I recently adopted a lab who is between 1 & 2 years old. I need help with how to stop bad behavior problems?

Question

He likes to destroy things first of all. I bought him a pillow to lay on and it lasted about 30 min and now it torn to shreds. I have to keep him outside because of his "destroy it" nature. He goes crazy at meal time. He gets hyper and overly excited and then he eats so fast he chokes a little sometimes. I lock him up at night to keep him out of the cold and he goes crazy and runs into the door, jumps on the walls, and barks for at least 15 min. What can I do for him to help solve some of these bad habits?

Answer 1

Sounds like you're facing a number of issues.

First off (and most importantly) you should really be working obediance training with your dog 2-3 times a day. With a dog like yours, you are going to want to focus on the "stay" and "heel" commands because your dog needs to learn some self control. You will also want to master "down" because its a submissive position and will teach your dog, you, the master, are in control. (There is good and bad way to teach "down" so make sure you use a non-invading way or your dogs behavior may get worse).

If you can, enroll into an obediance class that uses the clicker training method (I find this method extremely useful on dogs with a lot of energy because it gets them into the habit of doing things because they -want- to, not because you are making them). If you can't afford obediance classes, there are plenty of clicker training websites online with lots of resources. Clicker training will also help with his destruction habits because you can click him throughout the day for good behavior and get him into the habit of chewing on designated things (nylabones are awesome). Anytime he chews a nylabone instead of something you dont want destroyed you click and reward, anytime you replace something bad with the nylabone and he bites down on it you click and reward, etc. Once you get the destruction under control through obediance and clicker training it will be easier to do other things.
You will also want to make your dog sit, or lie down anytime you do something he wants you to do. This includes feeding, going outside, or playing. This will also get him the habit of seeing you as master and teaching him self control. With my stubborn Lhasa, this one took a long time because anytime I picked up his lead to go out, he went nuts. After waiting at the door for 10 minutes for him to get his butt on the ground and stay on the ground until he was released, he slowly got the idea. Also, make sure you are the ones making the decisions. By this I mean, if you take him out make sure you are the first one out the door (or in the house, make sure you walk into the room first).

Second, once you get basic obediance mastered, you can start training more complex "tricks" that foster your dogs natural behaviors. This will give you dog confidence, and make obediance fun and interesting.

Third, it seems like your dog may not be getting enough stimulation. Labs are extremely intelligent dogs who often get bored when they don't have enough interesting things to do. I recommend buying KONG toys and filling them with peanut butter (organic sugar-free) because it keeps them busy. I also recommend making some treat-cups (plastic cup with some treats), or for labs a treat-bag (brown paper lunch bag with a few treats) and "hide" them around. There are training treats available at most pet stores that are healthy so giving some here and there won't destroy your dog's diet.

Fourth, it sounds like your dog has a lot of energy. You may want to start taking your dog for several walks per day. If your dog isnt dog-aggressive you can take him to the dog park to work some energy out and socialize. Also, agility is a good, fun way for a dog to expend energy and focus their intelligence in a productive way. Dogs like yours often do well in agility because of their energy and intelligence.

Finally, for feeding, I recommend 2feedings per day (same amount of food but over 2 intervals, morning and early evening). When feeding your dog on a schedule like this, make sure to feed him at the same time each day, and only leave his food out for 20 minutes (unless he is still eating). Dogs enjoy schedules and if he gulps, he'll gulp less. This will help control bloat, which can cause problems later on. Over time he will recognize that you are going to feed him later, so he may even elect to skip a meal (a dog will eat when its hungry and will leave his food when he's not). When increasing activity, make sure to monitor your dogs weight. Like humans, when you exercise more and eat the same amount, you are prone to losing weight. So if you see your dog starting to lose weight, increase his calorie intake accordingly.

It seems like you are trying to be patient, so I don't need to tell you to never hit your dog. I hope some of these things can help you find a solution! Good Luck!

Answer 2

To stop a dog form destroying things you have to do this. (This may sound a little harsh but it is best for it.) Place a shirt or something that you don't like and can be ripped in the middle of the floor call your dog and run away so he doesn't see you. He'll come and see the "shirt" and want to rip it. While he's destroying it come in with a very bad mood, yank the shirt away and grab your dogs snout and squeeze it together and yell NO! This pushes it's front teeth together and hurts his gums, they will heal don't worry. But your dog will not want it to happen again so he'll lay off chewing.

Same with the barking problem when he barks grip his snout together.

When he eats and gets hyper have a water bottle in your hand. When he starts to get hyper spray him with it but make sure he doesn't see it. If he See's it he's find it and either bury it or chew it. Dogs do not like water in their eyes and he will either yelp or try again. Repeat spraying him and do not let him eat until he settles down.

Answer 3

Hi, don't worry labs are very mischievous but i am sure that she will settle down in another 3 months of time ,I can say this for sure cause i own five labs hahahaaaa....By the way give her some Chew sticks which can save your pillow & thats a nice thinking of keeping them inside cause they are ver sweet & they really feel out of place when they kept outside ...May be few training sessions also will help

Answer 4

Do you take him for walks or to the dog park? It sounds like he has LOTS of energy. Labs are known to be very energetic. You need to find time to go for walks with him, throw ball with him or get him together with other dogs to play. Young dogs of that size generally need at least 30 minutes to 1 hour a day of exercise.

