A Myth

[alschwahn]

Say you have a male labrador who runs away when outside. He isn't very reliable when it comes to staying by your side. Does neutering reduce this impulsive running away? I know that it's training and working up to a reliable recall. I have read all the articles on the Labrador Site. But others say that working dogs such as labs have that drive which is sometimes hard to control especially if they get a whiff of something they find to be interesting. Is any of that stuff even a little bit true? I clearly wouldn't neuter Aspen as a solution because I know that neutered dogs still have behavioral issues, but I was just curious. Aspen doesn't have great recall so we have been working on that. However, I am feeling slightly defeated because I feel like I am not training Aspen well enough. Our other family member's dogs stay right by them and always come back when called. Some are younger than Aspen who is 14 months and seem to listen better than him. I know it is a work in progress but sometimes it is hard to feel like you are doing things correctly when you feel like it is something basic your dog should know how to do by this age...

Aspen also jumps, which none of the other dogs do. He just has so much energy even when exercised. We definitely have to ramp it up now that he is more developed. His process with jumping is slooooow because I always have to remind family members to please not pay attention until settled but no one ever listens!

I'm just feeling a bit frustrated with him and am being a bit of a bad mum by comparing him to the other dogs. I just see so many that are so well-behaved and I can't wait until I can get Aspen to a point where I am satisfied with his behavior around others. Don't get me wrong, he is a very good boy and he is still very young so he still has a lot of time to settle (if he ever does ) and I still have lots of time to do lots of work with him! I do love him, he is just a little spitfire.

 

[Oberon]

Don’t worry, my dog Obi runs off any chance he gets. We call him the Explorador, hehe. He just loves checking out new places (mainly other people’s backyards...). So we either have him on lead or take very good treats (meat, sausage, cheese, leftover chips/fries....) and call him back frequently for a treat to keep him within about a 10m radius. We have to be very vigilant or he’s off! Also, he jumps up on people too....and barks a lot. And whines a lot. But we love him Hope that makes you feel better though ?

Neutering might cure running off after bitches but that’s all. Doesn’t sound like he’s running off to cavort with ladies...

 

[Xena Dog Princess]

Many breeds are clingier than Labradors. Vizlas, for example, are known as "velcro dogs". Comparing with other dogs is soooo easy to do, but if ever you're around other Labs you won't feel so bad

 

[FayRose]

Well, Molly is 2 now and STILL jumps up when people speak to her, or bend down to pat her. She knows very well she shouldn't and never jumps up at us but just can't seem to control herself if she thinks people want to play with her.

Your boy sound like a typical young lab to me. As Xena Dog Princess says, no point in comparing him to other breeds. He will listen to you more as he gets older. I love your photo of him by the way, adorable

 

[SteffiS]

Ripple is neutered, and he's three; he still runs off for exciting smells (particularly poo ), he still jumps up, he still gets over excited. He's just Ripple and a Labrador .

 

[MaccieD]

As @Oberon says neutering will have no impact on Aspen running off or having a poor recall. Please don't compare Aspen to any other dog, they are all as individual as we are, we just talk about breed traits but not every dog in a breed is the same ?. Not something I do for myself but know it can help some owners to have training plans as it helps them to focus on their training, and helps to monitor progress and sometimes helps pinpoint where we are making big jumps in our expectations of our dogs progress

 

[Atemas]

I'm just feeling a bit frustrated with him and am being a bit of a bad mum by comparing him to the other dogs. I just see so many that are so well-behaved and I can't wait until I can get Aspen to a point where I am satisfied with his behavior around others. Don't get me wrong, he is a very good boy and he is still very young so he still has a lot of time to settle (if he ever does ) and I still have lots of time to do lots of work with him! I do love him, he is just a little spitfire.

I can so understand how you are feeling as I sometimes feel like this about Red. She’s a great dog and fantastic but she is still young - she’s 19 months. I feel bad being negative about her as she is a lovely dog. However, she jumps in certain situations - thought we’d cracked it several months ago but then she resumed it. We have also had an occasional failed recall - something much more exciting - she absolutely loves other dogs and wants to play.

This weekend she has been at the kennels overnight and there for daycare - the staff absolutely adore her and say such lovely things about her - my DH says ‘they are paid’ to say that but I can tell when people are being genuine. They say she is a typical Lab with her enthusiastic jumping.

Don’t be hard on yourself and just focus on Apsen - don’t compare.

I remember Sky being at least two and a half before she showed signs of calming down and she is a great dog.

We will get there .

 

[Charlie]

You're doing a great job and Aspen is still a baby. I like to look more at what my dogs have learned rather than focus on what they don't do so well.
Hattie is a really good girl, great recall etc. but at almost 11 years old she still jumps up at me when I come home and I have tried everything
Charlie has improved vastly but every now and then he has a little 'excursion'. All we can do as good dog owners is to train every day to improve our dogs behaviour and DON'T listen to anyone else because I would bet my last penny that their dogs are not as great as they think and do things their owners don't like they just don't tell you. Every day is a new training day, use every opportunity to improve and you will get there x

 

[Boogie]

Yes, it’s about training, not what bits they have dangling below.

Keir is neutered, Zaba is entire. Their recall is just the same.

 

[Stacia]

Why do you want Aspen right next to you all the time? I give my Lab freedom, he always keeps his eye on me though as when he was little I kept either hiding from him or changing direction suddenly. If I have a ball on me, Rourke won't leave my side which I find very frustrating!

 

[alschwahn]

Thank you everyone!

 

[Hollysdad]

Holly is five and a very sensible dog. She still runs off into the woods and ignores us when there's something disgusting to investigate. She also jumps when she gets excited. Don't get too worried about it. The perfectly behaved Lab has yet to be born.

 

[Lab_adore]

I'm just feeling a bit frustrated with him and am being a bit of a bad mum by comparing him to the other dogs. I just see so many that are so well-behaved and I can't wait until I can get Aspen to a point where I am satisfied with his behavior around others. Don't get me wrong, he is a very good boy and he is still very young so he still has a lot of time to settle (if he ever does ) and I still have lots of time to do lots of work with him! I do love him, he is just a little spitfire

@alschwahn, you put into words EXACTLY how I feel. OH is much more chilled but when I see Maxx jumping on strangers at the dog park and every other dog trotting back when they are called while Maxx is trotting off towards the swamp I feel so much like a failure. I finally decided to get the book Total Recall and it's on the way from the UK as we speak. The reason I didn't get it before was because I'm pretty sure OH will struggle to read/follow it as he doesn't have the patience, and he has Maxx all week while I work, but we can only try

Meanwhile, everyone's encouraging words are a balm

 

[Stacia]

@alschwahn, you put into words EXACTLY how I feel. OH is much more chilled but when I see Maxx jumping on strangers at the dog park and every other dog trotting back when they are called while Maxx is trotting off towards the swamp I feel so much like a failure. I finally decided to get the book Total Recall and it's on the way from the UK as we speak. The reason I didn't get it before was because I'm pretty sure OH will struggle to read/follow it as he doesn't have the patience, and he has Maxx all week while I work, but we can only try

Meanwhile, everyone's encouraging words are a balm

You could write out some simple bullet points for OH when you have read the book and give them to him Not sure why I couldn't write this out of quotes!

Edit by Oberon: I think I changed it to how you wanted it