Keeping rough play from escalating

[LifeofRubie]

Hopefully! Kaiser has 20+ pounds and way more agile on the lab. Lab still kicks his ass lol. Lab is like a little dozer/tank. An 82 pound one at that (how the hell that dog weighs 82 pounds is beyond me ... I figured he was low 70's because he's SO thin right now...). And believe it or not, my lab can outrun kaizer. For being so short and stocky, he can really move and corners better. Plus he has more stamina ....

What type of lines is Moo from? Show/euro or more American/field? He kinda looks like my boy who is a weird mix of the two, but obviously got the drive and stamina of the field line. Not as blocky as a the show/eutos but not as narrow as a pure field either ... If so, you're in for lots of fun. Mine is 4 1/2. He hasn't slowed down or really mellowed out at ALL yet. He *looks* like an old man because he's greying a lot, but sure doesn't act like one. I swear he's going to be that 8 year old, solid grey faced dog that still acts like a pup. Kaizer is no slouch, but the lab can outwork him with ease.

Stock up on mental game ideas now if moo ends up like my boy, he will literally beable to run ALL day and still be looking for more.

Moo is an English Lab so more geared toward conformation but our breeder has puppies out there doing therapy work, winning hunt titles, competing in agility, basically anything and everything. He probably won't be much taller than Rubie but way stockier.

This is dad (about 85lbs)


But Moo's face looks more like his moms


Moo is smart but a very different smart than Rubie...

 

[Regalis]

How tall is rubie?

My lab is maybe 23 inches (yeah, makes the 82 pounds that much more perplexing lol). You'd think it would be a disadvantage, but it's really not.

That said - keep your boy lean. The one in the first picture looks over weight. Just like our doberbeasts, labs are prone to joint issues and extra weight adds to that. Being a little thin is better than being a little heavy.

Hopefully with being from more conformation lines he won't be AS wild. Conformations tend to mellow out younger but can still have the pep to work. Whereas field lines are more ... Hmmm. Like the malinois of the lab world. If that makes sense?

That all said - few things to keep an eye. A height difference tends to be more problematic than weight. I have to keep an eye on the lab so he doesn't bulldoze kaizer down as it's ended with kaizer twisting legs and being gimpy for a few days. Hopefully this won't be as big of an issue for you if they end up close in height.

And yes. Labs are definitely their own form of smart. Mine doesn't tend to think for himself much... But he's definitely *not* the brightest lab in the world. Any dog that will chase it's tail until it either falls down or runs head first into a wall is just not that smart lol I also find labs to be generally softer and requiring less harsh corrections. Mine have always been more aloof than the dobes as well. Sure, they'll cuddle, but they don't act like they're dying if they can't touch you 24/7 lol they really are vastly different breeds and not a combo you tend to see often (I have theories on this lol a lab is admittedly not my first choice of dogs ...). They do tend to have a stubborn streak like our dobes and go through a less intense teenage phase. They also tend to be bad about eating all the things. This has actually been linked to a genetic issue where some labs don't feel full, no matter how much they eat. Not sure if you knew that and I've seen it really mess with newer owners who have this dog who acts like it's constantly starving so they give in and feed more and end up with barrels on legs. I can't remember what more recent estimates were as to how many were affected, but it was pretty high. Just something to be on the lookout for as it also tends to lead to eating things they shouldn't (yup, just like our dober vacuums).

 

[LifeofRubie]

How tall is rubie?

My lab is maybe 23 inches (yeah, makes the 82 pounds that much more perplexing lol). You'd think it would be a disadvantage, but it's really not.

That said - keep your boy lean. The one in the first picture looks over weight. Just like our doberbeasts, labs are prone to joint issues and extra weight adds to that. Being a little thin is better than being a little heavy.

Hopefully with being from more conformation lines he won't be AS wild. Conformations tend to mellow out younger but can still have the pep to work. Whereas field lines are more ... Hmmm. Like the malinois of the lab world. If that makes sense?

That all said - few things to keep an eye. A height difference tends to be more problematic than weight. I have to keep an eye on the lab so he doesn't bulldoze kaizer down as it's ended with kaizer twisting legs and being gimpy for a few days. Hopefully this won't be as big of an issue for you if they end up close in height.

