black labradors?

Question

my mom has a black lab (8 and half months old) and he is really destructive..... Does any one know why or how to get them to calm down? he has the whole run of the yard (chain link fenced in) and they bring him in the house everyday for periods of time..... and most of the time, he sleeps in the house at night....but he digs sooo many holes, has chewed up all their plants, tore up their wicker furniture on the porch....

What causes this kind of behavior in dogs.... and how can it be corrected or can it be?? lol

Answer 1

I hate it when people say that's what labs do. It's not. It's what bored, untrained, undisciplined dogs do.

I have 5 dogs, 4 are labs. No one tears up the yard or the house.

First of all, the dog needs structure and training. Has he been neutered? It won't hurt to start there if they aren't planning to breed him. Get that out of the way just to begin with.

Then, enroll in a "good" obedience class. As your vet for a recommendation. Call the local shelters as ask as well. Call a couple of other vets. See who you find in common and go there. Don't do the basic petsmart class. You want something a little more stimulating.

Next, your dog doesn't need complete and total freedom if he is being destructive. If he is outside all day alone, then crate him for part of the day. Give him a frozen kong stuff with peanut butter and some of his kibble to work on while he is in his crate. That will give him something to do. It will not hurt him to spend a few hours crated.

When he is outside, PLAY with him. Send him out to potty and then practice his commands. Outside time isn't to dig - it's to exercise, play tennis ball, to WORK. Don't just toss him out and leave him there. If you do, he will get bored again and get into things.

Next, when he comes in, put him BACK to work by practicing his command down and place (or stay). Give him a bone and make him stay in a spot and chew his bone. It's his JOB to stay in that spot and chew. That keeps him occupied.

Then let him up, pet him, feed him and back outside.

Then back in the house and back to work again... in his place. When he isn't working (in his place) he's crated.

A month or so of this, along with walks, trips to the dog park, trips to obedience school etc, he will be in a routine. Then he will start calming down.

It's not mean. If you want him to calm down, you have to give him somethng to do. That's what the place command is for. He has to WORK at staying in it.

When you need a break, crate him.

It gets easier. I have 5 remember? I don't have to do this now. All mine KNOW to behave (95% of the time). We still have to work on occasion.

Answer 2

Calm down....peaceful thoughts...a flowing water fall..a green meadow....Ok? Calm now?

Been there, done that, chewed shoes put in trash. Yep, I have a black lab.

Play play play with the dog. Does the dog have any toys? No, not the expensive store bought ones. They'll tear them up in a nanosecond. Try tennis balls! Black labs love them! Play frisbee. Work with the dog, teach him/her fetch, stay. Give rewards for good behavior, scolding when they're naughty.

Mine is approaching 2 years old...thank God! Before then, the total to date is: 1 Oklahoma University ball cap, 1 Harley Davidson ball cap, 1 pair of STEEL TOED work boots, 1 pair of really good penny loafers, 1 300 thread count bed sheet, 1 pair of running shoes belonging to a friend (cost me $100).

Dogs in general have an instictive nature to chew. Does mom's dog have a generous supply of chew bones?

The point I'm trying to make is give the dog some attention, correct it when it is bad. NEVER HIT though, a firm scolding will do better. BL's are very sensivitve to verbal tones/commands. When the dog is misbehaving, mom should lower her voice and speak in a firm tone "NO!".

As time goes on, the dog will mellow nicely but still have enough "puppy" to remain playful.

Answer 3

First of all most dogs are put up for adoption between8 and 10 months old because they are in adolescence and like all teen ager they have energy to burn and don't like to follow the rules. So hang in there
so here are my suggestions
1- remember dogs that don't have a job, give them selves a job, so your moms dog "goes to work" in the yard. Train this dog not only to behave but to do use full thing, retrieve items, visit nursing homes, go to work with your mom......
2 dogs act out when they are bored or haven't had enough exercise. There were great suggestions above puppy class, log walks etc.
3 the dog should be contained when no one can watch it, that way you can punish the bad behavior when it happens. dog run or crate until the dog matures and in labs it takes long than other dogs.
4. dog puzzles will keep the dog occupied for long period, like the buster cube, you fill it with kibble and they have roll it around to get a piece, give the dog a meal in it and they are occupied for hours and it wears them out. There are many version of this toy
5, Get a kong and fill it with peanut butter and treats, and they can chew and work on it for a long time , a friend of mind freezes theirs for extra treat.
good luck

Answer 4

The cause of this behavior is leaving him in a yard, alone, most of the day. He's bored, and digging holes and destroying things has become his occupation. When dogs are given nothing to do, they make up games for themselves -- like digging and eating your pants.

You need to walk this dog, outside of the yard. Being kept in the yard only, is like being kept in a big cage. Your dog need walks, runs, exercise. Labs are really people-oriented, and they don't like to be left alone all day. You need to spend more time with the dog. Exercise and training.

Labs take 2-3 years to mature, and they don't train themselves. If you leave the dog alone, the problem will get worse, and he will get more destructive. If you train and exercise him, you can stop the problem.

Answer 5

Ask your veterinarian about a good dog training school. Dogs will be dogs - they dig holes and they chew things - but their behavior can be modified. Your dog is still a puppy so he has a lot of energy, but he is also young enough to learn. It takes a lot of time and consistency, you cannot just do it part of the time, but it will be worth it.

Dogs are pack animals and they want to be a valued member of this pack (your family). They want to do the right thing, they just need to know what is expected of them.

Good luck! Labs are wonderful, obedient, gentle dogs - if you work at it he should turn out to be a great pet.

Answer 6

High energy dogs need to be occupied & tired, or they will be destructive. First, you or your Mom needs to take the dog for a long walk eveyr morning. Then you need a safe place to let him run off-leash (like a dog park or fenced yard). Then when you bring him in the house make sure he has a big rawhide chewbone in every room where he hangs out. That will greatly reduce his tendency to destroy stuff. He probaly does it because he is bored & not getting enough exercise. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Get the book "Dog Talk" at your library.
John Ross gives great ideas how to change your dogs behavior.

It sounds like your dog is bored. Does the family play with the dog and take it for walks and try to teach it any obedience?

A dog cannot be left alone. It is a pack animal and must be around others in order
for it to be happy.

Answer 8

My lab is 10 and is still naughty like that, but we love her. Good news is lab train EASILY, must a little effort, buy a book or do some research on the web. Remember they are still puppies and "teenagers" until they are 3 or 4!.

Answer 9

Labs tend to be "puppies" until they are 2-3 years old.

They need to be stimulated (through exercise and challenges) regardless of if they are a puppy or an adult, else you end up with a bored and frustrated dog. And bored/frustrated dogs can become destructive.

Answer 10

he is bored and full of puppy energy. they need to give him a job to do (i.e. training) and lots of physical exercise; also, constant supervision when not confined. otherwise, this will go on for at least another 10-12 months and quite possibly longer if he is allowed to be left alone with nothing better to do.