Hi
My 5 year old labrador often picks up a log ( not a small stick ! Record 5 ft and 13 kgs ) or a large stone and carries it around on his walks. He backs away if I try to take it off him and will happily carry it for 30-45 minutes. He only drops it when we get back home or when we get back to the car.

Soeone told me he is an alpha dog an sees himself as providing for the pack with his offering.
Anyone any thoughts

bentleyboy

He is trying to get the ladies attention by looking like he has something to attract their attention or attract them. My rooster does the same thing, finds food on the ground outside but doesn't eat it, will instead crow over it until he has a pack of hens gathered to see what he's got.

The one thing that I would worry about is the strain on his jaw and teeth over a long period doing this especially if your walks are often... (Sounds like this 5ft log has some weight to it being that big) Did you try maybe replacing the stone or log with something else before your lab picks the log or stone up? I would say try maybe a longer stuffed toy like the ones Petsmart has and coating it with maybe salmon oil or even rubbing it with some wet food just to create the taste for the toy, maybe you can ween your lab off the log and stone that way. Many of my friends have labs that always seem to want to carry things on their walks also, one of my friends tried the trick that I explained above and it worked so maybe something to try.

Also, just a thought that instinctively Labs are know to be used for hunting and retrieving, so that is the prize to find and then prance around with the find, shows yes, the master of the conquer and that is the pride their showing off.

Good luck, hope that helps

Labs are retrievers. Instinctively they carry things home. The trick is to get him to bring it to you and (here's the hard part) GIVE it to you. I would suggest playing fetch with a frisbee or softball and giving him a treat when he brings it to you. Many owners use tennis balls but they get slobbered up too easily. A word of caution... use one hand for treats and one for the toy so as not to get treat smells on the toy.

I sometimes join someone walking his German Shepard. He also picks up big sticks or should I say logs. He won't let go at all.

Get some rope toys or rubber squeeky toys for the dog to carry during the walk.