Would a labrador defend me if I needed it?
A dog's behavior cannot be predicted. Lab's are not notoriously "protective", but they're very loyal. So if someone is hurting you, I'm sure they're not going to like it. We had a Golden Retriever who wanted to love and lick and kiss everyone. One day, in the back yard, the meter reader came walking in through the gate... Tawny. Was. Pissed. This is when we realized that she DOES not like strange things happening. My BC, he's a HUGE baby, however, my boyfriend picked me up and I was yelling at him to put me down (this was all in good fun), but my BC was NOT happy, and started chewing on my boyfriends pant cuffs and shoe laces. I think that if he hadn't known my boyfriend, he would have been a lot angrier. I think it's important that you understand there is no way of knowing what will happen in a tough situation. However, dogs are often a deterent just BEING there. You should be safe with just the dog's company. Just have fun!
Help! My 10 month old lab is driving me nuts!!?
First of all he's probably still just playing while he's doing half this stuff. Set him up and put some food on the counter attached to a can with coins in it to make noise when he pulls it down. But you have to be there so he doesn't get rewarded by being able to eat the food. Also, to keep him off things like couches, get some mouse traps, set them and toss them near the dog so it goes off but doesn't touch him. You just want to scare him. When he shows a healthy fear of them, you can leave them, UNSET, where you want him to stay away from. You can also use a squirt gun. They scare dogs without hurting them too. Most of the time, they have no idea that you're the one squirting them. They just think if they do this or that, they'll get a squirt and avoid it. You have two things to help you become proactive without being there. I wouldn't spank either. When he does good things, reward him. When he's being good, pet him and give him a treat. All in all, I think he's having fun and needs to be brought under control in a gentle way. To answer Needanan above: He needs exercise. He wants to play and you're putting him in timeout which just works the opposite way. Take him out and play with him, take him for a walk and get some of his energy out. This is just common sense. He's not trying to be bad. He wants to play.
My 4 year old dog just attacked my 3 month old puppy. Please answer if you can offer advise?
Firstly you must remember that at 3 months Pups will attempt to clarify and resolve question of leadership. So long as you provide structure, control and leadership, this transition should be relatively painless. - Walk them together - Work on boundries with both dogs, ie one sits and stays while the other gets attention and vise versa - You MUST practice the stopping of playtime between them. When they play have them stop and lie down for 2 min then can resume - If you have the time you can actually teach them to only play when you allow it, this makes it easier to really watch them and introduce NEW toys to them. Your dog may just be possesive and not want to share her toys but if you replace hers with new ones then she may have an easier time sharing. - If you can invest in a crate and have your puppy sleep in the crate in the bedroom. By allowing your eldest in the room with you while he is on the outs gives your eldest more power in her mind. My Older dog picked on our pup alot until we started doing these things and showed each of them who was boss in the house.
Soon adopting a 9 month old cat/kitten. Help please. 10 points!?
Ok, yesterday I went to the cat shelter, to see this cat I am interested in adopting. He is 9 months old, and his old owner gave him to this lady because he was too boisterous for her. Then the second owner gave him to the shelter because he hates other cats, and was attacking her two cats. He doesn't like other cats, or young children. The people from the shelter are comming sometime this week to check out the house, and the next day/same day we can go pick him up. 1. What do I do when guests with children come? I mean they dont come that often, but like twice a month kind of thing. Should I put him in the guest bedroom so he feels safe or what? 2. What should I buy for him? I already have bowls, a bed, a cat carrier/basket, a large cat tree with 5 levels, some toys. What else should I buy? I know I need food, litter, litter tray. Should I buy the stuff of the day I get him, on the way back from the shelter? Or the day of the home visit if they approve I can buy it. Because I dont know if they will approve, and if they dont and i buy the stuff then it will go to waste 3. On the day of collection, when we get home what do i do? Keep him in 1 room, show him the litter box? or just let him do what he wants? 4. Should I be feeding a 9 month old cat kitten food/cat food? He is still small, smaller than a full grown cat. 5. When I start letting him out, after a month, I afraid he will get into fights with the cats down the street. My old female cat (R.I.P.) would scare them off all the time, but since this guy is still small, should I be worried? Will he be able to defend himself? I know I cant tell the people down the street to keep their cat inside. thanks for your help
One of my dogs has started ganging up on my older dog... please help I dont know what to do!?
I have a labrador retriever and a dachshund. Our dachshund is 8 years old and our lab is only 3 yrs old. Lately my lab will run up to my dachshund and corner her and growl while my dashshund cowers down and then my lab will growl more and then start attacking her! This is extremely strange because they have always gotten along good and my lab is so sweet with humans. I just need to know what is going on and what I can do to stop her. I don't want to get rid of her because she was a stray and we took her in when she was 6 months old. I dont want to add to the population of dogs who dont have homes. I just wont do that. I need to know how to correct this behavior because she hasn't injured my dachshund badly but i am afraid one day she might. please give me your suggestions.