Doggy house/garden destruction
24 June 2009, 02:29 PM
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Doggy house/garden destruction
My total pain in the bum 5 month old lab is driving me nuts currently. The garden is being destroyed bit by bit on a daily basis (i'd have less holes with the national mole population having a party in my garden) not to mention the restructuring of the utility room she has undertaken. It certainly isn't through lack of toys and more to do with her age i'm assuming - the terrible two's equivalent is kicking in currently. She is eating everything in sight despite getting told off when she crunches up stones like sweets or tears chunks out the hedge and even yesterday she didn't learn when she got a stick stuck in the roof of her mouth that she couldn't dislodge and went ape 
I have tried tethering her in the garden, the first plastic coated cable got chomped through in under 5 mintues and the 2nd lead which is a horse lunge lead is on its last legs after only a week. Next stop will be a chain off a ships anchor at this rate.
Then to add to that she has started playing up whislt out for walks. She has got used to being off the lead down the woods having a great time but now when I put her back on the lead to go home she sits down and wont budge and when I try to pull her away she digs her feet in and backs away and people think she is some poor abused mutt who is trying to escape me when in fact she is being a right little **** 
She has completed her first training course and the trainer thought she was great, little does he know how she defies me at home. She is booked on her next one in a few weeks time and so hopefully the next step up will bring her down a peg or two.
What damage have your dogs done and what did you do to stop them doing it again? I'm going to have to give in and get a muzzle this week for her own safety as I didn't want to put one on her in the garden but eating stones could kill her/perforate her bowel
The culprit:
I have tried tethering her in the garden, the first plastic coated cable got chomped through in under 5 mintues and the 2nd lead which is a horse lunge lead is on its last legs after only a week. Next stop will be a chain off a ships anchor at this rate.Then to add to that she has started playing up whislt out for walks. She has got used to being off the lead down the woods having a great time but now when I put her back on the lead to go home she sits down and wont budge and when I try to pull her away she digs her feet in and backs away and people think she is some poor abused mutt who is trying to escape me
when in fact she is being a right little **** She has completed her first training course and the trainer thought she was great, little does he know how she defies me at home. She is booked on her next one in a few weeks time and so hopefully the next step up will bring her down a peg or two.
What damage have your dogs done and what did you do to stop them doing it again? I'm going to have to give in and get a muzzle this week for her own safety as I didn't want to put one on her in the garden but eating stones could kill her/perforate her bowel
The culprit:
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 24 June 2009 at 02:40 PM.
24 June 2009, 02:36 PM
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Mine between them have chewed a plant pot, and dug a hole in the garden, just the one that they take turns in working on.
For their breed they have done very well. In fact its only since the bitch came along that the dog has started digging.
Sounds like you have a right mission on your hands.
But remember to stay relaxed, deal with the issues as they occur, and the annoying stage should pass. Sounds like an age thing, but no poor behaviour should be tolorated.
For their breed they have done very well. In fact its only since the bitch came along that the dog has started digging.
Sounds like you have a right mission on your hands.
But remember to stay relaxed, deal with the issues as they occur, and the annoying stage should pass. Sounds like an age thing, but no poor behaviour should be tolorated.
24 June 2009, 02:40 PM
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You need the dog whisperer ;-)
Our lab can be a little mad at times too and she is 7 she has never been any different lol.
She doesn't destroy things like yours but goes mad for cardboard tubes, off kitchen roll and toilet rolls.
If yours don't grow out of it soon she'll stay like it lol.
Our lab can be a little mad at times too and she is 7 she has never been any different lol.
She doesn't destroy things like yours but goes mad for cardboard tubes, off kitchen roll and toilet rolls.
If yours don't grow out of it soon she'll stay like it lol.
24 June 2009, 03:12 PM
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Well that's always an issue with Labs from what it seems. I've met owners who said theirs calmed down at 2/3/4, my parents one calmed down when he was 6 and i've spoken to a chocolate lab owner whose dog is 9 and is still as mad at 9 as when it was a puppy lol
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 24 June 2009 at 03:14 PM.
