(I know this isn't really the type of forum for this section but it is in the off-topic section so I cant see no problem in it.)

The problem is that when my Dog is on it's own, when we go out he chews up the quilt we leave down for him and our other dog and he also likes to chew up shoes and wood, my Dad is trying everything to stop the dog from chewing, he chewed up a £65 pair of Firetrap shoes which really annoyed my Dad as you would imagine as of the price of them. What training methods do you recommend, we have tried everything we have used on our old dogs in the past that have stopped them from chewing but our current one doesnt seem to understand that it is wrong to chew.

The dog is a Black lab and nearly 2yrs old so should of stopped chewing ages ago, my Dad said we may have to get him a new owner which he really doesn't want to do, so what do you think could work.
We don't want to crate him as it isn't nice to do, we was thinking of a muzzle but as he is on his own for a few number of hours this would be very crawl on him.

So what do you recommend to stop him from chewing.

Quote from sam93 :

(I know this isn't really the type of forum for this section but it is in the off-topic section so I cant see no problem in it.)

The problem is that when my Dog is on it's own, when we go out he chews up the quilt we leave down for him and our other dog and he also likes to chew up shoes and wood, my Dad is trying everything to stop the dog from chewing, he chewed up a £65 pair of Firetrap shoes which really annoyed my Dad as you would imagine as of the price of them. What training methods do you recommend, we have tried everything we have used on our old dogs in the past that have stopped them from chewing but our current one doesnt seem to understand that it is wrong to chew.

The dog is a Black lab and nearly 2yrs old so should of stopped chewing ages ago, my Dad said we may have to get him a new owner which he really doesn't want to do, so what do you think could work.
We don't want to crate him as it isn't nice to do, we was thinking of a muzzle but as he is on his own for a few number of hours this would be very crawl on him.

So what do you recommend to stop him from chewing.

Take him to a proper training school and stop asking people on a racing simulator forum would be my advice. Sounds a bit harsh but all your going to get in replies are snide remarks about past events so I think your best option is to go and see maybe a vet or an animal behavior specialist.

Hope that helps. I can't help but think maybe a lok on this topic before it gets out of hand like it probably will do.

Quote from mcintyrej :

Take him to a proper training school and stop asking people on a racing simulator forum would be my advice. Sounds a bit harsh but all your going to get in replies are snide remarks about past events so I think your best option is to go and see maybe a vet or an animal behavior specialist.

Hope that helps. I can't help but think maybe a lok on this topic before it gets out of hand like it probably will do.

I dont see why it should get out of hand. I am just asking for some advice. I know this is a racing simulator forum but it is in the off-topic section, so I cant see anything wrong with the topic.

I am just asking for some mature decent replies.

I will also look on google for some dog forums.

want my advice - take out his teeth

Quote from mookie427 :

want my advice - take out his teeth

Mature replies please, that would just be damn crawl.

Taser.

We have 2 dogs and both had problems chewing alot of things, including post, carpets, electrical cables for the alarm system under the door, and this went on until one was around 5 and the other was about 3. There are many things you can do such as leave toys and things for them to play with, and leave something with your scent on it such as the T-shirt you slept in or even yesterdays one as it can calm them down.

Failing that you should use a muzzle. If you're only going out for a few hours it won't hurt, or you could just lock him/her in the kitchen or somewhere with space that they won't chew up.

If your parents are willing to get rid of your dog because it chews up things, perhaps you guys should have thought the whole 'dog owner thing' through a little more thoroughly, of course unless that would be to 'crawl' on it. Maybe you should jump on it instead.

We got a black lab too about a year ago (as a rescued puppy. Found him in a ditch ), but he's still chewing too, especially the landscaping . What we do is get bones for him - proper cow legs from the local butchers. One bone will last him a couple of weeks, and he loves the marrow inside. Obviously check with the butcher that the animal wasn't diseased or whatever, but there shouldn't be any problems.