And yes. Labs are definitely their own form of smart. Mine doesn't tend to think for himself much... But he's definitely *not* the brightest lab in the world. Any dog that will chase it's tail until it either falls down or runs head first into a wall is just not that smart lol I also find labs to be generally softer and requiring less harsh corrections. Mine have always been more aloof than the dobes as well. Sure, they'll cuddle, but they don't act like they're dying if they can't touch you 24/7 lol they really are vastly different breeds and not a combo you tend to see often (I have theories on this lol a lab is admittedly not my first choice of dogs ...). They do tend to have a stubborn streak like our dobes and go through a less intense teenage phase. They also tend to be bad about eating all the things. This has actually been linked to a genetic issue where some labs don't feel full, no matter how much they eat. Not sure if you knew that and I've seen it really mess with newer owners who have this dog who acts like it's constantly starving so they give in and feed more and end up with barrels on legs. I can't remember what more recent estimates were as to how many were affected, but it was pretty high. Just something to be on the lookout for as it also tends to lead to eating things they shouldn't (yup, just like our dober vacuums).

Yes, keeping Moo a healthy weight is definitely something we are concerned about. I'm friends with the breeder on FaceBook and a lot of the pictures she gets tagged in include what I would consider to be overweight dogs. I'm always making sure he's got a waist from the side and above and that his ribs are not visible but easily felt. He's good about down time as long as he get's daily exercise - like any puppy. I do want to do either agility or barn hunt with him at some point as he shows an interest in having a 'job' and is mighty fast when he gets his zoomies. He's definitely not high strung or needs to be constantly entertained. When we met mom and dad when we picked him up, we were surprised by how not giant they were - they look huge in those pictures. But their heights were comparable to Rubie's - just a very different build. Dad was really great looking; perhaps that picture I pulled off-line is an odd angle. Mom was still down in weight from having puppies but looked really good. As far as training, we have the same expectations of Moose as we do Rubie but yes, he is more willing to do what you ask of him. He actually hasn't really shown much interest in swallowing socks and toys but sticks and mulch are fair game! So far they've been a great combo, surprisingly!

Even though Moo probably has 5lbs on Rubie in this picture, he doesn't look it

I was wary when Norris said he wanted a lab because 99% of the labs I know are overweight and under trained. I suspect people get them to be 'family' dogs assuming they don't have to work with them and they'll just be good dogs. Moo has been a fun change of pace from Rubie's intensity but he is just as versatile and willing to do anything as her and is mighty handsome he will also stay intact until at least 14 months but I'm trying to persuade Norris that he might never heed to be neutered (which the breeder even said) which of course would be preferred.

An admin can move these last few entries to "Moose" Sighting thread if they feel it's more appropriate! A little

 

[WiglWerm]

That looks like very tame playing to me. I would be afraid to post a picture of my two playing for fear people would get the wrong impression.

EXACTLY what I was thinking watching the video

 

[Nutz]

I would love to fence of a portion of the backyard, but I have an insane HOA where I live and would be threatened, then fined for making an unapproved change to the exterior of MY home. I am in the early stages of building so we can move back out of the city limits and have freedom once again.

I do have some sprinklers that i could put out towards the back but may not be able to use them for long if we start getting below freezing over night.

We have used spray bottles in the house. Stormy runs in fear, and Rocky stands there trying to drink it.

Try 50 % water 50 % white vinager in the spray bottle... When I give instruction at training, (mixed breeds) apart from putting dominant breeds far from each other, As soon as I notice for example, a pittie staring at a rotti I give the pittie a sqizz.... perhaps I have to do it twice.....

 

[Kaiser2016]

That was an awesome video of them sparring. I agree that Rubie is very agile. Watching them play was too cute. You can tell Moo loves it.

@Tropicalbri's and @WiglWerm Now I'm curious about yours lol.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

They get worked up before their chance to run first, so they are a little testy with one another. It’s my fault for not exercising them first, albeit this is very mild for them. I will try and get a vid when they are running after each other and body slamming each other.

 

[jazzies mum]

Yep, they know when Mom has spoken. I love it!

 

[LifeofRubie]

They get worked up before their chance to run first, so they are a little testy with one another. It’s my fault for not exercising them first, albeit this is very mild for them. I will try and get a vid when they are running after each other and body slamming each other.

Love the snorting