24 June 2009, 03:14 PM
#7
My two will steal anything left out if left alone(mobile phones,glasses ,purse,handbag)
They still chew sticks but nothing else really and dont dig.The grass is ruined by them constantly chasing each other
I had the second one in the hope it would calm the first one down. WRONG I now have double trouble.Mine are 15 months and 10 months old
Labs ideal family pets
They still chew sticks but nothing else really and dont dig.The grass is ruined by them constantly chasing each other
I had the second one in the hope it would calm the first one down. WRONG I now have double trouble.Mine are 15 months and 10 months old
Labs ideal family pets
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24 June 2009, 03:23 PM
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lol I had thought about letting her have one litter when she was 2 or 3 but absolutely no chance now. If I find her trouble now i'll never cope with 8 or more pups and her for at least 8 weeks! She is getting spayed as soon as she is old enough, probably after her first season.
24 June 2009, 03:26 PM
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The golden lab we had as kids calmed down for a couple of years when she was about 11, declined a bit over a couple of years until she had a tumour removed, and then turned back into a pup again at 13!
Fred, our almost 6 month old black lab has some of the traits you've mentioned - especially sitting down and refusing to budge when out on the lead. I got him one of the recoil-type leads, and when he sits down, I just carry on and he (usually) soon decides to catch up.
You tell when he's up to mischief... he goes quiet and has disappeared. The funniest so far has been the feather duster he destroyed by pulling all the feathers off the cane - it looked like a bright red chicken had exploded in the dining room!
One of his favourites is to dive into the pond after he's been for a walk. Maybe he just wants to cools his bits down.
Oh and he found a Screwfix catalogue last week, and set to shredding that.
Fred, our almost 6 month old black lab has some of the traits you've mentioned - especially sitting down and refusing to budge when out on the lead. I got him one of the recoil-type leads, and when he sits down, I just carry on and he (usually) soon decides to catch up.
You tell when he's up to mischief... he goes quiet and has disappeared. The funniest so far has been the feather duster he destroyed by pulling all the feathers off the cane - it looked like a bright red chicken had exploded in the dining room!
One of his favourites is to dive into the pond after he's been for a walk. Maybe he just wants to cools his bits down.
Oh and he found a Screwfix catalogue last week, and set to shredding that.
24 June 2009, 03:30 PM
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lol at the shredding. I'm already on a 2nd vaccination card as she got her snout into where it wasn't welcome (my pile of filing at the time) and ate her original vaccination card
As for the sitting down when out for a walk the trainer said just to carry on walking and ignore her and basically pull her along until she gets fed up of it and stops doing it. I have been doing this but the looks i've had off people have put me right off doing this as it looks like she is being abused when i'm pulling her along
She's already chewed through my wifes laptop power supply which cost me £30 to replace even though she left it on the floor. Kids clothes chomped with bloody great holes in them when she'd play tug of war with them whilst the kids were wearing them. The walls in the utility room were chewed up as well as some skirting board. I'm on my 4th pair of jeans in 3 months due to teeth holes made from mouthing on me and catching me by surprise.
It's all good fun
As for the sitting down when out for a walk the trainer said just to carry on walking and ignore her and basically pull her along until she gets fed up of it and stops doing it. I have been doing this but the looks i've had off people have put me right off doing this as it looks like she is being abused when i'm pulling her along
She's already chewed through my wifes laptop power supply which cost me £30 to replace even though she left it on the floor. Kids clothes chomped with bloody great holes in them when she'd play tug of war with them whilst the kids were wearing them. The walls in the utility room were chewed up as well as some skirting board. I'm on my 4th pair of jeans in 3 months due to teeth holes made from mouthing on me and catching me by surprise.
It's all good fun
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 24 June 2009 at 03:33 PM.
24 June 2009, 03:33 PM
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You guys are making my woofs seem normal lol. I'm sitting in the garden reading this, watching them play fight, realising how lucky I am!
Would be boring if they were too well behaved though surely
Would be boring if they were too well behaved though surely
24 June 2009, 03:39 PM
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Well yes and she does also have her good points. House trained (poo) within 3 days of getting her and wee trained within a couple of weeks and that was only outside of her crate - her crate has been spotless since the 3rd night of having her. She doesn't eat or roll in other animals excrement like most Labs. She sits and waits for her food until I say she can have it and wont touch it no matter how long I make her wait until I say she can - but that is because she will do anything for food. She did walk on the lead perfectly until this sitting down business started.
