the Love of Labrador Retrievers 2008 Calendar

They are all just beautiful! :)
Enjoy!