As for tearing things up, it could be a few reasons. Dogs tear things up because they are 1)bored, or 2) have separation anxiety. If he is tearing up personal items, he is probably just bored. If he is eating furniture or walls, he probably has separation anxiety.

You can make him calm down when he gets his food by making him sit before you put it on the floor for him. This will take patience and time, but if you repeatedly make him sit before he gets his food, he will learn.

Rewarding good behavior is the key! I would recommend buying a book on training dogs. It will be worth your time. I dog needs guidance and attention. You have to train him to be the dog you want.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Google dog behavior; There is a dog column in our Sunday paper society section; there is a guy on cable channels...Good luck and stay with it attitude to establish who is alpha. Try training at fifteen minutes intervals at night...
Some say get a spray bottle with water and use it for bad behavior; get a can with some marbles or pennies and shake for when bad behavior is started. Growl gutteral nnnnaaaahhhh
At night he wants companionship. We have our dog sleep with us. Labs are generally big babies for their owners. He wants disciplined!

Answer 6

Dogs have a wide range of behavioral problems. In addition to barking, biting, chewing, digging, jumping, marking and mounting, dogs have been known to chase cars and eat garbage—to name a few.

Most dog behavior problems can be prevented. For example, chewing, barking and general destructive behavior may all be a result of boredom, and mounting may be due to raging hormones. If you address these problems early, the behavioral problems will probably not develop.

Once a dog develops a bad habit, they'll continue with the behavior until you give them a reason to stop. The first step is to understand why Rover is barking, whining or chewing. The next step is to take measures to replace the behavior with one that's more acceptable, and then praise him for the substitute behavior. In just a few weeks, your dog will respond appropriately, as long as you're not expecting him to deny his instincts.

Causes of Dogs' Behavior Problems
The reasons that dogs bark, howl, bite, jump and chew are varied. Each dog is unique, so you'll have to observe Fido carefully to find out what sets him off. With a strong commitment of time and patience, you can eradicate dog behavior problems that are annoying or dangerous. A few simple tips will help you get started.

Follow a Routine
Dogs are creatures of habit. They rely on routines, and any changes in their routine may cause undue stress and result in the development of problem behavior. For example, don't feed your dog at nine a.m. one day, then at six the following day. Try to feed him at around the same time every day so that your dog can depend on routine rather than whining to get his breakfast.

A Tired Dog is a Good Dog
Many problem behaviors are a result of boredom or pent up energy. If your dog is bored, he'll find something to do—and more often than not, it's going to be something annoying. Ensuring your dog gets an adequate amount of exercise every day will prevent most problem behaviors.

Training
You can teach an old dog new tricks, but it isn't easy. Unless you have plenty of experience, you'll probably benefit from professional help. Dog trainers know all the tricks. A good trainer can help you teach Rover to come when he's called, sit or lie down on command and avoid chasing other dogs or cats. Behaviors such as jumping on visitors or barking while you're away can be extinguished in a short time if you follow your trainer's instruction.

A dog obedience class isn't just training for your dog. Owners are also expected to learn new behaviors so that their dogs' needs are met appropriately and consistently.

Avoid Reinforcing Negative Behaviors
People don't reinforce their dog's problem behavior on purpose. They're usually just trying to get Max to stop barking, whining or pawing.

The secret is to connect the dog's problem behavior with a trigger. Does Buster start whining and barking the minute your alarm clock rings each morning? That's probably his signal that breakfast is on its way. If he carries on barking until the dog kibble hits the dish, then you've essentially made sure that he'll do it again and again. If you teach Buster that he won't be fed as long as he's barking, then you can expect that behavior to change in a very short time.

Use Praise
Most dogs are willing to jump through hoops (literally) for a treat. But experienced trainers also know that dogs will do almost anything to please their masters. A dog's problem behavior will disappear when your dog understands what you want him to do instead.

If Barney has a bad habit of scratching the paint on your back door whenever he wants to go out, you should first find the substitute behavior that will signal his need to relieve himself. For example, you might expect Barney to sit by the back door. If you're not paying attention, then a single bark should have you running to open the door. The next time Barney scratches, tell him "Stop!" in a sharp tone. When he puts his paw back on the floor, have him sit, and then praise him and pet him. Then open the door quickly to let him out.

Spay or Neuter Your Dog
Raging hormones are another major cause of problem behaviors. Some dogs are so busy paying attention to other dogs that they refuse to come when they're called, they tug on leashes and leap over fences and run away. Spaying or neutering is the best solution for these problem behaviors as they decrease your dog's urgent need to connect with a dog of the opposite sex.

Answer 7

Call your local Bark Busters...just had my first training with them and I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone!! They are slightly more expensive than a regular trainer, but they are there for the lifetime of your dog!!!

Answer 8

Is he neutered yet? My friends lab was the same way. All day, everyday hyper and destrying stuff and things stayed like that until he got his dog neutered

Answer 9

Crate train him, nueter him and enroll him in obedience classes. He's still young enough to break him of bad habits.

Answer 10

Hire a trainer and get a crate.