A cage, rope or muzzle shouldn't be needed, that's just unnecessary. I find regular walks calm him down a bit too (around other dogs and people if at all possible), and he doesn't chew as much. Get him some solid chew toys too, that always helps. But you probably should go talk to a trainer, and see if it's something wrong with the dog, or if it's something you're doing wrong. There isn't much point taking a two year old to training, he's got all his bad habits well rooted by now. It's quite probably just boredom on the dog's part though

Quote from S14 DRIFT :

If your parents are willing to get rid of your dog because it chews up things, perhaps you guys should have thought the whole 'dog owner thing' through a little more thoroughly, of course unless that would be to 'crawl' on it. Maybe you should jump on it instead.

To get rid of him is the last resort. We have a 10 year old shar-pei that my Step Mum has had since a pup as it was the pups of her other shar-pei that has just recently died of old age and those dogs are very well behaved, so was our Golden Retriever who we had until he died of old age. Our Lab just seems to chew when we are out, we also think it is boredom, I think I will get him a new bone and some toys at the weekend see if that stops him.

We really want to keep him as he is such a lovely dog to have as part of the family but the chewing has got to stop.

As said above, proper training (like a school or something) and as we use, and I've heard my mom suggest (she is a vet), get a cage/crate. At first the dog will hate it, but then they will slowly begin to think of it as a den of sorts. Both of our dogs go and sleep in their's even when they arnt locked up.

Quote from dougie-lampkin :

There isn't much point taking a two year old to training, he's got all his bad habits well rooted by now.

Nah you can still sort out a dog's behaviour when they're older, especially something that's just a comfort or a boredom thing like chewing. I've had a couple of 3-year-old dogs from rescue shelters with very weird heads on them, but still managed to sort out most of their problems with enough time and attention.

I dont really want to crate him as he is used to being able to roam around the house, he would also cry in it at night as he is used to sleeping beside my bed.

I dont think taking him to training would help him as he wont chew when people are around only when everyone is out of the house.
I will get some toys and see what happens, if we left pig ears down he wouldn't chew anything he would just eat them all day but too many make them ill.

Quote from thisnameistaken :

enough time and attention.

That is all you need to give them anyways. As for 'crating' the dog, it would be better than getting rid of it, and it isn't that mean. The first week or so the dog won't like it, and will bark etc, but it really isn't mean and will calm them down in the end. Once they handle that letting them roam the house is fine. At least in the case of my old family dog. He use to chew everything up, bad enough that we got him a kennel and locked him in it for around 6 months everytime we left the house. It's not cruel or anything; just let them do their thing, then put them in the cage, then come home and let them do their thing again...

Quote from sam93 :

Mature replies please, that would just be damn crawl.

damn crawl eh? shurely damn cruel? and lighten up, it's only B A N T E R

Quote from blackbird04217 :

That is all you need to give them anyways. As for 'crating' the dog, it would be better than getting rid of it, and it isn't that mean. The first week or so the dog won't like it, and will bark etc, but it really isn't mean and will calm them down in the end. Once they handle that letting them roam the house is fine. At least in the case of my old family dog. He use to chew everything up, bad enough that we got him a kennel and locked him in it for around 6 months everytime we left the house. It's not cruel or anything; just let them do their thing, then put them in the cage, then come home and let them do their thing again...

Yes but it is also the case of finding the room for the crate when it's not in use, a crate for a lab would be huge. The crate wouldn't make him bark, he hardly ever barks, never has unless he hears somebody talking outside he will bark to warn them but that is dog instinct to. I will talk to my dad and see what he thinks would be best out of your guys have said and what people have said on a dog forum.

Must... avoid... obvious... bate... about... signs...

Training school, or at the very least a book on training dogs. Or a muzzle. Or superglue.

Quote from tristancliffe :

Training school, or at the very least a book on training dogs. Or a muzzle.