24 June 2009, 04:02 PM
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lol.
Wait for food yes, roll in poo no, eat other animals poo yes, she especially likes the cat litter covered stuff ;-) {although it is natural something to do with the iron}
Dive into any puddle or stream she can find yes, get up to he knees in mud yes lol.
they are fun.
I hear choc labs are actually the maddest of the 3...good luck and just enjoy it lol.
Wait for food yes, roll in poo no, eat other animals poo yes, she especially likes the cat litter covered stuff ;-) {although it is natural something to do with the iron}
Dive into any puddle or stream she can find yes, get up to he knees in mud yes lol.
they are fun.
I hear choc labs are actually the maddest of the 3...good luck and just enjoy it lol.
24 June 2009, 04:03 PM
#14
Seek out a local pro dog trainer mate, they are worth their weight in gold. Its usually the owner that needs educating, the dog is a natural follower and once you establish leadership the dog will do anything for you.
By the sounds of it your pooch is bored silly. Start with long,
long walks 'on' the lead and a pocketful of tasty treats, every time the dog looks up at you give it a treat, talk to it only to praise it, dogs dont understand human talk they only understand reward. Any attention, including a bollocking or you going ape is attention, and therefor reward.
Dont lose heart it will come right just keep on top
Lovely looking pooch tho
By the sounds of it your pooch is bored silly. Start with long,
long walks 'on' the lead and a pocketful of tasty treats, every time the dog looks up at you give it a treat, talk to it only to praise it, dogs dont understand human talk they only understand reward. Any attention, including a bollocking or you going ape is attention, and therefor reward.
Dont lose heart it will come right just keep on top
Lovely looking pooch tho
24 June 2009, 04:04 PM
#15
Mine dont roll in horse poo but both eat it.That and any other food on offer
I have one that will retrieve everything and one that wont retrieve at all.
Both walk well on leads and off but are easily distracted by other dogs.
My bitch was quiet for 2 days after bieng spayed then went even more hyper so beware!!
2 months on and she has calmed down a little.
Still great dogs though and wouldnt be without them.
I have one that will retrieve everything and one that wont retrieve at all.
Both walk well on leads and off but are easily distracted by other dogs.
My bitch was quiet for 2 days after bieng spayed then went even more hyper so beware!!
2 months on and she has calmed down a little.
Still great dogs though and wouldnt be without them.
24 June 2009, 04:22 PM
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Seek out a local pro dog trainer mate, they are worth their weight in gold. Its usually the owner that needs educating, the dog is a natural follower and once you establish leadership the dog will do anything for you.
By the sounds of it your pooch is bored silly. Start with long,
long walks 'on' the lead and a pocketful of tasty treats, every time the dog looks up at you give it a treat, talk to it only to praise it, dogs dont understand human talk they only understand reward. Any attention, including a bollocking or you going ape is attention, and therefor reward.
Dont lose heart it will come right just keep on top
Lovely looking pooch tho
By the sounds of it your pooch is bored silly. Start with long,
long walks 'on' the lead and a pocketful of tasty treats, every time the dog looks up at you give it a treat, talk to it only to praise it, dogs dont understand human talk they only understand reward. Any attention, including a bollocking or you going ape is attention, and therefor reward.
Dont lose heart it will come right just keep on top
Lovely looking pooch tho
As for leadership and her following
oh yes she knows i'm the pack leader but she challenges me daily and this is what it boils down to. She doesn't pick on the rest of the family as they are not a challenge to her, I am and she pushes her boundaries to the limit. The trainer has seen her do it occasionally at classes and will be watched carefully at the next course. She will not accept I am the pack leader despite being put in her place every time she challenges me.Long walks? Not likely at her age as she is still too young to be heavily exercised due to being careful with hips/growth. She has 20-30 minute brisk walks twice a day and that is really the maximum she can have at her age and have had that confirmed by 2 different vet clinics who I asked for opinions.
