Is your dog socialable at home?

Awww, I have a velcro lab who only ever takes himself off to bed when he's really really tired. So no help there.

The only difference I can see is that we both work full-time 9-5 so unfortunately is not great for our dog. When we first got him Mr Maxi worked continental shifts, so we knew that the dog wouldn't be alone for more than 4 hours at a time. But things change and we're now out all day. We have a lady who comes in mid day to take him out for an 1 hour walk.

Does your dog play in the house? We have a routine of at least an hour play at night in the livingroom. Usually involves throw and fetch with a ball or when i'm feeling energetic chasies around the coffee table ?

He isn't very playful, he loves his soft toys and as 2 faves that he loves carrying around, he has no interest in balls, squeeky things at all. We know he is 9 yrs old, and from a search of his pedigree name he was a prolific stud dog in his day - maybe he is making up for rest after all his 'active' years ?. We can throw his fave toys up the garden, he'll retrieve twice then sit down! He isn't overweight, and mobility is great so don't think it is an age related joint thing that is a problem - arrrraghh - he's just miserable!

We got our Scottie pup when he was 8 wks old and although he was an adorable little boy, he always liked his own space. He was very well behaved and loved his walks but he was never very playful and he used to spend most of his time in his bed. Don't worry about your boy,he's happy doing his own thing and knows he's loved.

No, my mini Dachshund would surgically attach herself to me given the chance. But then I attribute that to the fact that I held her tight all the way home from the breeder's (2 hours) and then (sm)mothered her for a further 6 months while I was unemployed. I tried to get her to sleep in her own bed but she'd keep climbing out to curl up tightly on my lap. And now, at 1 1/2 years old, my lap is still her favourite and only place to sleep. Except at night-time when she sleeps on my feet, under the duvet.

I would assume your dog is more independent just because he's led a much different life up until now. He hasn't been used to so much human contact so he doesn't crave it, maybe?

Could it be that your living room is too warm for him at night? Our lab will take herself off into another room when she wants to cool down. She has a bed in our lounge, living room and bedroom and often moves from one to the other. Penny enjoys retrieving balls etc, and she too will do it a few times then sit down as if to say thats enough! I'm no expert but I think its just your dogs character, Penny will disappear into the hall sometimes, then come back 3 hours later and want to sit on my knee (theres only me daft enough to let her!!).

90% of the time my dog (staffy cross) is attached to my legs by elastic, although she's stopped sitting outside the toilet waiting for me ?

I suppose dogs are like humans in that some crave company and others don't so much.

Our first family dog very much liked her own space, if we got too rowdy/stayed up too late/room was warm she would head for her bed in the kitchen, it was just her personality she was always like that.

The dogs they have now follow you everywhere, I've had the pair of them sleeping on the bathmat whilst I had a shower

I'm not sure but I think as some labs start to get older and have left their puppy days behind them, they are quite happy to chill (aka be lazy!) and take it easy. I know your boy has a harder history but I think at least some of what you describe is normal lab behaviour.

We knew our lab was happy, he loved his food (could also tell the time, he got fed at 5pm every night and was sitting beside us drooling by 4.50pm ?) and his walks but did love his own space and sleep. I was in most of the time but he still chose to sleep on the middle landing by himself for the majority of the day. If you called him, he would always come though and adored having his tummy or just above his tail rubbed. He liked to play but was never a fetcher, he preferred to play on his own with soft toys and socks, usually legs akimbo. He was walked 4 times a day (two longer walks and two shorter) and he had a great time whilst out, tail never stopped wagging but when we came home, he would crash again. He really was happy to be sleeping in his own space although I would go to bed quite early and he would chill with my mum in the living room for an hour or so, when they would both sit on the floor cuddling into each other. He was always happy to be left, he'd be in his bed waiting for his treat when we started to get ready ? and we always got the best welcome when we came home again.

He was a miserable looking dog though and strangers would say it quite often. He was my bud though and was always, always there. If I was upset, he always knew and would come and put his head on my lap and when I was really ill, he would sleep in my bedroom but it sounds like your boy has probably never been able to nurture the normal lab instinct to care and protect.

I'm far from a dog expert but I think just keeping up showering him with love and letting him know you care/will always be there. Have lots of fun together and always reward the good stuff with a big fuss. Bless him! xx

Claire could be onto something here as labs can often 'overheat'. Dan would lie on the tiles in the kitchen when he got too warm.

I was going to say that too - our german shepherd will often take himself out to the kitchen or front door to take advantage of the breeze!

My lab is 4, and he can be quite like that sometimes - he's quite an independant little character and likes his space. We've had him since he was 8 weeks, and he's been loved to death, but it's just the way he is! He'll often come over and sit next to us, leaning on us, but he soon gets fed up if you're all over him!

In the summer he'll also trot off to the hall or the kitchen as he does get hot very quickly and it really slows him down and makes him sleepy. And if he's had a big walk he'll be out for the count for hours - I regularly come back and say "oops, I broke the dog again". And yup, if we stay up late at someone else's house, or late at the pub (he comes with us) he'll soon start huffing and sighing when he wants his bed.

However, when he does want a hug or to sit on our laps (all nearly 7 stone of him!) he'll soon let us know, and he's amazing with my 2 year old niece, so very careful and gentle.

