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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bauer" data-source="post: 274915" data-attributes="member: 775">I could use some dog owner help as I am a first timer!I have a 14mo old Fox Red Lab named Ruckus, we got him on black friday of last November and have grown to love him more than I ever expected. He has been great since we got him, very smart and took quickly to the rules of our home. Great with crate training, only a few minor accidents in the home and now grabs our attention to go out to go potty without issue. But as of the last 2 months, say as the weather has turned, he has developed some traits I am struggling to overcome with him.A: While playing fetch, I had taught him to retrieve to my hand and all summer he was excellent at it, never faulting unless he wanted to lay in the grass with it to catch a breath and cool off. As of late, he wont retrieve to my hand any longer, unless maybe the first few throws of the ball. After the first few, he will start going behind me and laying down and "maybe" lay the ball on the ground by my feet. Forcibly trying to get the ball back of course seemed to encourage him so I obviously quit that right away. I presume it is because he has learned eventually it gets taken away when we are done playing but I cant seem to do anything to get past this. He treats that ball as though it is the greatest treat, there is nothing else we do that gets him more excited than to play fetch with the chuck-it. If we play with any toys in the home, he retrieves to the hand flawlessly, sits patiently and wont go until his name is called but once outside with his ball, he looses his damn mind and forgets it all.B: He has started grunting or growling to try to gain our attention, he will stand in the living room and do this until we finally relent and do something with him. This can happen even after we spend some serious time playing with him to occupy him. I understand his energy levels, but we can play with him to the point where he is breathing heavy and 5 minutes later he's at it again, finally about 9pm he will relax and chill out.C: while letting him out of the house to go to the bathroom after dark, he has developed a trait where he will sit on the step of the deck 20' away and watch me but wont come to me to re-enter the house. His recall has become quite questionable at times. Even coming from the garage into the home he will sit and tuck his ears/tail and not come to the door. Other times he enters just fine! If I walk up to him, its like a light bulb clicks and he runs happily into the house.All of you lab owners, please help me with my "terrible twos" situation I have going on. Is it time to break out the heavyweight treats for the next few months to snap him back in line?Thanks in advance.</blockquote>

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