[Savvvylu]

My lab is almost a year, and she's come a looooooong way but there are a few bad habits I'm working on breaking...well, have been working on it forever. First habit, she still mouths when excited, after about 15 minutes of play this happens. Second, she randomly jumps on the couch and bites it ?. Lastly she ignores us when we try to call her in from outside because she's digging or eating rocks lol. She gets a time out every time she does these things but it seems to be taking a long time to break. Is this another lab thing? I've always had labs but they've been quick to stop or never even did these things.

 

[icemaiden]

The mouthing and biting sounds like over arousal/lack of self control.

How did you address the mouthing when she first started doing it? You probably need to go back to the very begining.

When does the coach jumping/biting happen? Can you spot the intention and stop her doing it? I suspect at some time when the dog was a puppy and did it, people found it funny and therefore she was not taught an alternate behaviour.

Not coming when the dog is busy in the garden? Will she come when not busy? Sounds like she doesn't fully understand what recall means.

Labs are intelligent and quick to learn if they are taught properly and consistently. Time out is appropriate in certain circumsatnces, but I can't see how it could teach a recall.

Have you taken her to training classes? If you can't there are videos online by some experienced, positive reinforcement trainers - kikopup, tab289, Zak George. They can show you what to do and how to do it, but then its' up to you to work on it and not give up despite mistakes and steps back.

Good luck.

 

[zekebaby]

Although timeouts are great for calming down an overexcited dog or giving yourself a moment to breath, it does not teach your pup what you do want her to do.

For the mouthing issue, like icemaiden said, you will want to start over as if she were a new puppy. Keep a toy with you to stuff in her mouth any time she gets mouthy. If you already know she will do it after about 15 minutes of play you can yelp the moment she does it (this will get some dogs more excited so try it a few times and gauge her reaction) and then the play stops as soon as the mouthing starts. Turn your back and walk away. When she stops mouthing the play can continue.

I'm not sure if she is normally allowed on the couch but from now on the couch should be off limits! When you can't be watching her she should be in a kennel or closed off away from the couch and when you are with her stop her before she jumps on the couch. You can do this by asking her to sit or come to you right before you see her do it. Give her a frozen kong and plenty of toys to keep her occupied and get her mind off of the couch.

And she just needs work on her recall practice in the backyard with lots of yummy treats. She needs to see that coming to you is better than digging or eating rocks. Right now all she knows is coming to you means the fun stops.

Good luck and for sure watch videos from kikopups, Zak George and tab289!