Labrador dog question

[Lankyrob]

Background - my parents have had labradors for the last 27 years, always have them well trained, well looked after, regular vet check ups, booster vaccinations etc etc. All have been non papered pedigree female animals.

Their current dog is an enigma.

Firstly she is as well trained as any of their dogs have been. Recalls, fetch, sit, lie, stay, drop etc etc perfect. BUT on occassion she will take off, not chasing other animals, not chasing a bike or kids playing, just randomly she will bolt and wont recall, it is slmost like she is in a trance as she will return at full speed and bolt in the opposite direction unless you can touch her, one touch and she stops and lies down but doesnt have that guilty dog look that they get when they knoe they have done wrong. Any thoughts??


Second one is medical. She can go and walk on the lead for hpurs and hours with no issue. She can walk off the lead through the woods for hours and hours sith no issue. But if you play fetch with her, after about ten minutes she will collapse and be physically exhausted, panting, heart racing etc. after lying flat for 15-30 minutes she can then walk slowly and will rest for the remainder of the day and be fine again the following day.

She has had every vet test they know off and everything comes back as "normal" for a four year old animal.

Obviously they no longer play fetch with her but wonder if Nyone else has experienced this or has any ideas?

Thanks for any help :)

[TheZoo]

For the fetch thing maybe she just gets so excited that she exerts more energy in excitement then she would just running around in the woods. For the running thing have you tried a "shock" collar that buzzes (vibrates) or beeps to try and get her out of the trance. Just some thoughts hopefully someone better will know.

[ErikBush97]

I honestly have no idea. The first issue with her running off could be anxiety. My dogs all act different when they're anxious. One will bark at the fan, one sits in the corner and whimpers, and the other will bark at whomever is making her anxious. They all have their own ways of displaying it, and I'm guessing that could be part if the issue. As for the problem with fetch; I'm clueless. Maybe it's just stamina.

[snakeman879]

Hi had the same problem with my grayhound he would walk no leed spot on then I would get on the common and he was off no way he would listen to me so I started taking him to other places for his walks and that sorted the problem. I figuerd it was the smells ov the hundreds ov other dogs that went for walks in the same area or the smell ov the rabbits that was making him really exited. Just a thaught labs ar hunting dogs as well could be a simellar problem. Really no idea on the other problems sorry.

[Zoo Nanny]

Rob my sister in law has had numerous labs. The last two European males were the same with the bolting. Both dogs were exceptionally well trained but at times for no apparent reason would bolt. You could take them hiking and they were golden but let out in the yard to do their business and off they would go. She ended up using a shock collar on both of them. After a couple of weeks she was able to turn off the shock and just keep it on tone. It worked like a charm. Both dogs wore the collars through out their lives.

[Lankyrob]

Hi had the same problem with my grayhound he would walk no leed spot on then I would get on the common and he was off no way he would listen to me so I started taking him to other places for his walks and that sorted the problem. I figuerd it was the smells ov the hundreds ov other dogs that went for walks in the same area or the smell ov the rabbits that was making him really exited. Just a thaught labs ar hunting dogs as well could be a simellar problem. Really no idea on the other problems sorry.


Possibly, i thought there must be a trigger until last weekend when i was with them. The dog chased a ball, ran back towards us, droped the ball and then bolted, but there was bothing around. We ahd been in the same place for about two hours so no "new" smells to affect her. The direction she ran was just open field and she wasnt following a scent just running like a loon, suddenly looped back towards us and when i touched her back she stopped dead and looked almost confused as to why she was being told off.

Rob my sister in law has had numerous labs. The last two European males were the same with the bolting. Both dogs were exceptionally well trained but at times for no apparent reason would bolt. You could take them hiking and they were golden but let out in the yard to do their business and off they would go. She ended up using a shock collar on both of them. After a couple of weeks she was able to turn off the shock and just keep it on tone. It worked like a charm. Both dogs wore the collars through out their lives.

Not going to get into the moral argument here but there is no way any of our dogs would ever have shock collars put on them.

[Zoo Nanny]

Rob I was opposed to them also when they first came out and was shocked that my SIL chose to use one. She demonstrated the shock to me by putting it on her own wrist and then on mine. I was very surprised at the low level shock it gave off, nothing like an electric fence. It's more of a quick pulse just enough to get the dogs attention. My understanding is the shock from the electric fences is more intense.

[marvelfreak]

I have a theory on the playing fetch and getting worn down. When you take her for walks she is calm and can breath regular. She basically pacing herself. When playing fetch she get excited her blood pumps faster making it hard to breath. She may have a blockage or bundle in her heart slowing down the blood flow to her lungs. Which would make her body wear down faster. This is just a theory but they may want to have a scan of her heart done.

[Lankyrob]

I have a theory on the playing fetch and getting worn down. When you take her for walks she is calm and can breath regular. She basically pacing herself. When playing fetch she get excited her blood pumps faster making it hard to breath. She may have a blockage or bundle in her heart slowing down the blood flow to her lungs. Which would make her body were down faster. This is just a theory but they may want to have a scan of her heart done.

Her heart has checked out a-okay but thanks for the theory :)

[Lankyrob]

Rob I was opposed to them also when they first came out and was shocked that my SIL chose to use one. She demonstrated the shock to me by putting it on her own wrist and then on mine. I was very surprised at the low level shock it gave off, nothing like an electric fence. It's more of a quick pulse just enough to get the dogs attention. My understanding is the shock from the electric fences is more intense.

Shock collars are already banned in Wales due to them being deemed cruel, i cant see it being long before it is passed in England too. If one part if the UK bans something then it is likely the rest will follow suit.

If the RSPCA deems something cruel then so do i.

[Zoo Nanny]

I just did some reading on the collars. My first instinct was right, my apologies for suggesting it to you. They should be outlawed. Just on the faultiness of them alone they are a danger.

[Lankyrob]

I just did some reading on the collars. My first instinct was right, my apologies for suggesting it to you. They should be outlawed. Just on the faultiness of them alone they are a danger.

No worries, different places have different ways of doing things anyway :)

[Pareeeee]

Has the dog been given preventative treatment for heartworm? Just wondering if this could cause the wearing out problem.

[snakeman879]

Hi rob as a welsh man. I can second that shock collars ar banned in wales its a shame people use them at all really very cruel things glad u would never resort to that top man

[Lankyrob]

Has the dog been given preventative treatment for heartworm? Just wondering if this could cause the wearing out problem.

She is totally 100% up to date with flea, worm, heartworm and vaccinations. But not sure if you mean the treatments could be causing it??

[Pareeeee]

No I was worried she hadn't had the heartworm treatment.