Thanks for your advice, keep them coming please.

The size isn't too bad, and if there wouldn't be much barking that would be great. The old kennel we had was near the foot of my bed, I did have a decent sized room so maybe size is actually an issue. I mentioned this since it's what we did, and it calms the attitude of the dog down a bit.

Also whereas your dog is still 2 he needs a lot of attention and is most likely worried you are never to return each time you leave. Dogs, unlike cats, care for their owners and such and will actually become concerned and worried. Also the dog will naturally calm down with age. Hope you figure out a good solution that all can be happy with.

Show the ****ing thing whos boss, my dog did the same, just teach him its bad and a whack on the nose should do it. He still slips up but thats natural.

As Reece said..... just when he's chewing something, do like if you're gonna hit him and say "bad dog" and hit him then.


i love ya R.P.

Quote from thisnameistaken :

Nah you can still sort out a dog's behaviour when they're older, especially something that's just a comfort or a boredom thing like chewing. I've had a couple of 3-year-old dogs from rescue shelters with very weird heads on them, but still managed to sort out most of their problems with enough time and attention.

True, but it is a hell of a lot easier to train younger dogs. Also, if a dog was not properly socialized with in the first year, it is almost imposable.

In addition, you honestly dont need as big of a crate as you think. Stay away from those metal caged ones. Those tend to be extremely big and take up a crap load of space. The plastic type are the way to go. A bit of time on google could probably find you a chart to tell how big of a crate is needed. The other option is to get (a) baby gate(s). That way you could limit the dog to one area of the house. We did this for a while when we were dog sitting for someone else and didnt have extra crates. Like others said, the dog will be annoyed at first, but then will adjust. Dogs are very adaptable and happy go-lucky. Labs are more laid back than any other dog I can think of, so it will adjust and go with the flow.

Quote from sam93 :

(I know this isn't really the type of forum for this section but it is in the off-topic section so I cant see no problem in it.)

The problem is that when my Dog is on it's own, when we go out he chews up the quilt we leave down for him and our other dog and he also likes to chew up shoes and wood, my Dad is trying everything to stop the dog from chewing, he chewed up a £65 pair of Firetrap shoes which really annoyed my Dad as you would imagine as of the price of them. What training methods do you recommend, we have tried everything we have used on our old dogs in the past that have stopped them from chewing but our current one doesnt seem to understand that it is wrong to chew.

The dog is a Black lab and nearly 2yrs old so should of stopped chewing ages ago, my Dad said we may have to get him a new owner which he really doesn't want to do, so what do you think could work.
We don't want to crate him as it isn't nice to do, we was thinking of a muzzle but as he is on his own for a few number of hours this would be very crawl on him.

So what do you recommend to stop him from chewing.

Well I am no dog expert but you need to take him on some LONG walks before you go out.

birds fly
fish swim
dogs walk

Dogs are pack animals, and ARE 99% wolves. They do a lot of walking. A dog is designed to walk walk and walk....

A dog is just a wolf in disguise, and people don't realise this. They treat dogs like humans and then wonder why they go scitzo! They are not designed to stay inside a house all day alone... it's not in their nature at all

So obviously consult a professional, but sounds to me as if you don't walk him enough. And I mean at least 45 minute to an hour

Also, have you researched the breed?

Rape it. Every time your dog chews something screw the shit out of it. It'll either stop doing it until one day is snaps and goes on a shooting spree at the local school/mall, or it'll keep on chewing things, but it'll be ready for you to come home every night.

Either way it is more fun than a kick in the teeth and remember: No glove? No love!

seriously just add like salt or something he really wouldnt like tasting to the thing he chews the most he will think it tastes crap and will scre it

Quote from DevilDare :

seriously just add like salt or something he really wouldnt like tasting to the thing he chews the most he will think it tastes crap and will scre it

All the dogs I've ever men love salt. . . Why do you think they sniff and lick your balls after you've been working outside?