need some advice my brothers 1 1/2yr chocolate lab?

Posted January 31st, 2010 by admin




I was talking to my brother the other evening and he said he is having trouble with his lab he seems to be chewing things up from shoes to wood my brother lives in a condo it has a very small patio so the dog can poop in the small dirt areas of the patio, my brother said that he doesn’t let the dog on the sofas or beds but has a dog pad for him to sleep on so that way the dog doesn’t jump on the bed or sofas. When my brother comes home from work he finds the dog lying on the sofa or on one of the beds so how can he teach the dog to stop chewing shoes and furniture and to make him learn to not jump on the bed or sofas any suggestions would help. My brother has toys for the dog but the dog rearly plays with the toys, he also mentioned if the dog keeps chewing stuff up he doesn’t want to but feels a muzzle might do the trick but I told him thats not a good Idea it might anger the dog?




11 Responses to “need some advice my brothers 1 1/2yr chocolate lab?”

  1. arkpudel

    Labs are ferocious chewers, and he’ll do this until he’s probably about 7 or 8. Labs need LOTS of exercise, and it sounds as if he’s not getting ANY- a bored dog is a destructive dog!

    1.) he needs to crate the dog when he’s not around, that will keep him out of things he’s not supposed to be in.
    2.) This dog needs TONS of exercise! He’s not getting enough, and until he is mentally and physically stimulated, his destructive trend will continue!

  2. mojos1966

    It sounds like the dog needs to be crated while your brother is away…It’s very hard to deter bad habits when the dog is allowed to run around unsupervised all day..If you can’t catch him in the act, you can’t correct the behavior..

  3. Cathy P

    The very best way to keep a dog from chewing things up he shouldn’t have, like shoes, is to put them away so the dog can’t get them. How about in a closet? As for the dog going on things he is not supposed to, many people crate their dog to keep their access to those things at a minimum. Worth looking into? Good luck.

  4. paintedrain2

    Does this dog get any exercise? You mentioned a small patio, so he obviously doesn’t have a yard to run in.
    Your brother needs to take this dog for good, long walks to help release some of the energy that the Lab is currently putting into chewing up things.
    As for the furniture, sadly, you can’t prevent them from doing something, when you aren’t there to stop it.
    I would just put blankets over the furniture when he’s gone, for then if the dog does get on them, you can easily wash the blankets.

    Crate training is a wonderful tool, as well.

  5. berner mom

    He needs some attention, exercise and a job to do. Rally, Agility, Obedience. Labs are WONDERFUL in these sports!!

    Tell your brother to find a good local training club, sign up for some classes and have fun.

  6. resau2003

    your brother’s dog needs to be walked in the morning and at night. he has to excessive energy. He can put him on the tread mill. It works wonder with my dogs

  7. tom l

    Give this article to him. It addresses this specific problem.
    http://www.retrievertraining.net/crate/kennel.htm

  8. Fancy Pywakkit

    he should crate train the dog. also, make sure that the dog has plenty of chew toys. dogs have a natural need to chew, so they will fulfill one way or another.

  9. SARAHLOU25

    muzzles arent the way forwards – its down to how you train the animal in the 1st place.
    theres no quick fix.
    We had a girl who chewed and chewed and chewed upvc wood alarm cables. in the end we restricted her to one area- with toys "kong" where the dog needs to use their mind to get treats. We then really praticed our training skills and we have her now where she will only touch wants shes alloed to and its surprising how quickly they learn.
    It also depends on how long he leaves the dog……… after long periods of time this may all go to pot…….. dogs need attention as well as toys

  10. mwbaby2216

    yehh my chocolate lab will be 11 this year and hes still ignorant lol, he goes through the garbage, shreads paper. i found out when dogs do this their just angry. when ur brother goes away put the dog in a cage, and when he comes bak feed them and give them dinner, make sure his squeaky toys are in the cage w/ him when he goes to work, so they wont be lonely. um he’s still a puppy really and he never got passed that stage. maybe he needs to take him out more when he gets home, talk and play with him, put him in the cage when he leaves for work, and maybe the behavior will change. hope this helps

  11. Mag

    Get a fence or like one of those things to block babies from stairs and keep the dog in the kitchen area with toys and water. Or you can get chewing spray which makes anything he chews on taste gross so he wont chew on it.
    Goodl uck

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