The dog...need help with Destruct-O-Matic

[dvcgirl]

Definitely crate him. Labs in particular are big chewers and in my experience need to be crated until age 2 or so....

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

When I had my Teacup Poodle years ago, we had a cat (yes, she was that small) door installed for her to go in and outside. When we would leave the house, we would put a crate to the inside of the door, and leave her outside. She could run and play or come inside and rest or eat if she wanted to (we would leave water and food in the crate for her as well). Or if the weather was bad she had the option of being inside as well.

Unfortunately she didn't really figure out the bad weather portion and we'd always come back home to her standing in the rain. Silly dog.

 

[quentina]

My puppy goes to the "Cold Nose Lodge"...it is doggy day care.

She goes and plays all day with the other puppies, takes a nap at nap time, eats etc.

Well worth the $$$$

 

[ceecee]

I have two labs and they do eventually settle down! I agree with the crate, but watch the metal kind. My younger lab was about a year old and I got home from work and she had gotten her paw caught between the door of the cage, I rushed her to the vet (she was shaking and couldn't walk on it) and they x-rayed it. Luckily it was ok, but the vet said she's seen several times that same thing happening and recommended a plastic crate instead. DH made a board with a towel around it, kind of like a crib bumper which we used for a few months, now both dogs have the run of the house with no problems. They do need plenty of exercise and will behave much better when they get it. I second the Kong, freeze some peanut butter in one and give it to him when you leave. A Kong is about the only toy my labs have not destroyed.

 

[sskem96]

I was going to suggest doggie daycare also.

My puggle is crated when we're not at home or when I'm sleeping (I work nights). We can't afford to do doggie daycare full time, but I take him at least once or twice a week so he's not just stuck in the cage all the time. Call around and check prices in your area because they can very greatly from place to place. We found a place in town that I can take him for $5 if he's there less than 4 hours, or $15 all day. Some places are as much as $30. I tend to take him for 4 hours on my days off when I'm running errands and stuff so he can get rid of some energy. I've taken him all day a couple times if I really needed a full day of sleep. He has a great time!

 

[hsmamato2]

Thanks for the responses. He was crate trained, but once he became fully potty trained and we put in the doggie door, we gave him more freedom..

Any dog training book will tell you this- he doesn't need the 'freedom' of the doggy door,you do. What the dog needs is a solid walk in the morning,then a crate time while you're gone,and more exercise/playtime WITH YOU later in the evening. I know,from my own experience it's easy to let the dog out in the back,and assume it's enough exercise/stimulation/freedom (i've done it myself) but for a high energy dog like yours,it's not what he needs.
Crates aren't mean,they're lifesavers with many dogs. It can mean the difference between a happy dog experience,and years of misery. I crated my little chi mix for about 2 year while I was away,now that she's older/calmer,she doesn't need it,but she still likes going in just to be in her 'cave' with a new toy,etc. Try introducing a juicy new toy that he gets only in the crate,after a few days of 'crate time=cool new toy' he'll get the idea...
This can be a tough schedule, and I'm a parent, I'm no dog trainer with a 'dogs only' schedule myself, but I learned to remind myself that even my 10 pound dog needed more 'real' exercise time than the backyard door.

 

[Hotdoggie1977]

Our lab was basically the same way. After she was house trained we stopped crating her. Big mistake, we would come home to chewed up dvds, flooring, etc.

We had to start keeping her in the crate when we left. I didn't like it at first, but it is better for everyone. You won't be upset and the dog won't get in trouble.

Eventally she clamed down(somewhat) and she is left out now. I've always hear labs are a pain for the first few years because of the chewing and stuff.

 

[extremesoccermom]

We still have the crate, but I think he would be really upset being put in it.

You are giving the dog human emotions. The dog lives in the moment and the crate becomes his den. We will not be mad or get upset about going in there for the day. He will be just as happy to see you when you get home whether he has been kenneled all day or allowed the run of the house. We follow the Dog Whisperer philosophy that the dog needs exercise, discipline, affection in that order.
I also strongly recommend the KONG it is great to satify their chewing and is mentally challanging. (It is so funny to watch my dogs with their KONGs. One throws hers to try and get the food to fall out - she has the big red one. The other one will just lay and turn it, lick it and chew on it - she has the black one for heavy chewers.)
You can also look into some of the wonderful activities available now for dogs and humans to do together. We have done training classes, dock dog (great for a lab - they chase an object off the end of a dock into the water. The dog can win prizes and recognition depending on how far or high they jump), obstacle course and just heading to the local dog park for great socialization and mental stimulus. In St. Louis we have a couple of yahoo groups (Mixed Breed Club, Dog Scouts and Bizzydog) it provides some great activities where we can get together with other dog lovers and sometimes trainers that can help you.
Here are my babies. (Note the carpet - it was done by my black lab that actually just passed away last January - we plan to rip it up but just haven't gotten to it yet)

