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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]I think that the new trend is for people to say "hire a trainer" whenever someone has a dog who is incompatible with his/her family. Yes, training is good. And a good trainer can really help with undesirable behaviors. But dogs have personalities, too. They aren't automatons that some trainer will magically program to be the perfect pet for you. [/quote]

Yes, but the issues OP is describing sound like normal puppy issues.  Some of the issues would exist in any dog under 2, regardless of breed, and others, like establishing boundaries so the dog isn't underfoot while doing chores one might have to do with an older dog.  It seems like OP is overwhelmed with normal dog/puppy behavior, and in her case, hiring a trainer might help her find strategies to cope with the behaviors she is finding annoying in her dog.  Once you make progress in that area, it makes dog ownership much more enjoyable.

[quote]It's a lab. A large lab will stay very active for a good few years. The behavior the OP does not like will only be temporary if you consider 5 years temporary.

If it were a different kind of puppy, perhaps. But while I agree the behavior is normal, i don't think it is temporary enough for OP. That is why I suggested OP get an older dog for her family. Most dogs I have known, especially playful breeds, stay pretty energetic until around 4 years old, maybe 5. [/quote]

Labs are puppish for a long time, but they do slow down faster than 5.  2 is way better than puppy, and 4 is way better than 2--t's gradual.  It's not like all of a sudden you wake up with a 5 year old couch potato with no changes in between crazy puppy and couch potato.  A young, energetic lab that is well trained and has boundaries they respect is not necessarily a hellion.  Active doesn't mean getting into her space/digging/chewing necessarily.  The goofy playing, sure--my parents' lab mix is eight and sometimes he can still be a goof--but he doesn't dig/steal food/chew.[/quote]

[b]Whatever.  I still think OP needs an older dog, not a trainer.[/b]

I hate people who insist and insist and insist a trainer will make it okay.  Not all breeds work for all people.  And certainly puppies and young dogs aren't for everyone, especially people who aren't dog people.  Large playful dogs, even well-trained ones with "boundaries they respect," also aren't for everyone.  [/quote]

I would highly suggest that OP not get an older dog or any other dogs at all, because they are obviously disposable enough to her to give up on a 6 month old puppy and is actually considering lying to her family about giving it away. Dogs are not disposable. When you get a dog, you DID make a commitment to that dog. Don't want to put the work in, don't get a dog. It's that simple. [/quote]

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