Any lab/english pointer owners out here--HELP! (black, train, adopted)

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

First of all, you should be commended for rescuing the dog!!

Secondly, it is the age. We have 2 labs that are 5 years old now but when they were 1-2 years old they were terrors! We walked them for at least 45 in the morning and then the played in a park for 1-2 hours after work. Our reward? Lost remote controls, sofa, pillows, clothing, dvds. And the best, I caught my yellow lab laying on his side on the floor and chewing on our baseboards - while I was in the next room! He layed on the floor, chewed one section and then used the wall to pull himself on to the next section! Luckily they mellowed out significantly after 2 years.

Exercise - which it sounds like you are doing - and keeping her occupied with safe dog toys, chews etc will help but for a lab/pointer that's a tough age. We just recently adopted a lab/pointer mix in February she's about a 1.5 - 2 yrs now and she is nuts! She can run off-leash for 1-2 hours and come home and get into mischief..while our older boys lay on their bed and watch!

Good luck and have fun with her!!

[GypsySoul22]

Thanks for the replies, again.
She was exhausted Saturday after walks & obedience class.

I've heard 'labs' mature slowly so they can be 'young' at 1-2 years old. The trainer at the class doesn't recommend letting a teenage dog off the leash (unfenced area) till she is older. She may not be ready to handle it.

RedSoxFanGoingWest--I'd love to see photos of your pointer/lab! We have fallen in love with that sort of dog since our Luna is so wonderful. Pointers are so amusing!

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

Thanks for the replies, again.
She was exhausted Saturday after walks & obedience class.

I've heard 'labs' mature slowly so they can be 'young' at 1-2 years old. The trainer at the class doesn't recommend letting a teenage dog off the leash (unfenced area) till she is older. She may not be ready to handle it.

RedSoxFanGoingWest--I'd love to see photos of your pointer/lab! We have fallen in love with that sort of dog since our Luna is so wonderful. Pointers are so amusing!

I'll post some tonight when I get home from work. She is probably mixed with something else (maybe brittany spaniel) as well.

We don't trust our girl (Daisy) in an unfenced area yet. She loves birds too much and she'd probably follow them South for the winter!! She is so funny to watch - she amuses herself while my older labs take naps!

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

Thanks for the replies, again.
She was exhausted Saturday after walks & obedience class.

I've heard 'labs' mature slowly so they can be 'young' at 1-2 years old. The trainer at the class doesn't recommend letting a teenage dog off the leash (unfenced area) till she is older. She may not be ready to handle it.

RedSoxFanGoingWest--I'd love to see photos of your pointer/lab! We have fallen in love with that sort of dog since our Luna is so wonderful. Pointers are so amusing!

Here are some pics of our lab/pointer mix. Again, she's probably got something else mixed in. I think we are going to get a DNA test just for kicks.

[mandywishart]

i noticed you getting a lot of replies from lab owners but i didnt see any from pointer owners. i happen to be the loving and extremely patient owner of an 11 month old purebred english pointer. she is the sweetest thing ever. oh did i mention yet that she is 100% insane! i have also had a lab mix in my life and, no offense, but they dont hold a candle to the crazy endless energy of a pointer. not always a good thing. some days i long for her to "poof" become ......well anything slug-like and slow. atleast long enough for me to catch my breath. she chews through anything in a 10 mile radius. c.d.s even. how is a c.d. (actually 8 c.d.s) appealing to a dog. as far as that goes the best purchase i have made is a chew toy called a "kong". but not any random one. it has to be the black one or a vet can get a blue one for you. they are indestructible and they are made so you can put little treats inside of them and the dog has to try to get them out. entertainment that holds their attention. non destructive entertainment. if you have a beach near you let your dog go run and play in the water. tires them out twice as fast. mine loves it. good luck and you are definately not alone.

[GypsySoul22]

Great photos. Is she a German pointer? I believe ours is an English pointer/lab cross with other stuff 'probably' thrown in. Luna:


Shredding the paper from a shoebox...


Gimme attention--please?


My favorite pose of her!

