1. For a Lab, Don't break eye contact... no reason in this case. Labs are playing.
2-3. Read the sticky: The Bite Stops Here, in the new owner section. If that doesn't work, then I have a set of tweaks that I published in Just Labs magazine a few years ago, that I can paste back here. You might also find by searching the Forums.
When you leave the room, you leave the dog for a few moments in a room that is boring.
4. If you can set the rules to keep the energy level reasonable, Tug is fine. Most people who have Labs like big dogs and like to rough house with the dog. Any time you rough house with an animal that can bite through a baseball bat, you need rules.
BTW, not only do I play tug, but it sounds like wolves fighting in the backyard...
5. Be consistent with one technique, try it for about a week, and if it doesn't work, then explore another method. Don't mix.
6. There are all kinds of non-physical, non-aversive punishments... I used to 'punish' my dog by making him Sit, while he was off-leash: freedom lost for a moment. You can also use a NRM - No Reward Marker, such as Opps (or Yelp! for bite inhibition)On the other hand, he started eating something disgusting off the ground, I popped him on the butt, and he looked at me, thinking I wanted to play....
7. Give the pup water to drink all the time...
8. Use a fixed length leash for walking. You lose control with a variable length.
2-3. Read the sticky: The Bite Stops Here, in the new owner section. If that doesn't work, then I have a set of tweaks that I published in Just Labs magazine a few years ago, that I can paste back here. You might also find by searching the Forums.
When you leave the room, you leave the dog for a few moments in a room that is boring.
4. If you can set the rules to keep the energy level reasonable, Tug is fine. Most people who have Labs like big dogs and like to rough house with the dog. Any time you rough house with an animal that can bite through a baseball bat, you need rules.
BTW, not only do I play tug, but it sounds like wolves fighting in the backyard...
5. Be consistent with one technique, try it for about a week, and if it doesn't work, then explore another method. Don't mix.
6. There are all kinds of non-physical, non-aversive punishments... I used to 'punish' my dog by making him Sit, while he was off-leash: freedom lost for a moment. You can also use a NRM - No Reward Marker, such as Opps (or Yelp! for bite inhibition)On the other hand, he started eating something disgusting off the ground, I popped him on the butt, and he looked at me, thinking I wanted to play....
7. Give the pup water to drink all the time...
8. Use a fixed length leash for walking. You lose control with a variable length.
