Lazy puppy!

**sunnylaz** · 09-25-2007, 04:04 PM

Okay, we wanted a laid back lab, and boy did we get one! Jonah is the laziest puppy I have ever seen. I try to get him involved in playing or fetch. He'll fetch about 3 times, and then he just wants to lay down and chew whatever we were playing with, or whatever he finds outside (leaves, coconuts, sticks, etc). When in the house, he spends most of his time sleeping on the floor of whatever room we are in. He will get up to follow me to a different room, and just lay down there until I move again. He's rarely in his crate during the day, unless we have to run out for an hour or two, since I stay at home with my kids. If I try to get him to play or come over, he will for a few minutes, but then will go lay back down. If we have visitors, he gets excited for about 5-10 minutes, then goes on his own way again.

I'm definitely not complaining, this is what we were hoping for (I know, hard to find in the breed; our last lab was the typical "never stops" dog). The breeder does "play drive" tests on the puppies at 6 weeks, and had him nailed to a tee (loving, sweet, calm boy). But now I keep thinking if he's this lazy as a pup, he's going to be that big yellow dog that never moves when he grows up!

How much energy does your pup have? Jonah is just over 3 months. My last lab had energy non stop from the day we brought her home at 8 weeks. I'm just curious as to how much your puppy will play/fetch/whatever, or if it spends as much time laying around as Jonah!

**Tatyana** · 09-25-2007, 04:26 PM

He is just a puppy. Like babies, they sleep a lot when they are young. Let him sleep whenever he feels/needs to. As he gets older, he'll have more energy to stay awake for longer periods of time. It's has nothing to do with being lazy.

**HersheyK's Dad** · 09-25-2007, 05:49 PM

He is to change many times. Since you are hoping for a calm dog, hope that it is an even number of changes. You said kids, do they play with him a lot. Does it take him a whole day to recover? I think a few of us are waiting for the post that goes something like this. Is he ever going to let me have 5 minutes rest?

Enjoy the puppy days. They don't last long.

PS: He looks pretty small yet. Three fetches in a row is not that bad. Short attention spans. Chewing? Wait until that mouth gets stronger, then there will be chewing.

**sunnylaz** · 09-25-2007, 06:48 PM

In my siggy picture he is 9 weeks (if that's the one you said he looks small in). He's now 14 weeks. As for they kids, they don't really "play" with him (they fight over who's going to pet him), but he doesn't really chase them or anything. Occasionally they will throw the ball in the house for him, he'll get it and bring it back one time, then he's done. I'm sure he'll get more energy and play, I'm just wondering how much energy other people's puppies have or had at this age (3-4 months). I remember my first lab having non-stop energy from day one at 8 weeks. I was hoping that this calmness was a precursor to his future self! I guess my question is; what age did your lab get that "high energy" that labs are known for? Or how high energy is/was your puppy at 3-4 months?

**HersheyK's Dad** · 09-25-2007, 07:01 PM

I am not sure that HK was ever low energy, exclude recovery from anesthesia, and maybe a full hour of non=stop running and swimming at a dog park. In fact, at 8.5 months, I am just beginning to see some calming tendency. Please let it not be my inagination.

**Karolyn** · 09-25-2007, 09:26 PM

14 weeks was the beginning of Harlee's craziness so if your pup is sitll calm in the next few weeks, who knows maybe you got lucky and you will be all set

**Tatyana** · 09-25-2007, 09:33 PM

Just to add, if you're concerned about your puppy, take him to a vet.

**PottersPeeps** · 09-26-2007, 07:56 AM

Potter, who is now 9 months, was a lot like your Jonah. He was typically very calm, with short and rare bouts of "orbiting." He loved to be outside but would just lay and chew on things rather than running around. At around 5 months he started increasing his energy and from about 5-7 months he was fairly high energy; he required a lot more exercise than he did before that or now. Around 7 months he settled into a pretty moderate level of energy. We exercise him every day, which he loves, and when he's in the house he's pretty settled. So there is hope (at least at 9 months) that Jonah will stay a low-energy dog!

**imported_abbigailsmom** · 09-26-2007, 11:41 AM

Abbie@23mos is non stop, Aries on the other hand will be playing then just plop himself down,
Alady at the dog park was watching Abbie one day and commented on how busy she is and that she never stops. lol

**sunnylaz** · 09-26-2007, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Tatyana

Just to add, if you're concerned about your puppy, take him to a vet.

Not at all concerned; he apparently has been like this from the very beginning according to his breeder. He's also been to the vet several times, and she has come to our house as well (she's a friend). I was just curious/wondering when other pups might have started showing the typical more high energy lab behaviour wondering if he might still have some pop up, or if we just got lucky! Sounds like every lab is different, and there is no telling how he might turn out!