My dog doesn't seem....coordinated.?

Hi =D

First of all, this isn't a stupid thing to worry about!

This happens to my dog sometime when she is not in the mood of playing or too much treats. It can also be that he just doesn't like to catch, so he refused to catch when you throw.

When I gave too much treat to my dog, she will start to take things for granted. Exactly like what you have described (miss the treat, but attempted to catch). When this happens I won't let her eat the treat. She is well trained, so when I tell her "off, or NO" she will spit out whatever she got in her mouth. But now I got two cats that also eat treats she became more enthusiastic about catching treats. I let her know that I don't have to give her treat. Also when she doesn't want to play while I got time to play with her, she will always miss the ball, but fetch it back. Then if I throw it the third time she will not give the ball back to me. She will hold the ball in her mouth and stand there like a stone.

There is, however, a possibility that your dog is not coordinating very well. I have seen this with my friend's golden retriever. When he walks he is always focusing on what his owner got in her hand or just anything else but the direction he is going. I even saw him fell down a flight of stair a couple times =( He cannot see glass either. He can catch ball (if you are within 1m range), but cannot catch treat at all.

One advise:

I wouldn't let a labrador pup run too wildly. He does need exercise, but jogging or walking in a park is necessary for both of you, and this is always enough. The reason is to allow his hind legs to develop properly. Bigger dogs, especially in pure breed dogs, can often develop hip dysplasia. It can cause by gene, nutrient or excess exercise. At puppy stage, if you see he waddles when he walk, then his hip isn't very comfortable. Letter on, you can see that his hind legs are small and very close to each other when walking or standing. My dog got this problem, and the breeder knew it from the beginning, but of course he wouldn't say anything. We didn't go for any treatments, because no vet know for sure how effective those costly treatments are, and she isn't at the point where a surgery is needed. The vet only told us to control her weight and avoid letting her put her weight on hind legs like when jumping or standing.

Anyway, poor coordination isn't too bad, so don't worry about it.

Have fun!

Actually, it is a puppy thing but can also be an adult thing. I had a Yellow and Chocolate Lab. My Yellow was on top of everything when we brought him home a 3 months. Still a bit uncoordinated but already showed interest in fetching.

Our Chocolate remained basically the same from puppy until his death at 13 years. He could never catch anything, laid in the yard and waited for the ball to roll within muzzle distance, rode on the raft while in the pool and was a wonderful lump of dog.

Would you throw a football at a baby and expect him to catch it? No difference. He's a baby. And it's perfectly normal for him not to be coordinated yet. You might check that his eyesight is okay (next vet trip) but otherwise, don't do what you are doing. Don't let things hit him in the face - could catch his eyes and do damage.

On the other hand, if he's walking with difficulty, you might have him checked by your vet. Labs are prone to having poor hips, and elbows, but again, he won't have any muscle tone to speak of yet. This will come eventually. Take it slowly with him.

ps Some breeds are better at playing catch, than others. And even individuals within breeds might not be as good at catching, as others.

This is just a puppy thing, lol my Akita is still the same way and she's 6 months. It will get better, and then as soon as he has a growth spurt, he will be just as uncoordinated as he is now. It's just because everytime they get used to their bodies being the way they are, they have a spurt and everything changes again, it is funny to watch, and they will grow out of it, our 2 year old Husky was the same way when she was a pup.

Labs are generally goofy. I call them doofuses. Generally they get better as they grow up, but some still retain that goofy walk. As long as he seems to see alright and hear alright, then he should be okay. Try to test his eyes and make sure he can see out of both of them- the pupils should get bigger and smaller when light is shone into them or he is in darkness. Each pupil should be the same size.

Test his hearing. Stand behind him and clap and see if he moves. Don't let him feel the wind from your hands moving though.

Most likely, he's just a silly puppy and will be fine as he gets older.

I have an Airedale Terrier, a German Shepherd/Chow combine, and an Australian Cattle Dog/Border Collie combine. What variety of puppies do I desire I might have...Besides Airedales, more often than not a few type of Setter or Pointer, a Giant Schnauzer, a Boxer, a Belgian Sheepdog, a Collie and an Irish, Lakeland, Scottish, Wheaten, Welsh, and Wire Fox Terriers The coolest factor my puppy does is peel boiled eggs. The funniest factor he does is he sits in a wheelbarrow and allows you to push him round all over.

It's more than likely just a puppy thing. But, if it's not, and he stays this way all his cute life....who cares?! You'll still love him, and he'll be a fun dog to play with and laugh with.

I know exactly what you are talking about. My dog would run into doors and cabinets and people, like she was hopelessly blind... Its a very funny thing, and they grow out of it after a year. Just enjoy it while you can, 'cause it'll get worse ( and funnier!(: ) and then better, until he grows out of it!

It's a puppy thing.

I'm guessing you weren't so graceful in kindergarten either. Same thing.

hes a wittle babybe ofcourse hes not a graceful ballerina