Once she is old enough she will get long walks as I will go back to doing my 4 miles a day and take her with me.
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 24 June 2009 at 04:25 PM.
24 June 2009, 04:44 PM
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Cheers and yep time and patience, unfortunately the 2nd part of that requirement is running very thin at the moment especially when I look out at my garden
She acts the angel when my parents come round and they sit her on their laps for cuddles and pamper the living daylights out of her and she looks at me as if to say ner ner ner look what i'm getting and could be best summed up with this smiley -->
or quite possibly 
lol
We meet loads of other Labs out on our walks and not all of them are tear aways so there is some hope.
She acts the angel when my parents come round and they sit her on their laps for cuddles and pamper the living daylights out of her and she looks at me as if to say ner ner ner look what i'm getting and could be best summed up with this smiley -->
or quite possibly lolWe meet loads of other Labs out on our walks and not all of them are tear aways so there is some hope.
24 June 2009, 04:52 PM
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Ours was murder. He chewed through the "Sky" cable, ripped the planters off the walls under the windows. And God only knows how he managed to turn the BBQ completely up side down Oh and the chiminea is now minus its chimney.
He is two now and has stopped. Oh unless he can find a football, then it is all our war
Our offender
Oh and the chiminea is now minus its chimney.He is two now and has stopped. Oh unless he can find a football, then it is all our war
Our offender
24 June 2009, 04:56 PM
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Our (almost) 3 year old blak lab tried to chew a lead when she was a pup and... that's it.
She's never chewed anything other than toys and stuff she's meant to have.
Does your get left on our own often? Sounds like separation anxiety or just plain boredom.
She's never chewed anything other than toys and stuff she's meant to have.
Does your get left on our own often? Sounds like separation anxiety or just plain boredom.
24 June 2009, 05:08 PM
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I am home all day every day but in weather like this I wont have her sitting on my feet sleeping when she can be out in the garden in the fresh air. I'm no more than about 20 feet from her all day. If she had her way that is exactly what she would do - sleep on my feet all day long but she gets to do this in the evenings once the kids have gone to bed.
She can be with me all day, we can go out in the car and take her with us and soon as we let her out in the garden for a wee she will look for a stone or a chunk of hedging to chew so she can be destructive. The vet told me it was a stage akin to the terrible two's in children and to give her things she can destroy like cardboard boxes. I'd already done that, a cereal box is eaten in 30 seconds flat The wife bought her some dentastix which are supposed to be healthy chews for their teeth and last 20 minutes or so. She eats them in under 2 minutes ffs.
The only thing that does last are raw hide chews but she still gets through them a lot quicker than she should and I prefer to keep them for times we need to go out and can't take her with us (which isn't often or for long). Oh and if it is boredom I can't believe every dog owner gives their dog 24/7 attention and they have to be left to play with their toys and have fresh air in the garden at some point.
She can be with me all day, we can go out in the car and take her with us and soon as we let her out in the garden for a wee she will look for a stone or a chunk of hedging to chew so she can be destructive. The vet told me it was a stage akin to the terrible two's in children and to give her things she can destroy like cardboard boxes. I'd already done that, a cereal box is eaten in 30 seconds flat
The wife bought her some dentastix which are supposed to be healthy chews for their teeth and last 20 minutes or so. She eats them in under 2 minutes ffs.The only thing that does last are raw hide chews but she still gets through them a lot quicker than she should and I prefer to keep them for times we need to go out and can't take her with us (which isn't often or for long). Oh and if it is boredom I can't believe every dog owner gives their dog 24/7 attention and they have to be left to play with their toys and have fresh air in the garden at some point.
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 24 June 2009 at 05:12 PM.
24 June 2009, 05:13 PM
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Ours was murder. He chewed through the "Sky" cable, ripped the planters off the walls under the windows. And God only knows how he managed to turn the BBQ completely up side down Oh and the chiminea is now minus its chimney.
