Dog Help...?

Question

My family has a three year old yellow lab. We buy him the strongest harnesses we can find. He wears his harness during the day because we are gone during the mornings and sometimes people will open and close our gate during the day when we are all gone (we share a yard with our neighbors). The problem is, he keeps chewing his harnesses off. We have bought the strongest kind we can find and we can't tell him no when we catch him chewing his harness because he does it when no one is around. Help?

He is fine outside. He is not necessarily alone because our maid is home but she does not have the time to scold him when he chews his harness. We have tried normal collars too. He found his own way to get out of the collars too. The harness worked well until he found out he could chew it off.

It is just in the mornings that he is outside. He comes inside with our family when we are all home. He also plays with the kids and goes for walks in the afternoon. He does not need to be rehomed.

Answer 1

There are so many issues here. Sigh. First, your dog should not be left alone outside all day. If you don't have enough time for a dog, then you should consider rehoming him with someone who does have time. Second, it's hazard to leave a harness on him when no one is supervising him. What if he got caught on something?

If rehoming to a loving home isn't an option, then you either need to crate him inside or build a dog run that he can't escape. Make sure that it has a dog house, food, and a source of warmth for when it's cold.

Answer 2

My hubby's dog used to wear a chain harness which had plastic tubing on it so it didn't pinch his skin. It worked really well. He couldn't get out of it and he couldn't chew it off! A collar made of chain, PVC or leather is OK if it is fitted correctly.
I'm assuming he has to wear the harness to keep his ID on him if he escapes the yard? Have you seen the "Fence-less" dog / pet barriers?
The dog wears a special collar. (You might have to attach it to your dogs harness.) And a wire is buried around the parameter of your yard or around the boundary of the area you want the dog to stay in. When the dog gets close to the wire a signal is sent to the collar and the dog gets either a small electric shock or a spray of a natural chemical which smells horrible to the dog. This teaches them to stay within their area. You do need to spend some time with the dog and do a little training. The instructions come with the product.

Also.......I'd be installing an automatic gate closer on the shared gateway. I big strong spring works well and won't cost a fortune. Let your neighbours know that they could be held responsable for damages if they let your dog out and he hurts someone or some thing or get injured himself.

And....don't you just wish people would answer the question and not just pick on you when they don't know the whole story!!! Arrgghhhh it drives me nuts! Be helpful people....please don't critasie if you don't have all the facts!

Answer 3

I so agree with Stalkers... answer! Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic channel and or get his book. His name's Cesar Millan (website is www.dogpsychologycenter.com) Learn and love and all will turn out better. A dog is a social animal and being left alone is torture. A metal collar would just make the torture more extreme. Listen to Stalkers... answer and also mine. This could be your call to change in a way that gives you the wonder of a best friend relationship with a dog instead of a master's perspective.

Answer 4

To your defense on the leaving the dog outside. It is fine to leave the dog outside when you are not home. In most cases it is alot easier on the owners and safer for the dogs. There is very few people that can afford to stay home with their dogs. Just because you have to go to work or to school does not make you a bad dog owner. My dogs are completely spoiled but if I did not work I would not be able to take them to the vet!!!!!!!
You can buy moveable kennels. THey make 10' X 10' kennels that you can set up in the back yard, they cost about $300 in Canada so I am sure they are cheaper in the states. If your dog is anything like my dogs, it is about fifteen minutes before they get through the harnness.

Answer 5

He is going to keep chewing these harnasses so you might as well give up. Buy a collar that is thick in width and is like a belt. If it is wide enough he wont be able to break it, and it doesnt have a clip so he wont be able to break that either. Try that and see if that holds him until you get home

Answer 6

If the dog has to live outdoors all the time then you should reconsider getting the dog rehomed with someone that can give him more attention. Labs are high-energy breeds and require lots of exercise. No dog should be left outdoors unsocialized with family constantly, chained to a tree or on a run for 90% of its time.

Perhaps try housebreaking your dog and getting her used to being indoors.

Don't use a chain or metal collar if you aren't around to supervise the dog, he can choke himself to death on it.

Answer 7

make sure the harness is a snug fit not to tight but not loose. if you find it off him again say no as you show him. they are smart dogs. and give him a leather chew toy. a big oneeeeeeee.

Answer 8

I like the answers that Stalkers_... suggested. The dog run is a real good idea. I don't know if it would work but there is a wireless fence that you can have installed.

Answer 9

perhaps you can find one of those metal chained harnesses? that way he can't chew through it, I kno they have chained collars, so they must have chained harnessess too. good luck

Answer 10

you should take the dog to a training center so the dog will learn not to do that.