Comments on: New Puppy Dominant With Older Dog

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Hi Darren,
I think my lab just comes from a very large family of labs. Her parents are hudge dogs. My vet has looked her over and told me she was going to be hudge. Her feet alone show she will probably be very big. She’s not over weight.The vet said she will grow into her feet. LOL. She actually bruced one of my toes really bad because she keep stepping on it day after day always trying to be right next to me. If you saw her feet you would laugh. When she stands next to my Retriever mix, her head looks really big. But I think it may be possible she may stop growing soon or after I get her spaded. It is really cute when she knows she is doing something wrong. The way she wiggles her entire body and comes toward me with something in her mouth she knows is a No, no. I think she’s just an attention seeker. This past week I have noticed she has really calmed down. she no longer as hyper as she was except when we play outside. And she and Suzy have been playing together much better. She is now sharing the fetch of a toy. They both bring it back to me when I throw their toy duckie, each have a grip on the duckie. I would post a picture of her if I could.

By: Darren

Darren — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

My Lab is quite a lean dog and only weighs 65 pounds full grown – though I am sure if I gave in to every treat he asked for he would be much bigger. Dogs are normally heavier than bitches, but a healthy weight range is between 55 and 80 pounds depending on build, type and sex, so it looks like Mimi is going to be at the heavier end of the scale. A good test to make sure your Lab is about the right weight when fully grown is to feel her ribcage. If you can feel her ribs easily but not see their outline when looking at her from the side, you know she is about right

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you again…I have decided I am not going to give her up. I think she loves me too much and I her. Her favorit place is where ever I am. Both dogs have a large comfy bed in my bedroom which is where they start off, but when I wake up in the morning, each are snuggled on my bed beside me. The one thing she does, (and I can’t help but laugh) when I am on the computer not giving her attention, she will go in my dirty clothes hamper and bring out all my dirty clothes in the middle of the family room and wag her whole body looking happy when I walk in. Once I had company and we were talking in the kitchen and here comes Mimi with my dirty underwear in her mouth wagging her tail and just smiling at me. She doesn’t chew stuff up, she just displaces them. I quess she is just down right spoiled because I am home most the time. I know she it smart because she knows sit, laydown, stay, and she is house broken which Suzy actually trained her. Suzy would wake me up to tell me to let Mimi outside before Mimi was old enough to hold her urine. At 5 months Mimi is already 65 pounds, maybe more since last vet visit. It is such a joy talking to you I could go on. Thanks so much for your knowledge on Labradors. They are such wonderful doggies and so too are mixed breeds. Love them all. How much does your Labrador weigh full grown?

By: Darren

Darren — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Glad to hear she is responding a little better for you. You may get her to be a little calmer by providing her with her own “quiet place” and getting her to spend some time there on her own (I don’t mean locking her up – just put a comfy bed or rug in a quiet corner and leave the room for a while). My Lab is nearly three and although he loves being with us and still has a giddy moment when it is time for walkies, he still likes to go to his quiet place in my study to chill out!

When Mimi gets a little older and her bones are starting to strengthen, you will be able to give her lots of exercise to tire her out – you will be surprised to see how much it calms them down with just one to two hours per day split over two or three walks.

Once the pecking order has been decided (it does not always have to be the first or older dog that is “in charge”), I am sure the two dogs will get along just fine.

As far as the police dog option goes, I can only comment on what happens in the UK where I live. Here, the dog lives with the handler (though they sleep in a separate kennel, not in the home), usually even after they retire from service and most handlers I know share a strong bond and affection with their dog. You may want to ask the question of your local police department to check if this is the same where you live before making a decision on Mimi’s future

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you so much for your reply. I think you are correct about the spraying of both dogs. Suzy is already fixed, but I am waiting for Mimi to become at least 6 months old before I can have her sprayed. Hopefully she will calm down then. The vet said she may calm down some but that labradors are usually full of energy until about 3 years of age, but spraying will help. I have noticed she is responding a bit better the past week or so, but still hyper. Although it is a happy hyper, like jumping happily when I am with her. The most important issue I was concerned about is if Suzy is happy with her new playmate and not saddened by the dominance of Mimi. I am wondering if they will work it out so both are happy after Mimi is fixed.
Because Mimi is so huge and a papered purbred, I have a possible opportunity to let her become a police dog with their training but not sure if I want to give her up. I will only give her up if I think she will become too much dog for me. And I wonder how much love she will get as a police dog. I don’t think she would be happy in a cage all night. Hopefully she will calm down once she is fixed. Do you know how police dogs are kept?