As the title says, we have a 9 month old chocolate lab.
He has gone for two walks a day since we got him. He has gone to doggie daycare about two days a week since he was around 6 months.
We had him fixed at 6 months and at his follow up, he growled at the vet. The vet said it was completely normal, that they go through a stage around this age.
She got down on the ground and he quickly regained her trust and all was well.
About three weeks ago, I was taking him for a walk and a nurse walked up to us on her break. She knelt down from about 3 feet away and started talking to him nicely. He proceeded to voice a mild growl which caught me off guard. I apologized and we went our separate ways. However, he has now done this several times to others while on a walk. Two weeks ago, my youngest daughter had a group of friends over and he proceeded to bark at them as they walked in the side door and downstairs. No aggressiveness. Just vocal.
He also barks at people walking by. I am ok with that to a point. I like that he is defending his home and his family. But it just seems a bit excessive. Especially given his age.
He loves the people in his inner circle. My wife, my two daughters, close family, etc. He loves the people at daycare. He loves the girls at the pet store at the corner (who feed him treats every time we walk by).
He loves the old couple across the street.
My wife suggests we speak to a trainer and I guess we really have no other option at this point.
Is this normal behavior for a 9 month old lab? Sure wouldn't seem to be.
He has gone for two walks a day since we got him. He has gone to doggie daycare about two days a week since he was around 6 months.
We had him fixed at 6 months and at his follow up, he growled at the vet. The vet said it was completely normal, that they go through a stage around this age.
She got down on the ground and he quickly regained her trust and all was well.
About three weeks ago, I was taking him for a walk and a nurse walked up to us on her break. She knelt down from about 3 feet away and started talking to him nicely. He proceeded to voice a mild growl which caught me off guard. I apologized and we went our separate ways. However, he has now done this several times to others while on a walk. Two weeks ago, my youngest daughter had a group of friends over and he proceeded to bark at them as they walked in the side door and downstairs. No aggressiveness. Just vocal.
He also barks at people walking by. I am ok with that to a point. I like that he is defending his home and his family. But it just seems a bit excessive. Especially given his age.
He loves the people in his inner circle. My wife, my two daughters, close family, etc. He loves the people at daycare. He loves the girls at the pet store at the corner (who feed him treats every time we walk by).
He loves the old couple across the street.
My wife suggests we speak to a trainer and I guess we really have no other option at this point.
Is this normal behavior for a 9 month old lab? Sure wouldn't seem to be.