Remember 9 is getting on a bit in dog years, he probably just wants to chill!

I have 3 dogs and they are all so, so different. They are all rescued and obviously all have different backgrounds too, but we have 1 like yours.

Ellie is a 14 year old Staff who follows me everywhere, including for a bath or to the toilet. She leaps around like a puppy when I return from work. She is currently sat at my feet.

Jessie is an 11 year old Mastiff/boxer cross and is more of a loner than Ellie, but does like to know where we are and will actively seek us out if she doesn't see us for a while. She is currently on the sofa behind me.

Rico is a different kettle of fish. He is an 8 year old Japanese Akita and loves his own company. He will sit with us for a short while of an evening and will then invariably take himself off to lay on the wooden floor in the hallway- part of this we attribute to the fact that he is so fluffy and gets hotter than the others, but part of it is just that he likes to be alone. He is currently laid outside in the garden (with the back door open, I haven't locked him out! ?) on his own and is perfectly happy! He used to be a guard-type dog and lived outside, so I think he is used to cooler/harder floors and being on his own.

Your boy sounds like he's pretty chilled and ok with his own company / space. We've three dogs, and they're all different when it comes to being sociable. Our Vizsla is velcro boy and likes to be with us wherever we are. The puppy likes to bounce around and check up on us to make sure we're still 'around'. Our collie-lab will take herself off to wherever she fancies, especially if she's tired. She'll go and lie on the settee ion our 'menagerie' given the choice and is quite happy not to be in the same room as us.

Thanks for all the replies, maybe he's not quite ready for prozac yet ?

The house isn't particularly hot at this time of year - we're tight and don't have the heating or fire on often! But he does have a thick coat.

I've had a GSD before or was my Mum's shadow, but this is the first labrador we've had. I'm quite used to the aloof nature of cats though.

GMT - My parents are getting a (wire haired) vizsla soon, it's all they talk about at the moment (it's not even been born yet), they're like expectant parents!

Hugo our eldest Golden is a little like this. He's very happy to just sit on his own and doesn't need to be with us all the time. Hudson is a totally different dog and is REALLY clingy! Mine are very hot at the moment and seem to be struggling so they tend to sleep downstairs where it's cool rather than with us.

I'd say most breeders treat their dogs as a business. Not in a cruel or horrible way but if they have a lot of dogs they tend to live outside and aren't pets. I know this is the case with our breeder, she had 24 at last count and can have up to 40 if she's looking after rescues or has dogs to stay while their owners are on holiday, so it has to be like that or she'd have no house. Even so, dogs do all have different personalities and it sounds as though yours is laid back and a bit of a loner, which in the scheme of things isn't bad as the opposite would be a nightmare.

Hugo, does like other dogs, he's not nasty to them but he can be very aloof. He likes who he likes and if he doesn't like them he'll just walk off and can't be bothered to play. He's more into people and runs up to everyone on walks and mostly ignores dogs or will say a quick "hello" and then wander off. You also can't make him to anything he doesn't want to do. Hudson is always up for a cuddle, you call him and he'll come running, sit on your lap and cuddle for hours. Hugo does this on his terms, he'll come to you and will maybe let you cuddle him for a few seconds before buggering off ?

I sometimes look after my friend's dopey chocolate lab and his is a velcro lab too. You cant move without him getting up to see what you are doing. I don't have any photos of my old boy (before digital photos and definitely before I could take a half decent photo ?) but this is Rory in some rare moments of quiet as you can't get decent photos of him while he is awake as he moves too quickly ? -

Rory gets very hot a lot of the time too. We were told by a vet to put a wet facecloth/towel on his neck (we'd put it under his collar) to cool him down and it worked wonders. It works for Rory too, although he's a bit too active for it to stay on for long. ? He also drinks bucketloads of water then proceeds to drool it all back out again. ?

Mrs M - that pooch is well cute!

Dove - ours is a smoooooooooth Vixsla and he is absolutely gorgeous. I can understand why your parents (think you said it was them, can't see your post) are all anticipatory!

Poochanna - I know the breeder who originally had him had kennel blocks, I suspect he hasn't always been used to being inside a house. He was quite skinny (you could see his ribs) and smelly when I found him, so I suspect he'd been a outside dog where he'd been. (I don't think he been living rough for a while as he has poor road sense, I just stopped him heading across a busy dual carriageway).

Mrs Magic - very cute photos!

GMT - What's so surprising with my Dad was that after their GSD died 5 years ago he was adamant that there would be no new pets coming into the house. Now he is besotted with the idea of a new pup in the house after meeting a few Viszlas last year. I think me and my brother are starting to feel pushed out ?

Anyway, here's a pic of my pooch

Aww, he's lovely ?

Our Weimeranar, Stella is another velcro dog and would sit on my knee permanently if she could, but our GS cross, Ed will often take himself off to the kitchen or garden rather than sit with us. He's a lovely dog though and we always laugh that even though he's a year younger than Stella he's always been more sensible!

We've had Stella from 8 weeks whereas Ed is also a rescue dog who was a stray picked up when he was around 9 months so I often wonder whether he's just used to being independent and may be the case with your lab?

More cuteness!

If you read up about Vizslas, they're often described as velcro dogs. Since having Tok, I can see why!

Here's a pic or two of our beastie ....