Every time we leave him alone, even for 5 minutes (sectioned off to the kitchen), he destroys everything in sight. He took everything out of the cabinet under the sink and shredded it, ate my daffodill bulbs on the table, ate my stringbean plants when I was in the other room!!!! He has a favorite rug (from Christmas!!) that I leave for him to lay on, and he started pulling that apart....destroyed his favorite bed and got into the garbage....
He's driving me crazy!!!! He's a 6 month lab, and I hope he grows out of this soon, before I kill him!
My dad says it's his payback for having him fixed last week...
Any suggestions? He knows he does bad things, because as soon as I come home, he crouches in his crate and won't come out....
aarrrghhhh!!!
coxmandi
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
What kind of toys are you leaving for him to play with? Here are some suggestions: -ice cubes -kongs stuffed with peanut butter, kibble, carrots, or cheese -those round balls that you put treats/kibble inside that they have to roll around and shake
How do you react once you come in and see the stuff destroyed? If you reward him with attention (even yelling is negative attention) then he'll keep doing it. Just ignore it, as hard as it is, and remember to leave him something better next time.
nygirl77
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
You should read Marley & Me...a great story about a golden lab!
curliegirl
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
I give him a Kong everyday filled with a bone he can't get out so easily, and he has his bear and some other bones as well.......I don't even have to say a word when I get home, he already knows he was bad, but that doesn't stop me from freaking out......
Will the book help me not kill him??!?!?!?!!?
nygirl77
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
Did you take him to obedience classes? Or maybe talk to the vet - maybe there's something you can give him before you leave for work to keep calm, cool & collected while you are gone.
nickipa
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
I have a year old lab........they do get more laid back as they get older. I leave him his kong, bones, toys.....Ive found the one thing that really made a difference was more exercise.....I have him out in the yard twice a day and we go for a walk. i also used bitter apple spray when he was a puppy to deter him from chewing certain things! I know when he was a puppy he did have 'separation anxiety' and this was part of his problem destroying things! talk to your vet about it to see if they have any suggestions and keep trying! FM me if you ever want a doggy play date
curliegirl
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
Posted by nickipa
I have a year old lab........they do get more laid back as they get older. I leave him his kong, bones, toys.....Ive found the one thing that really made a difference was more exercise.....I have him out in the yard twice a day and we go for a walk. i also used bitter apple spray when he was a puppy to deter him from chewing certain things! I know when he was a puppy he did have 'separation anxiety' and this was part of his problem destroying things! talk to your vet about it to see if they have any suggestions and keep trying! FM me if you ever want a doggy play date
Norton loves to play with other dogs!!! Where do you live?
I think you're right about the excercise.......and the separation anxiety....
ETA: your dog is beautiful!!!!!
LaurenluvsTJ
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
It sounds like he is having anxiety issues. I would take him to the vet and ask for suggestions. Its not payback, its a dog, dog's don't know what revenge is LOL.
BelMal
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
I see that you have a crate for him...why aren't you leaving him in the crate when he is not attended. Labs are notorious for eating innappropriate things to the point of needing surgery to remove them. Exercise is so important since he is an active large breed puppy.
Soon2bMrsERH
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
My four month old lab is like this. She chews everything! She chewed up her new stuffed nice bed. Ugh, and I think sic cords. Cords to a phone/Internet (3 times!!)...fan cord, heating pad cord and printer cord. She has chewed tons of my shoes. Yeah, if she wasn't so dang cute I would kill her!! I don't know what to do. She also loves to play with dogs. Maybe she needs more of that! I don't know...but I hope she grows out of it, soon.
curliegirl
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
when she chews on your things, that means she doesn't have enough of her own things to chew on. Norton loves to chew, but thankfully (and with fingers crossed!) he hasn't destroyed much of ours.
He goes through crappy toys in a matter of minutes, so I wouldn't even bother buying them. I like the kong because it's virtually indestructible! Also very hard rubber toys are good too.....keep 'em occupied!
bride2b24
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
i feel your pain...i had a lab growing up and they are definitely challenging as puppies! hang in there!
regi
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Re: My puppy is destroying everything!!!!!
Posted by LaurenluvsTJ
It sounds like he is having anxiety issues. I would take him to the vet and ask for suggestions. Its not payback, its a dog, dog's don't know what revenge is LOL.
Def sound like anxiety ssues. Do you leave the radio on for him??If not , try it. ALso, leave shirts with your scent on it lying around the house(his bed, by his toys, crate, etc.
This is a behavior problem . Unfortunatley, vets deal mainly with medical issues, not behavior issues. Your vet will probably suggest meds for him
Def try the above and look into bringing him to a doggie boot camp. There is a free one every Sunday from 1-4 pm in Crocheron Park in Bayside, Ny. You need to call to make a reservation. # is 917 318 9845. Website is www.dogschoolny.com. The trainer who does this used to own his business, but has retired and does this now. I have heard good things about him.
