Lab Mix Questions
By cbrow171
@cbrow171 (14)
United States
July 5, 2010 10:58am CST
I have a blak lab mix (not sure what it is mixed with). She sleeps all day. When I'm home or not home, she is sleeping. When I am home she wants to cuddle and falls right to sleep. She also gets an attitude when I tell her to do something. She is 1 going on 2 in september. I looked up some temperaments, but haven't had much luck with these things. I know labs are kind hearted but sleepy? Does anyone else have black labs? How are their temperaments?
3 people like this
3 responses
@Boyetski (986)
• Philippines
5 Jul 10
I beleive you Lab trained you and not the other way around. Anti temperment shoud be given to the dog 3 times in his first 6 months starting on the 3rd month. Dogs has the instict to be cute to you whenever they want.
Start changing her attitude thru food. Feed her in time for atleast 2 times per day. Don't give her food while you are eating. Dont leave food in her plate after eating, wheter she ate it or not. Dont leave any food there.
Then try to leash her once in a while and walk her for a min of 30 minutes a day. I guarantee that she will loose the temper problem and she will obey you. And the good part is, you dint have to hit your beloved puppy.
@Boyetski (986)
• Philippines
5 Jul 10
Yes. Not leaving any food there when it's not time to eat will help a lot. This point your dog that she cannot eat whenever she pleases to. This will gradually put you in the controlling position and not her controlling you. I mean we all know that if our puppy flashes that puppy eyes and that wet tongue of theirs, our hearts melt and give them what they want, wrong practice.
You have to descipline her by doing this, and at the same time avoid hurting her because your displeased.
When it's time to eat then thats the time food is available. When it's not time to eat, no food. Then you can have the power to give her treats when you train her. The more you do this, the easier for you to train her to Seat, lie down, go to her mat, at your command.
@Boyetski (986)
• Philippines
5 Jul 10
By they way. When you walk your dog, it burns energy and make your dog healthy like you. But before you walk her, you can play fetch with her first, then walk. That way you can avoid the pulling. But since she is leash trained, that wont be a problem.
Her attitude will change because you are actually socializing your puppy while you are walking.
@cbrow171 (14)
• United States
5 Jul 10
Thanks for the advice. I actually got her from a shelter at the age of 1. So this attitude may have come from her previous owners.
As far as changing her attitude through food: I leave food for her to eat, when I'm gone for the day. She doesn't eat during the day while im here or gone. She only eats when I eat which is dinner time. The food will sit there until she is ready to eat it or until she sees I'm eating. So will taking her food away or not leaving it in the plate help any if she doesn't eat unless I'm eating anyway?
Also, She is already leash trained. So just the act of walking her 30mins a day to release some energy will reduce the attitude she has?
Thank You for your advice again!!!
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
5 Jul 10
I have 2 Black Labs right now...a male & a female. My dog before these 2 was a Black Lab. I am far from an expert on the subject, but your dog sleeping a lot sounds strange!!! My vet warned me when I adopted the first one that I needed to spend a LOT of time outside playing with him as Black Labs are full of ENERGY. And, if I didn't play with him a LOT during the day, that he probably wouldn't sleep well at night!!! I found that to be very true.
Of the 2 Black Labs I have now, I adopted the male first & he was only 6 weeks old. He ran ALL day long. By 6 months old he was digging up my yard & tearing up anything he could get his teeth on. My vet said it was because he wasn't getting enough exercise. He suggested that I walk him 2 maybe 3 hours a day. That was impossible as I worked 12 hours a day & had to get some rest when I got home!!!
By the time he was 1-1/2 years old, he was eating the bumper stickers off my car & had started working on the bumper. He also ate the year sticker off my license plate. My Chiropractor told me of a female Black Lab that had been found wandering the streets & she was going to be taken to the pound after the weekend. She was about 6 months old at the time. I brought her home for the weekend & they immediately fell in love!!! The second I brought her into the yard, the 2 of them took off running & playing tag. That was about 2 years ago & they still play like puppies. He's 3-1/2 & she's 2-1/2. They still run ALL day & they do sleep well at night. I guess because they are soooo tired!!!
I said all that to point out, that in my experience of having 3 Black Labs, they ALL were VERY hyper dogs that slept very little. I might suggest that you take your girl to the vet & have her checked out!!! My first Black Lab was mixed with a Dalmatian, my second was mixed with a Boxer/Hound, & the third is mixed with a Black Retriever (according to the vet). It's possible what yours was mixed with was a very laid back dog;but, in general, Black Labs are VERY active dogs.
Hope this helps you some!!!!
@cbrow171 (14)
• United States
5 Jul 10
This helps a ton!!! I will definitely bring her to the vet. I agree she loves bein outside. The funny thing is she does sleep through the night as well as the day. If I take her out for a walk or run she comes in, cools off, and goes to sleep. It does seems really strange to me thy she sleeps alot. But when she is outside and sometimes in the house we run around for a bit and then she does this "that's enough of that" sigh and walks away to lay down to fall asleep.
I got her from an animal shelter almost a year ago and she had a brother, but he was already gone when I got her :( I figured maybe she misses her brother. But is going on a year and no change in the tempermeant. However, she does play well with other dogs. Thanks again for the advice, i'll look into asking the vet.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
6 Jul 10
I do agree that they tend to be rather hyper, mine is too, but after he plays and runs and all that stuff, he gets tired, which I think makes sense. If he is bored he also sleeps though, so maybe a dog that sleeps a lot is just bored?
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
6 Jul 10
I also have a black lab mix, but a male one, and he is quite sleepy as well. It is like he only has two ways of being: either he is tired, or he plays and runs full speed. From what people tell me, this is quite normal, so I have never worried about it. Make sure you take your dog out enough though, so she does not get too bored!