He is two now and has stopped. Oh unless he can find a football, then it is all our war
Our offender
Oh and the chiminea is now minus its chimney.He is two now and has stopped. Oh unless he can find a football, then it is all our war
Our offender
24 June 2009, 05:15 PM
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How much walking does she get a day? Ours gets a good 3 miles (hilly miles) a day with a few runs thrown in through the week (5-8km). Sounds like yours may have excess energy?
We don't give our loads of attention - she just roams around in the garden (although it's a big garden) all day but is incredibly well behaved. Partly luck, partly good puppy training classes!
We don't give our loads of attention - she just roams around in the garden (although it's a big garden) all day but is incredibly well behaved. Partly luck, partly good puppy training classes!
24 June 2009, 05:29 PM
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How much walking does she get a day? Ours gets a good 3 miles (hilly miles) a day with a few runs thrown in through the week (5-8km). Sounds like yours may have excess energy?
We don't give our loads of attention - she just roams around in the garden (although it's a big garden) all day but is incredibly well behaved. Partly luck, partly good puppy training classes!
We don't give our loads of attention - she just roams around in the garden (although it's a big garden) all day but is incredibly well behaved. Partly luck, partly good puppy training classes!
I let mine choose indoors or outdoors, especially in this weather.
They are not usually too active between walks, but still manage a few mad 5 mins from time to time.
24 June 2009, 05:55 PM
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Hmm - that sounds like plenty of exercise then.
I must be related to boredom but can't really see why she is bored! Have you done plenty of training with her? Some dogs need to keep learning new stuff to keep them busy. Usually dogs like collies but some labs too.
She's a lovely looking dog BTW!
I must be related to boredom but can't really see why she is bored! Have you done plenty of training with her? Some dogs need to keep learning new stuff to keep them busy. Usually dogs like collies but some labs too.
She's a lovely looking dog BTW!
24 June 2009, 06:08 PM
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I was chatting with Rose about Lily (our black lab) and she said that Lil was a serious monster when a pup, chewing, eating, not wanting to walk (she'd just plonk herself down and refuse to move). Sounds somewhat similar to the problems you are having. Rose said that she grew out of it at around 2yrs old, so perhaps it's just a puppy stage thing.
It is a very good point about no long walks, labs don't have the best hips to start off with.
I would say to get her a kong like toy, but she'll munch through it if she's anything like Lil. a so called "indestructible" dog toy was demolished in under 10 minutes by Lil, most amusing taking it back to the shop within 30 minutes and asking for a refund.
It is a very good point about no long walks, labs don't have the best hips to start off with.
I would say to get her a kong like toy, but she'll munch through it if she's anything like Lil. a so called "indestructible" dog toy was demolished in under 10 minutes by Lil, most amusing taking it back to the shop within 30 minutes and asking for a refund.
24 June 2009, 06:14 PM
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24 June 2009, 06:15 PM
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Oh good only another 19 months to go Good point about the kongs, she has got two but i've been very uninventive with the fillings and been lazy not filling them up. The last time I put peanut butter in one of them it took me ages to clean it up after she had finished with it and it was gross lol.
Good point about the kongs, she has got two but i've been very uninventive with the fillings and been lazy not filling them up. The last time I put peanut butter in one of them it took me ages to clean it up after she had finished with it and it was gross lol.
24 June 2009, 06:15 PM
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I reckon you can walk a lab a long way - just don't run or cycle with it until at least 18 months old - even then cycling with any dog is pushing it. If they have a good hip score, they should be fine with any walk/run. I race a fair bit (tris and 10k trail races) and my lab laughs at my pathetic efforts when I run with her!
Ours has ended up looking a bit like a full on sprinter - all muscle, no fat! Helps to never ever feed them "human" food. Recent pic:
Ours has ended up looking a bit like a full on sprinter - all muscle, no fat! Helps to never ever feed them "human" food. Recent pic:
Last edited by Matteeboy; 24 June 2009 at 06:17 PM.
24 June 2009, 06:17 PM
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We gave up filling the Kongs up with the stuff. They play with them more without than with lol.
Good old hide chews and bones keep them entertained for ages too.
Does she retrieve and search yet? Keeps the mind very busy too.
Good old hide chews and bones keep them entertained for ages too.
Does she retrieve and search yet? Keeps the mind very busy too.