well, I caved

[bearonu]

I heard that this is a problem with huskies. They were bred as sled dogs, so their instinct is to run... and run and run.

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Yes, that is not a problem with your dog specifically tsteele. I owned a husky for many years and I also could never train it to come when called. And forget trying to hit your leg or something to get it's attention, it will take it as a mush command and go the opposite way. By far the most hyper dog I've ever known. I learned very quickly that the best way to handle the dog was to let it come to you if it wanted or needed anything. :)

 

[BuckBackHome]

I had a lab growing up that hated the water. It took two of us to hold her down once a year just to bathe her. My lab now loves the water. Keeping her out of ponds with ducks in it is a trick though.

 

[iambrutus]

Oh... just another heads up... if your lab is anything like our lab you might want to keep the bathroom door closed when you shower. THEY LOVE WATER and have no modesty, they will shower with anyone!

very true, our dog scared the shit out of my buddy when he was house sitting for us. he just jumped right through the shower curtain, had to be funny as shit.

and if you water plants, keep the dog inside until you are done, or you will NEVER get done. our lab loves to play with the hose, its really funny

 

[buckeyegrad]

I don't understand my dog regarding baths. He LOVES water and swims all the time, but he HATES baths. When you're bathing him, he acts like he's been beaten and tortured. And he even knows he gets treats and feels great when he's done. Very bizarre.

Last night he got into the mud and we had no choice but to bathe him. Our bathroom was covered in mud.

Do you have a shower mat or other traction device in the tub? If you don't that could be why the dog gets scared. My wife's boxer was terrified of baths and acted the way you describe your dog. Once we were married and I began helping give the dog a bath this changed because I use a bath mat. The dog wasn't afraid of the bath, she was afraid of the unsure footing in the slippery tub.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Do you have a shower mat or other traction device in the tub? If you don't that could be why the dog gets scared. My wife's boxer was terrified of baths and acted the way you describe your dog. Once we were married and I began helping give the dog a bath this changed because I use a bath mat. The dog wasn't afraid of the bath, she was afraid of the unsure footing in the slippery tub.

That could be. When we were at my mother's house over the holidays, my dog rolled in horse crap (several times :( ). Mom has seven dogs, so she has an elaborate doggie bath in her basement (and the floor wasn't nearly as slippery). He didn't seem to mind as much, but I thought it was because he got to stare at a huge tub of animal cookies while we bathed him. Food is the ultimate training tool for dogs. :)

 

[BayBuck]

I second the previous suggestion about getting a dog used to nail-clipping at a young age: my younger dog is 4 and still goes absolutely nuts when I clip her nails.

And I agree that formalized training is generally not necessary, if you have lots of time to spend with your puppy. Dogs are very perceptive and learn a lot as puppies, and I pretty much talk to mine like people. Also, make sure your dog interacts with lots of different people and other dogs/animals, so that it doesn't become one of those dogs that is scared of everything.

And don't be afraid to use force when necessary: dogs need to know who's in charge.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Also, make sure your dog interacts with lots of different people and other dogs/animals, so that it doesn't become one of those dogs that is scared of everything.

Great point. Seek out a dog park -- they're great! We used to take our dog to Antrim Lake almost every day.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

We used to take our dog to Antrim Lake almost every day.

Wow, I haven't heard that place/name in ages.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Wow, I haven't heard that place/name in ages.

Great place. It's part of the Olentangy Bike Path. There are usually tons of dogs playing and swimming there.

 

[BuckeyeRyn]

Antrim is a great place for the dogs to swim and see other K-9's

 

[coxew]

A friend of mine has a lab that doesn't like water. I thought there was just something wrong with his dog. My golden absolutely loves it, almost too much. He just sits there with his head pointing straight up so we can spray him under the chin. He loves when you play with his ears but hates having his nails clipped. Kennel training is absolutely the way to go. He was completely house broken in no time.

 

[buckeyegrad]

As for the labs loving water....it is part of their breeding (just like Huskies like to run). They were bread specifically for swiming out to fishing nets and pulling them back with their mouth to the boat/shore for the fisherman.

 

[BuckBackHome]

As for the labs loving water....it is part of their breeding (just like Huskies like to run). They were bread specifically for swiming out to fishing nets and pulling them back with their mouth to the boat/shore for the fisherman.

See, now I have read they were bred to rescue the fishermen who went overboard. A co-worker shared a story about his lab rescuing his daughter one time in a pool. He saw she was in trouble (before anyone else sensed it), jumped in and let her hold on to him until he brought her to the edge of the pool. I guess after that he always swam next to her just in case.

Either way, they were not initially bred to retrieve ducks or sleep in king size beds as the case of my lab.

 

[buckeyegrad]

See, now I have read they were bred to rescue the fishermen who went overboard. A co-worker shared a story about his lab rescuing his daughter one time in a pool. He saw she was in trouble (before anyone else sensed it), jumped in and let her hold on to him until he brought her to the edge of the pool. I guess after that he always swam next to her just in case.

Either way, they were not initially bred to retrieve ducks or sleep in king size beds as the case of my lab.

Perhaps both??? My information comes from my sister who owns a black lab, owns about 20 books on dogs, watches Animal Planet constantly, and gets as excited about the Eukanuba (sp??) dog show as I do about the Super Bowl.

 

[FKAGobucks877]

I've gotta say, I haven't seen any advice posted that I would disagree with. I was just trying to hit on what I thought were the most important things, but if I were to make a list, all this stuff would be on it. Glad to see there are so many competent dog owners here.