How to test my lab mix's soft mouth for retrieving? Can it be trained?

I suggest you refer to this article about gun training a dog for hunting. This article is more in-depth than what I have the space to do here. ( gundogmag.com/editorial/introduce-your-pup-to-gunfire-the-right-way/175477 ) You can also opt to work with a professional trainer if you haven't trained a dog for this before.

It sounds like Barnaby needs some guidance on what is and is not considered appropriate behaviour for a dog. Dogs use their mouths to play and to explore the world around them, but need to learn that it is not ok to bite humans. It is important to help his develop bite inhibition and redirect him to an appropriate activity, as well as to teach him that biting humans means they won’t play with him until he calms down. Visit the following links for more information on how to work on these goals at home https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mouthing-nipping-and-biting-dogs , http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1731 . I also strongly recommend working with a reputable trainer to help set boundaries for Barnaby. Visit https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/behavioral-help-your-pet for information on how to find behaviour help near you. Regular exercise and enrolling Barnaby in a training class to help him burn off some excess energy and learn how to play appropriately are also important steps you can take to help him succeed.

Labrador Retrievers are an intelligent breed, but they can also be quite "goofy," so you might not recognize their intelligence right off the bat. However, they are highly trainable, and excel at a number of sports and training games because of it. For more facts and characteristics about Labradors, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/labrador-retriever

Poor Junior sounds like he is fearful and poorly socialized. Please check out this fantastic behavior website that has a ton of free information on properly socializing your puppy as well as teaching him bite inhibition and proper play technique: dogstardaily.com. Good luck!

It's perfectly fine to use a muzzle (I'm assuming that's the same thing as a mouth guard) to make sure Damon stays safe and doesn't eat things he shouldn't. He won't think anything of it. Another option is to work on teaching him a "leave it" command. To do this, have a boring dog treat in one closed fist and hold it out to him, he'll try to get the treat for a while and then give up, as soon as he gives up say "Yes!" and give him a really special treat with the other hand. Repeat and repeat and repeat. Once he's really good at this (and not falling for the trick at all), say "leave it" before putting out the boring treat hand. Keep practicing using better and better treats, but always making sure to reward him with something special. I also love head halters to help with control on walks. Halti and Gentle Leader are two brands to look in to. Good luck to you and Damon!

Hi there. As far as helping your pup to get comfortable around kids, I would recommend allowing him to observe them at a distance while praising and giving treats. If he seems curious about them and wants to say hello, you can allow him to meet and let the kids offer treats as well. To help avoid mouthing and nipping during greetings, you can teach him to sit for a treat (followed by gentle petting), or have the kids drop treats on the ground for him. This keeps his focus down on the ground while they pet him, which in turn reduces his excitement level and tendency to use his mouth. Puppy nipping and mouthing has nothing whatsoever do to with dominance, and does not need to be "corrected" using any kind of punishment - it's a normal puppy behavior that will resolve on its own with age. Mother dogs are actually extremely tolerant with their pups about mouthing and biting, as they understand that this is normal behavior. Your pup is not trying to be anyone's boss - he's just a normal puppy, doing what comes naturally to him :) Focus on keeping the pup's excitement level down during greetings, give lots of praise and rewards for saying hello calmly. Keep him on-leash leash so that you can move him away from the kids to calm down if he starts to get too wound up - then try greeting again once he's a little more settled. You can also try teaching him to grab a toy when he starts to get excited, or prior to saying hello to a new person - for many dogs, this strategy can be very helpful since it gives them something else to do with their mouth.

Hello! Nipping and chewing is very common in puppies of this age as that is how they explore their environment. I'm including some basic puppy training articles that can help you redirect this behavior to appropriate items instead. I also recommend a training class once Bhutu is old enough to help the two of you bond and learn some basics! https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-biting-when-does-it-stop/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-proofing-your-home/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-puppy-training-mistakes/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/basic-dog-puppy-training-rules/