[bwright18]

I too am an owner of a full blooded english pointer. I wish I had half as much energy as my dog does, and I'll again reiterate as two other posters did...he is 100% insane!! I've found that walks really aren't enough for these, especially as pups. Luckily I'm an avid runner and take Jack on runs with me...and you may have to start runningto really tire this dog out. One other tip I've heard from the dog whisperer is purchasing a doggie back pack. Once it's strapped on, load it down with water bottles, it instantly doubles the workload for your pup (a 30 minute walk become equal to an hour) MY dog is right at 11 months now too and consistent, daily excercise is truly key in keeping them balanced.

[SD snowbird]

Before we moved to a city with a dog park we used to take our dogs to the baseball fields (some are fenced completely) or to the ice hockey rink since these are completely enclosed and so are safe for off leash. The city usually doesn't mind you using these areas for off leash play as long as you clean up after your pet.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

Our puppy is going on 11 months (she will be 1 year sometime in November--she was a rescue we have had since February). Well, she is sweet and lovely, like labs and pointers but lately she is NUTS.

This is a dog who *maybe* spends 2-3 hours a week or less in her crate. My husband works nights and is home ALL day with her. I am currently not working so I am home ALL the time with her. She gets up to 3 walks a day, weather permitting. We also have a 10 year old child she adores.

Well, our dog has become a wild child. Today I walked her 45 minutes to get out her energy. We got home and within 10 minutes she was at it again (stealing socks, underwear), pawing at me, waking up my husband...ripping up some paper I left on the floor (she rarely used to touch anything on the floor, apart from socks or underwear). Now she is being 'destructive' and it's worrying.

We live in a good size apartment in a rural area. We take her to parks nearly every day and like I said, on good walks. She loves playing in the creeks, the woods, sniffing like a good ole hound and I encourage it.

Unfortunately, we cannot let her off her leash because she doesn't listen too well outside (pointer!!!) so we are scared she will run away. I know it would help her to 'run free' off the leash.

We have her enrolled in obedience training and tomorrow is week 2...she's very good and loving and sweet but I am not sure what else to do--we have rawhide chews and bones (which seem to be very pricey and hard to find lately), toys, and try to spend a nice chunk of time giving her attention and love.

So--anyone who is a doggy expert, please help!! I know a tired dog is a good dog but there comes a point we have OTHER things to do (like look for a job, clean the house...)

Any suggestions are welcome and if anyone knows where I can get 'cheaper' rawhide bones let me know. We only have high end pet stores here in this area (no chains) so everything I buy for the dog is 'expensive' and with me being out of work, I can't afford a new raw hide toy every week.

Thank you!!

The dog will eventually grow out of the craziness, even if you do nothing. Labs take a long time for their personalities to mature and they seem to be definitionally difficult at or around 1 year of age. Hunting dog trainers call what you are going through "the 12 month training dump."

If the dog seems to have suddenly forgotten all the manners and discipline you have taught, has become incredibly rebellious and disobedient and is generally impossible, congratulations! You are the proud parent of a labrador pre-teen. 13 year old humans often do the same thing. You aren't the first person to have this problem and certainly will not be the last.

This is a difficult period, but the dog will eventually mellow. Make sure you continue your obedience training through this time (I know, easier said than done, right?). Bad habits learned now can be difficult to break. Work with the dog on sit, stay, come and heel as often as you can. Don't get frustrated, don't get angry. If the dog isn't on the same page with you while you are training it is better to abandon the exercise than to discipline the dog while you are angry. Try to put every exercise into a "win" or "lose" category, meaning did you win that one or lose? For example: "Sit!" *dog runs away* = Lose. If you lose twice in a row, call it a day. Otherwise, quit after three or four consecutive wins with a lot of praise and affection. You can't put pressure on puppies and expect a good outcome. At this point, being obedient has to be fun. You can force train more mature dogs, but it's just too easy to break a puppies trust and wind up with a ruined dog.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by bwright18

I too am an owner of a full blooded english pointer.

Is it just me, or is that a picture of a German Shorthair?