Worst Dog In The World!?

Question

We have a two year old choclate lab who is terrible. He trys to get in trouble, he takes anything that isn't his and destroys it. What do we do?

Answer 1

This is a dog that does not know where it belongs in the pack. We've all seen animal planet, we know how packs work. There is an alpha dog. That dog establishes the routine, lays down the rules. You need to be that alpha dog. Speak their langauge.... I'm not kidding. You do not need to hit a dog or rub their nose in it. You can start by making sure that you are not giving him toys that look like real objects. For example, a lab is not going to differeniate betwwen a squeaky shoe and your best heels.
Next, give him an outlet for his boredom. Labs have a prey drive, they like to capture things. Go play fetch with him! get him some rope toys, some balls and some huge rawhide bones.
If and when he does take something unacceptable, remove the object from his site and replace it with the bone. Don't yell, scream or hit. If anything, don't talk to him. If you do not give him praise or love, he will catch on ... mommy's stuff is bad, bones are good. Mommy loves me when I eat my bone and bring her the ball.
Start asserting yourself as the alpha member of the pack. Do not go to him to play, make him come to you. Establish a heirarchy, with him on the bottom. Give him love and praise (snuggles and scratches) when he is submissive and ignore him when he is aggressive.
Labs are not brilliant dogs but they will respond to their pack driven sensibilities. There are behaviorists that can show you how to do this but it is expensive. One group, Bark Busters will charge you about $500 to do this but they will back it up with a lifetime written guaruntee. If you can afford it or finance it, it may be worth it.
Best of luck!!

Answer 2

There is no such thing as "the worst dog in the world" and there is always a reason, and a solution to every problem. You just have to have patience and motivation to find the solution and not just give up and take to a shelter or something, because you are now responcible for his life. Above advices are good, obedience training works for a lot of dogs, Also LABS in general have a lot of energy, I am assuming you would have reasearched the breed before getting him? labs need a lot of exersise, an outlet for all that energy, any kind of punishment will just make a problem worse. Whatever you do just please dont give up on him, dont tie him outside just because it may be easier. Get him some training. He will love you unconditionally for the rest of his life, please do the same for him. Also not sure if you've ever read "Marley and Me" but its about a large yellow lab and his owner with probably the same problems you are going through right now. If you read it it may give you some insights into your own problems.

Answer 3

Generally, pets act out when they are not getting the love and attention they require. I'm not saying that you are a bad owner, but he may have needs that you are unaware of. Try simple discipline, by conditioning. Do not hit the dog under any circumstances. I suggest you treat him as you would a child. Reward and praise him when he is good and scold him or take something away from him when he misbehaves. If that doesn't work, try obedience classes. Never treat your pet as a commodity; just because it isn't going the way you want, it would be inhumane to just give him up, that would only cause more behavioral problems.

Good luck, and patience.

Answer 4

Sounds like he has been in charge of your household for to long, if you cant stop this habit then you need to get rid of him.
Give him to a person that can train him. If your serious about keeping and rehabilitating him.
I would start by crating him and either running him for 1-2 hours a day on a treadmill or using a bicycle everyday (he is a high energy dog and needs to burn the energy to relax his mind) The crate will help him not get into so much trouble when your not around and give him a toy that he can really work at like a Kong stuffed with peanut butter, (there are stuffing recipes at kongcompany.com) they are great rewards for crate time.

Worst dog in the world a rottie? I beg to differ ignorance is the main problem with owners, punish the deed not the breed.

Answer 5

I agree that with the dog being 2 years old you need to go to an obiediance class for some help.Labs are very energetic,and sometimes headstrong dogs.They require alot of training from day one,and loads of exrcise to help keep them from becoming destructive.

Answer 6

You need to be going to proper obedience class. Not just a little 6 week course either. Take several to help you and the dog learn and practice.

Answer 7

mine does that too and we can't get a specific book to tell us how to train her because we don't know what kind of mixed breed she is, plus when I let her sleep in my room, she tore up my entire book collection and scatter all the pages on my floor.I'm having the same problem, but we got a general puppy training book and she's behaving a LITTLE better, but yesterday I was grating cheese and I went to go talk and she ate the whole block!!!

Answer 8

Well you have a working dog and if you are not taking him for long walks and a swim now and then he is going to find thing to do and to get into.
He is a hunting dog .Did you know that when you got him?

Answer 9

At 2, he is in adolescence. Obedience training, setting firm rules & being consistent with them, and crating him when he can't be supervised work wonders. In a couple years, maturity will set in and he will be calmer. Good luck!

Answer 10

Soulds like you need some training and possibly an animal behaviorist.
Contact your vet or local animal rescue/shelter to get some recommendations and go right away.