Ruff Ruff! My name is Jake the Black Lab (VIDEOS)

Jake is a fantastic dog, a cross between my two favorite breeds, Lab and Boxer!  Jake's family had a baby, then grandpa moved in, and in these close quarters, there was just no room for Jake.  Jake is looking for his for forever home now. He can be very protective of his home, so he needs someone who understands that and is patient with him.  He would benefit from some more socialization where he can be in the presence of people but ignored until he becomes comfortable with them.

• Leash Manners - Jake walks well on leash when walked properly with a training collar.  He is still learning to 'follow' but he is not a puller.  He does like to walk at a quick pace, but he does have some long legs!
• Crate/House Training - Jake is housetrained.  He will whine and lick you when he needs to go outside and when outside, he goes right away.  He does not like being crated for long periods of time at all, but he does not need to be crated as long as there is no food or garbage he can get into.  I use X-mats to keep him from getting up on the couches.  He loves to look out the window so if you have aluminum blinds (like I do) they can get damaged.  Otherwise, he is just fine being left home alone!
• Socialization - Jake does well with greeting other dogs and loves to play.   He attends doggy daycare once a week at Happy Paws Pet Resort where he has lots of friends to play with.  Jake loves people of all ages, however he can be extremely protective of his home and has been aggressive with strangers coming into the home in the past.  He displays no aggression outside of the home whatsoever.  I am working with Jake on leadership and socialization to modify this behavior.
• Energy Level and Exercise - He has a moderate energy level but he is also very laid back.  He rides well in the car and will just sit or lay.  If he does not get adequate exercise, he can become overly vocal and will bark excessively at noises he hears outside.  I am working with him on correcting this behavior.
• Daily Structure and Schedule - Jake eats once per day of three cups of Blue Buffalo brand dog food.  His food is supplemented with 2,000mg of Fish Oil as well as 500mg of Vitamin E to keep his skin and coat healthy and soft.
• Confidence Level - Jake is a calm alpha.  He is definitely very intelligent and can be stubborn.  He needs a strong, confident owner who will ensure that Jake stays in a submissive role to manage his behavior.  He needs exercise, discipline and structure.
• Obedience Training - Jake knows Sit and he will Sit before he is allowed to do anything, including being pet, going outside into the yard, going for a walk, etc.  He knows No, Go (when asked to leave a room), Paw, Lay, Stay, Go Potty and Wait.  He responds very well to vocal correction as well as body language. Since Jake has established a routine in my home, I rarely need to give him a command and can mostly just use hand signals.  When he is disciplined, Jake will lay down and roll over to show his submission to you.  He does not need loud or physical corrections and is very responsive to a strong Pack Leader.
• Behaviors - He is very alert and protective of the home.  When he hears a noise outside, he will bark and head toward the front door.  A couple times he has thrown himself at the door because he becomes so upset at the noises.  I am trying to desensitize him to noises, correct him when he barks excessively, as well as provide him with adequate exercise so that he is too tired to bark.  He does well with being distracted by something to chew (I give him a knuckle bone and it works well to distract him and provide him with stimulation).
• Personality Quirks - Jake is very loving and attaches quickly to his person.  He is playful but not at all overbearing and is very fun to be around.  He is not hyperactive and is happy to just lay with you or near you.  He is one of the most loyal dogs I have ever met!
• Ideal Home - Considering Jake's history with protective behavior, he should not be in a home with young children.  He should be in a home with a strong Pack Leader who can provide Jake with exercise, discpline and structure.

*** According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Labrador Retriever is a loving, affectionate, lovable, patient dog. Once known as the 'St John's Dogs,' the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. Originally from Newfoundland, Canada the Labrador was trained to jump overboard into the icy waters to haul fisherman's nets to shore. Specimens were brought to England in the 1800's by English ships coming from Labrador, where the dog's fine retrieving instincts were honed and developed. One of the best family dogs and canine companions because of their gentle, loving disposition, the highly trainable Labrador also excels in drug detection, as a guide for the blind, and service dog for the disabled. The breed is also an outstanding obedience and field trial competitor. Highly intelligent, loyal, willing, and high-spirited. Lively and good-natured, they love to play, especially in water - for they love to swim. They have an excellent, reliable, temperament and are friendly, superb with children and equable with other dogs. They crave human attention and need to feel as though they are part of the family. Labs are easily trained. These dogs are watchdogs, not guard dogs, although some have been known to guard. They have a life expectancy of 10-12 years.