How do I get my 8 month old lab to stop chewing up EVERYTHING?

Question

His chewing has increased recently- has ruined 3 pairs of shoes, remote control, cell phone, numerous barbie dolls (his favorite), ate a candle, even demolishes his own toys and often eats the pieces. I try to keep things put up- but he even will climb on the furniture to get to things that are out of reach. I don't know what else to do. Please help- replacing my child's dolls is becoming expensive and I worry if he continues to eat the materials he could be harmed.

Answer 1

Labs are world-class chewers and they need things to chew on. They can't help it..it's just instinct.
You need to get him things that he can use to satisify his chewing urge.
Those big dog bones from the animal shop are good. Don't get a butcher shop bone, though, they can splinter.
My dogs also LOVE their Kong toys..and you can put treats or peanut butter in them and that keeps them busy for hours.
There are very few toys my dogs can play with without tearing them up.
Those rope bone tug toys are also good, for a while, anyway.
Don't bother with squeaky toys. Your dog will chew them up just to get at the squeaker.
On, and as for getting on the furniture, your dog is not well-trained enough to be running around the house on his own and stealing things. Next, he'll EAT the furniture. Trust me. My lab ate up a whole section of carpeting when he was a pup.
You need to confine him to a room where he can't do too much harm when you aren't able to watch him. When you are able to be with him, you have to teach him the meaning of the word no.
Keep a leash on him. When he goes to get on the furniture, tug it and tell him NO. Never, ever allow him on the furniture, because he'll take that as a sign of equality with you. You are the boss.
And keep things out of sight. Out of sight, out of mind. If your daughter's Barbies are in a toy chest with a lid sealed, your dog won't get to them. If your shoes are in the closet with the door shut, he can't chew them.
And if he's chewing on something, yell NO and take it away from him, even if by then it's ruined. And then give him something he's allowed to chew on and praise him for chewing on that instead.
Oh, and my vet says labs don't have brains until they're about two years old..and then it's like the mailman suddenly delivered them.
My lab's four years old now and he's an angel. My shepherd mix is two, and she's pretty good too. However, they are still known to chew up a dog toy or frisbee now and then. So hang in there. Your dog's just doing what's normal to him..you just have to be smarter.

Answer 2

They should come with warning labels. Some are much worse than others. My last few haven't been too bad until my 8 month Nita the last week or 2. I am going to give up leaving her loose in the house when I am not watching. some you can't. A mousetrap is very effective in making a dog leave something alone. Most dogs will stay away from anywhere they were surprised by a snap. The best part is that it is not you that is correcting the dog. It works whether you are around or not. The mousetrap is very patient and is always on task as long as you reset it.

Better than mousetraps when you aren't around is the crate. Other dogs may
not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with. Still your house and dog
will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away. The dog may be
happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its
den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic
ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. They are harder for
dogs to open too. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select
a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any
bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

Accidents and damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy. When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys. In a quiet, but firm voice ''Bad dog, its name drop!''. Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of her toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.


A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding
time for more than one dog.

Answer 3

2 things here to do. #1. Remove the accessibility factor. Don't leave these around that the dog chews. Put shoes in a closet or shut your bedroom door. Make sure the children put the toys away and out of reach of the dog. #2. Give your dog plenty of his own toys. Labs are notorious chewers, and even if you take temptations away and leave him no/not enough toys, he WILL find something-the corner of a couch, a chair leg, etc. A variety of different type toys need to be available(stuffed toys, rawhides, nylabones, ropes, etc) and if you see him chewing on something hes not supposed to, take that away and offer a toy instead- when he takes it, PRAISE him! My dog was very "mouthy" as a puppy, grabbing at our hands etc, and every time he did, i put a toy in his mouth. Now at age 2, when he gets excited and wants to play, he looks around and finds a toy and come back to us- its become a habit for him.

Answer 4

I had a lab for 11 years, she just recently passed. I can assure you that he will grow out if it. You have to remember that he is still a puppy and thats what puppies do. Instead of toys try giving him those really large bones (you can find at petsmart or any pet store) that should take him days to chew on. It will keep him occupied. In the meantime, try putting him in a kennel when you leave so he wont have access to shoes and toys when you're gone. Good luck....they are wonderful pets, I miss her so much!

Answer 5

Welcome to Lab world. Sounds like he's bored. An 8 month old need lots of stimulation and activity. He needs to be confined to certain rooms in the house when you are not with him.

I'm sure he has toys and chew things that belong to him. One thing to do is to get a Kong toy - the black ones are made for large dogs and are almost indestructible- fill it with good stuff and when you catch him chewing something he shouldn't , tell him to Leave it and trade for the Kong Toy.

I would definitely enroll him in a dog class. It does wonders for you and your dog. You will learn how to interact with him and give him the proper cues to do what you expect.

Also, be mindful that labs tend to maintain their puppy ways for quite some time - up to 2 years or sometimes longer. They are great dogs, but desparately need training, activity and positive attention.

Good luck to both of you.

Answer 6

Oh the memories.... LOL!

Dogs basically chew out of boredom. Like others have said, buy durable toys (like Kongs) that the dog can't destruct. Some have the incredible ability to demolish those too (amazingly enough). Try to take your dog for a walk daily. I know in some places it is near impossible now, but try to get your dog out to release some energy.

The key is to redirect their focus on something else. Kongs with peanut butter inside & nylabones are my favorite. Also, if your dog is going to be unattended, make sure you have a crate or somewhere you can confine him so he isn't left alone to destroy more things!

Good luck!

Answer 7

Oh boy do I know that feeling. The first day I brought my puppy home he age a pair of shoes through my backpack. You may need to put him in a area where he cannot get at things when you are not home to watch him and correct the behavior. If you do not see him in the act it does not good to correct the behavior when you come home and find it because they can't remember what they have done. If you can put him outside while gone or in a locked room. ALso the best way is to keep things out of the range or keep doors closed when not int he room with the puppy. Labs love to chew so I would suggest some chongs, these are really durble and you can put treats in them that keeps the dog busy for quite some time. Peanut butter does really good in a chong. I found that worked best with our chewer and in time he may or may not grow out of it. Lab are natural chewers and some don't grow out of them.

Answer 8

we have had 4 Labs and yes they do love to chew. Crate him when your not home or else you will continue to come home to chewed up things. The more attention you pay to them the better they are. Give him lots of chew toys with ours they were almost 2 before that stopped but damn they are such good dogs! Good Luck

Answer 9

NEUTER FIRST,, then obedience classes,,,, then lots and lots of exercise - retrieving, swimming, running....... next get a bucket or basket.... put it in a place in your home that the dog has access too.... fill it up with appropriate toys, tennis balls, bones, nylabones, kongs etc... when you dog starts chewing innappropriately,, say "UT UH" in a loud stern voice,,, remove the undesirable object and then take him over to "his" toy bucket.. and offer him /show him "his toys" this will only take a day or two to teach...... also,,, if you are not home,, crate your pup.. dogs are creatures of habit,, so you want to nip this habit in the bud as soon as possible...... good luckk this method has never failed... so go get his toy box all set up

Answer 10

Ah yes, welcome to owning a lab - They eat everything and anything they can get their paws on! Most items will make they're way out the other end in 24 hours time, just make sure you get him to a vet right away if isn't going #2 regularly because he might have something blocking his intestines.

You can try Bitter Apple spray, but my lab likes that too (He eats apples off the ground under the tree). Or try a dab of Tabasco on anything you don't want him to touch. Otherwise, the best solution is training, training and more training.