New Yellow Lab (mix) puppy owner!

**Michgold** · 08-26-2011, 09:42 PM

My name is Michelle, and I just adopted Bronson, a 4-month old yellow lab mix from a shelter. The vet thinks he's mixed with Weimeranar or Pointer.

I just had a few questions about whether Bronson is normal!

He has a sweet and quiet temperment. We are crate training him, and he has done very well. Hubby and I brought him home on Friday. We had a couple of accidents (peeing in the house) on Saturday and Sunday, but nothing since! (yay!)

Bronson likes his crate and after he got used to it, he will run and get in it sometimes. The last few days, though, he has started sleeping in the downstairs bathroom-- he sleeps there ALL day. He won't come out (even for treats) and I have to literally drag him out to go outside (at which point he runs around and uses the bathroom). Has he made the bathroom his "den?" Why won't he come out?

He also will NOT come when we call him. Even when we have treats.
He is doing really well with "sit" and pretty well with "down" but I'm very concerned that he won't come when we call him.

We decided to start puppy training classes at PetSmart (6 weeks, 1 hour per week).

When Bronson does come out of the bathroom (especially outdoors) he is very social and gives kisses and plays fetch. He isn't very good at walking because he'll stop every 4 feet and roll around on his back in the grass (is that normal?)

Thank you!!

**silverbyrd21** · 08-26-2011, 09:44 PM

is the bathroom tile or linoleum? he might like it cause its cool. maybe he is hot in his crate.
Oh and we need to see a pic of this pup ASAP!!!

**Michgold** · 08-26-2011, 10:09 PM

I'm not sure why my profile pic won't show. Can't find it in settings, and my uploader won't work.

**silverbyrd21** · 08-26-2011, 10:14 PM

after you make like 6 post or somthing they will show, i think

**Sophiesmama** · 08-26-2011, 11:53 PM

Try closing the bathroom door. See if he becomes more social. The profile pic isn't the one you have on here with your sign in name for us to see, it is the avatar. You have to load it as your avitar.

**Campfire_Dog** · 11-20-2011, 10:40 PM

Coming when he is called will take some time.
Welcome to the forums.
Judy and Jack

**Red Fraggle** · 11-21-2011, 12:49 AM

I brought home a 3 month labX (probably GSD) on Thursday. He's so timid and we're just working to get him to relax and feel at home yet. Sometime he comes when I call him. He stays close to me outside, but he also likes to nap a lot more than I expected and isn't super playful all the time. He's REALLY cuddly though. For the first couple days I had to pick Wembley up and carry him outside and back in because he's afraid to go through doors. He's finally starting to get over that with the front door, but is still terrified of the back door which has 3 steps down to a landing with the door in front and the basement stairs on the side. I think he's afraid to go past the basement stairs.
I don't know if sleeping in the bathroom all day is normal, but after reading around here for the past couple days, it sounds like labs have a tendency to some odd but adorable personality quirks

**deidra** · 11-21-2011, 08:07 AM

Welcome! If ym dogs or cats get hot the go to the bathroom to since it is cooler in there.With Bentley he had TERRIBLE recall. So I started with a long line and would call him and when he came he got a good boy and treat. If he would come to me without being called he still got a good boy. My dogs love to roll in the grass to.

**Samson** · 11-21-2011, 08:37 AM

What treats are you using ! They need to be high value treats - strong cheese or liver !

**Tanya** · 11-21-2011, 12:58 PM

To get a puppy to come (or new to me dog) I get low to the ground, I may even turn away from them, and use a high pitch voice calling PUPPPY (not their name, he may not even know his name all that well yet depending if you have been working on training it or not). I use high value treats (really stinky stuff) OR a toy they love. and reward when they come.

The above is just to get me going with a new dog. Aside from that you need to train a formal recall (with a recall word such as "come"). this takes time and training - it does not happen overnight and is not "natural" to dogs (they are nto born knowing that humans want them to go to their side when they yell)

Rolling in the grass is normal.

He is probaly in the washroom because the floor is cool. I agree witht he suggestion to keep the the door closed to get him more social but I wouldn't FORCE him to interact, let him come to you around the house.

Puppy K is great!