i need help with my labrador! can anyone help me?

Question

my labrador is less than a year old, but he loves to tear things apart. my mother doesnt like the dog in the house anymore and we need to keep him tied up. hes broken the tile floor and the carpet floor and has torn apart the walls. we dont know what else to do. can anyone help please? i dont want to have to get rid of him.

Answer 1

Labradors need excercise......and if they dont get it constructive exercise they will cause damage. Take them for a run... play catch....teach them obedience and if you dont have time to care for them properly then find them a home that can. One thing good about labs. They can be crated while you are gone to work and school they only require a bit of exercise then are happy laying quietly around the house with you. Get them some rawhide chews and life will be tranquil.

Answer 2

Crate train him. It may seem cruel at first, because he WILL cry when you leave him alone in it, but it's actually really good for most dogs. The kennel gives him a safe, secure place to be, and keeps him from tearing things up when you're gone! Give him treats at first as rewards for going in the kennel, and lavish him with attention when you get home, and pretty soon he'll go right in when you tell him.
It also sounds like you could use an obedience course - there are lots of one-on-one trainers around, or you can go to PetSmart and take the classes there - your pup will learn obedience & how to behave and pay attention to just you when other dogs are around.

Answer 3

Your lab needs some major basic obedience training. Find a trainer in your area and see if they will come to your home so they can see what your dog is doing.
I wouldn't tie your dog up, that will create more of a problem for you. When dogs get tied up they sometimes can get aggressive since they are confined to an area by their neck, how would you feel having something tugging at you all day and night around your neck.
From what you stated I think your dog is looking for some attention start walking your dog and spending time with him or her, any type of attention your dog will thrive, and since you have a hunting breed I highly suggest playing ball with him or her so the dog can get out his desire to run and work out of it's system. It is also possible the dog has a huge instinct to "hunt" if you are a hunter of birds I would look for a trainer that trains just for hunting dogs...you will see a huge change in your dog.
Good luck

Answer 4

You can start by exercising the dog 1-2 hours DAILY! Then you can sign up for obedience classes. Don't use the excuse that you don't have time. My sisters children begged for a dog, which my sister bought for them now all they do is complain they don't have time to take care of "Chance" This summer I plan on "kidnapping" Chance, so I can give him a second chance. If you can't train and exercise the dog, then maybe giving it to a person that can look after it would be best. I get tired of kids in general wanting dogs or pets then telling the parents "I don't have time!" But I digress I hope you figure something out for the sake of the dog.

Answer 5

He will outgrow some of this behavior, but not without training. If he is tied up in the back yard, he will only become bored and develop bad behaviors such as barking incessantly, digging or becoming destructive (even more than he is now).
Give him toys he is allowed to play with and keep an eye on him. If he gets into something he's not allowed to play with, scold him and give him one of his toys. As soon as he has the toy, praise him. Labs are very intelligent and he'll figure it out, as long as everyone is being consistent in his training.
Find a puppy class in your area and get him involved with other dogs. Having a social life is important to dogs, too. They are pack animals and don't do well being isolated. Getting out for something new and different will give his mind something else to work with.

Answer 6

Do you know of the "Dog Whisperer?" Ceaser on the Discovery Channel? IF you get cable tv, watch his shows. You will quickly come to the conclusion that 99% of annoying dog behavior stems from the lack of exercise the animal recieves.

I read through this guy's book, which was a wonderful eye opener for me. It might be a good thing for you to read as well!

Point blank??? MORE EXERCISE for a 12 month old active dog!!! Good luck. Keep your lab active and hopefully that will solve your issue.

If you're dealing with a younger pup, than your solution would be putting your pup on a routine. The routine would look something like this: rest time in a confined area, outside to eliminate, supervised playtime, rest time in a confided area.... The "confined area" could be a crate, but just be forewarned that the crate MUST be used properly. I would strongly suggest that you do research on how to properly use a crate.

My response to those who disagree with the crate, we need to remember that dogs like to den themselves. A crate provides a safe shelter for a puppy/dog...but the crate DOES become a jail when it is used IMPROPERLY (crate/dog is isolated from family, dog is kept in it too long, dog begins soiling his crate, etc)!!!!! My dog was crate trained from day one (8 wks), and he LOVES his crate. Now that he's 4, we leave the crate door open, and he'll retreat to his little "room" for short naps.

IF you find you just don't have the time that is required for your pet, please consider giving him/her up for adoption through a Lab Retriever Rescue.

Answer 7

He should only stay in this phase a few more months. Can you make a 'puppy proof' room and keep him in there when you can't watch him? Maybe the laundry room or something--bigger and cheaper than a crate.

If your mother is determined to kick him outside you can fence in the yard, build a kennel, or tie him up.

Be sure to buy him plenty of toys and take him for lots of walks. I have an indoor dog. On days I don't have a lot of time I put her on a long tie out cable with some toys and she wears herself out.

I'm sure with a little more training and a lot more patience he will be a great dog. Remember--he's a puppy and teething is normal. He'll grow out of it soon as long as you don't stop correcting him.

Answer 8

Spend time with him. Play with him, enroll in obedience classes and maybe get another dog for him to play with. They're social critters. Spray bitter apple on things and in places you don't want him going or chewing up. You can get it PetSmart or another pet supply store. It smells bad, and tastes bad, so he won't touch it! It isn't toxic to dogs or cats, either.

He's probably bored, so get some toys. Go out in the yard and romp with him. The exercise will help you both feel better, and it will settle him down. Labs usually settle down around two years old, and I know that's a long way away, but if you work with him, he'll be the greatest dog you've ever owned.

Good luck!

Answer 9

I had three puppies at the same time. I hardly had any shoes left. Puppies love to chew on things. They even chewed up my mattress. The three together just egged each other on. They are now 2 years old and as long as they have something else to chew on, they leave everything else alone.

You do need to train him on what is acceptable. If you can't trust him in the house when your not there, then you need to crate train him. He should calm down as he gets older.

Giving him exercise, walking and playing with him, will help also. He'll be to tired to be destructive.

Answer 10

I agree with some of the answers, but not the others. Crating is like putting him in jail. Worse than tying him up. If you can't spend more time with him, maybe get a second dog for companionship. Dogs are pack animals (not solitary). Give him lots of chew toys. Rawhide, stuffed animals, etc. Also get him neutered if he's not already. If none of these work, they do have anti-anxiety drugs for dogs (as a last resort).