 

[denise5374]

I have a 6 month old chocolate lab and he is still crated. There is no way I would trust him alone in the house. He is housebroken. Every morning after DS leaves for school, i gather up his toys and he goes willingly into his crate, I then get ready for work. Usually by the time I leave 45 minutes later, I hear him snoring away.

The is our 2ns lab, our yellow died in October at 13, I think he finally calmed down at the age of 10. He was a great dog though, high energy and all.

I agree also with the dog food....although we put our puppy on Wellness puppy and it didn't agree with him (at all)...and that wasn't pretty. Our trainer recommnded lamb & rice food and that seems to be working.

Here's the baby...he thinks he is a lap dog. LOL

 

[crisi]

With a really distructive dog - watch the chew toys in the crate (just watch chew toys). We've done the vet trip for bowel obstruction from a chew toy - we got lucky and it came out the other end without the surgery....

Ours can eat through a kong.

 

[RN4Babies]

Thanks for the responses. He was crate trained, but once he became fully potty trained and we put in the doggie door, we gave him more freedom. We still have the crate, but I think he would be really upset being put in it. I was thinking about allowing him access to the one room that has the doggie door and the back yard. So basically allow him to have full access to the yard and keep him contained to the kitchen while we are gone.

I agree he needs more activity. Just don't know if that will be enough to keep him happy mid-day. I wish he would chew on a rawhide. He loves squeaky toys, but rips out the squeaker in no time.

If you contain your dog to your kitchen, be prepared for chewed up kitchen table and chairs, chewed corners on your cabinets, chewed flooring, etc. One of the people in my puppy class at dog training last year had a dog who got behind the refrigerator and chewed through the water line that supplied the freezer with water for the icemaker. She got home to find a flooded kitchen, and repairs cost her over $5,000 (the flooring and subfloor had to be replaced). I also wouldn't put any toys in the crate with your dog. If he chews a chunk off (and determined dogs can chew off a piece of a Kong), it could either choke the dog to death or cause a bowel obstruction, possibly needing surgery.

Labs are generally high energy dogs. They need to be exercised at a brisk pace for at least 30 minutes at a minimum of twice a day.

I agree with pp that suggested doggy daycare if you're gone for more than three or four hours at a time. It's expensive, but a lot less costly than constantly having repairs done at your house.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Our lab is now 5 and he acted like a puppy till he was three almost four. He did stop chewing things but it took a while and even leaving him in a small space we had to be careful what we left near him. cause he still had his moments.
I don't think crating him is that bad of an idea. It dosen't mean he will be in there forever.

 

[ceecee]

My labbies are both on Wellness large breed, but it hasn't changed their activity level much, age does that! It did stop the ear infections our one lab got twice a year. My girls are now 5 and 3 and they have not been destructive at all even in during puppyhood. The oldest was a rescue dog and at one year she knew not to touch my DD's stuffed toys! They have their own and they somehow know which are which. They also can be couch potatoes if we're in the mood to relax, so not all labs are like Marley!

 

[MinnieMe2]

A tired dog is a good dog. Fortunately, labs are sweet dogs. Unfortunately, they are high energy. Use your crate, whether he's happy with it or not, and get him out of the house. Friends of ours had a lab -- until she was five their son ran five miles a day with Maggie. The days she didn't run, she chewed up the couch, a bed, a chair, a rug -- whatever was handy. I have bassets. Until they prove they are both housebroken and trustworthy in the house (i.e., no chewing), they are crated when we aren't around. Period. Mama's rules......

 

[TinkOhio]

Our lab will be 4 this October and is just starting to calm down. He is in fantastic shape and loves to move. He can run, jump and flip circles around the other dogs his in our neighborhood. It wasn't untill he was about two that we felt okay about leaving him alone with the run of the house. Untill then, he would chew things that we didn't want him to. We finally found a very thick rubber toy that he couldn't destroy at Walmart. It's green, heavy, and shaped like a fire hydrant, but it feels like it is made from tire material. I still buy him new toys every few weeks to chew on/destroy while we are gone so that he isn't completely bored. It seems to do the trick for him! Perhaps crating, really tough toys and time will help your situation?