Love The Labrador

When Do Labradors Calm Down?

5 Tips to Pacify Your Over-Excited Lab Puppy

When do Labradors calm down– or do they even? Fortunately for you, yes, your Lab puppy won’t always be the boisterous, super-active pup that it seems to be today. We understand that a large part of a Labrador Retriever’s appeal is its friendly and exciting nature. However, it can be exhausting and overwhelming at times. 

So, when will this playfulness tone down to give way to a more relaxed pup, and is there something you can do about it before that time? Let’s find out!

Why Are Labradors So Hyper?

A large part of why Labs seem to have endless energy is the reason they were bred. Looking back at the origin of Labradors, they were bred exclusively to work and help with hunting. This is also why Labradors are so comfortable running around and happy to swim in ice-cold waters

Even today, many Labradors are used to collect fish and retrieve game when hunting. In other words, Labs still align with their heritage and have boundless energy to run and play around. However, being energetic doesn’t necessarily mean your Lab has to be hyperactive. 

Energetic Vs Hyperactive Labs

Not every high-energy Lab is hyperactive; the two have a significant difference. Here are some key areas to watch out for to note the difference:

  • Excessive pacing around (digging, too)
  • Jumping against, biting, and nipping people
  • Possessive behavior when it comes to personal toys or even food
  • Restlessly running and chasing just about anything that moves
  • Excessive panting (including drooling)
  • Unusual behavior, such as chasing around for its tail

Of course, some regular, energetic dogs may also exhibit some of the abovementioned behaviors. However, an excessive portrayal of such conduct and always seeming on edge points towards a behavioral issue rather than a simple excitement towards life. 

Suppose your Lab is hyperactive and displays special emotional and behavioral needs. In that case, you’ll need to put in extra effort and may even have to hire a trainer to teach it impulse control. Fortunately, such behavior is rare in Labs, but knowing what to look for and act accordingly is essential. 

When Do Lab Puppies Calm Down?

On average, you’ll find most Labradors start to calm down as they reach adulthood. This is usually between 12-18 months of age, while some may take up to two years. Of course, this isn’t set in stone, as every Lab has its unique temperament, and some start quieting down as early as six months! The Labrador development stages below will give you more context to understand the behavioral changes of your Lab as it continues to mature. 

Labrador Development Stages

Baby Years (Puppy Stage: 3 – 6 Months)

During this period, your Lab will start getting more active and sleep less than before. It is also the rowdier stage where your Lab will begin testing its boundaries and start acting rebellious to see how far it can go before being reprimanded.

It’ll also start teething at this point, so expect some biting/nipping and furniture damage to occur. This is the best stage to reinforce your boundaries and not let your Labrador act on its will. Gently reprimanding when your beloved canine pushes its limit during these stages is encouraged. 

Teenage Years (6 – 18 Months)

This is the stage where your beloved Labrador reaches its full potential. It’ll grow to its full length and shape into a majestic and adult Labrador Retriever. However, the growth is only in the body and not in the mind. 

You can consider your Lab at this point to be a full-sized tank with the mind of a child. If you’ve already practiced basic commands and training with your Lab up to this point, it’ll remain controlled (save a few moments here and there). 

Adulthood (18 – 30 months and onwards)

During this stage, your Labrador will calm down. It’ll begin acting more maturely, provided you have given it the correct training during the first two stages of their lives. 

Why Is It Essential To Calm Your Lab Down?

Overstimulation equals anxiety, and a state of constant anxiousness can cause health issues to pop up in your beloved canine. 

Furthermore, a restless Lab often engages in destructive behavior such as biting, nipping, destroying items, jumping against people, constantly going against commands/set rules, pulling on people/clothes, and excessive barking. 

The best way to avoid this is to nip the problem in the bud and prevent these behaviors from manifesting, or if they already exist, to eliminate them through proper and gentle training. 

How Do I Get My Labrador To Calm Down? 

How Do I Get My Labrador To Calm Down

Abundant Training And Structure

If you have a Lab puppy, ensure you’re giving it the proper training at the right time. The baby and teenage stages are the best periods to provide your Labrador formal training and teach it impulse control. 

Giving your Lab a proper routine where its life is in structure, along with loads of training, will make it more resistant to its instinct and allow it to listen and follow your commands even when highly stimulated. 

Give Them Lots Of Exercise And Entertainment

The most important part of the day for your Lab is when it gets to run free. Even after your Lab has toned down its activeness after becoming an adult, it is vital to give it abundant exercise time to release all pent-up energy. On average, you should provide your Lab with at least 1 hour of exercise daily (not necessarily all at once).

Physical activities such as swimming and running free are a must but also allow for mental stimulation with dog puzzles. 

Labrador Retrievers are also very social canines. Once your Lab is properly trained and listening to your commands, take it out to new places and allow it to interact with different environments and people (with a training harness). Exposure to new places regularly will shape your Lab’s mind and body and make it resistant to overstimulation. 

Positive Reinforcement

Let your beloved Labrador know how much you appreciate its calmness. Spare a treat or two to encourage such behavior when your Lab behaves especially calmly and quietly. You can also pet your dog to show your appreciation too. 

Gently Reprimand And NOT Reward Bad Behavior

You need to be careful of showing any appreciation for bad behavior. For instance, if you like to feed your Lab to get it to stop barking, or you show affection when it nips/bites you on the hand, you’re encouraging this behavior to continue and perhaps even worsen with time.

Whenever your Lab commits such “bad behaviors,” make sure you let your beloved canine realize what it has done wrong. 

Know Your Lab

Although Labrador Retrievers are only one breed officially, there are two unofficial distinctions. These are:

  • English Labs: They are bred for conformations (a fancy word for dog shows) and are a bit bulky in build. 
  • American Labs: They are bred for work and are a bit leaner in build. 

However, it is still important to remember that both breeds are very energetic!

It’d also be fruitful to consider factors associated with the behaviors, such as:  

  • The where (it started) will give you more insight into what brought the behavior. Was it a change in routine? Or was it a decrease in interaction? 
  • The when (it occurs): if the bad behavior occurs at specific points within the day it could be pointing towards seeking attention, separation anxiety, or even dietary issues. 

More insight into these questions will allow you to pinpoint and solve the problem easily. 

Is Neutering/Spaying My Lab The Solution? 

In short and simple terms, spaying/neutering your Lab will not affect the amount of energy it has. Your Lab will have the same personality even after spaying, so you probably won’t notice any change! 

How NOT To Get Your Lab To Calm Down!

How NOT To Get Your Lab To Calm Down

There are three main don’ts of calming your Lab down:

Using Harsh Methods

Always reprimand your Lab gently and firmly; don’t try pinning it or using physical force to stop it from acting a certain way.

Setting Your Expectations Too High

Even if you do everything right, Labs must get their daily dose of exercise and play. You should not expect your Lab to act calm around the clock if you’re not meeting its needs. 

Encouraging Your Lab With Your Behavior

If you get super excited around your Lab in certain places, your Lab will probably follow suit. Being excited at the park or beside the lake is appropriate, but try to encourage calm behavior inside the house with your demeanor.

Summary

Labrador Retrievers are generally very energetic canines. They’re hyperactive and may act out in certain situations by biting, nipping, and even jumping on/against other people. So when do Labradors calm down? Labs generally calm down at around two years; however, even before that, they can be kept in check with proper training and exercise time.

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