Help save a dogs life

[Wet Dream]

I'm venting here and looking for some serious advice. I don't want to get rid of him so I'm thinking of hanging him from a tree instead. Just kidding on the hanging, but he deserves it. Some of you may recall that we have a female golden 1.5 years old (Summer) who is an angel. She learned quickly. Then there is Storm, another golden/ lab mix who is living up to his name. He is 7 months old. I'm not one for tying them outside, and there isn't a fence around the yard. The potty training is still hit and miss, but as soon as we leave the house, he's tearing up whatever he can find. He has a favorite plant that gets a tour of the house on a daily basis. Then there is whatever else he can find. 5 pound bag of flour, duster, electrical cords plugged in, clothes, garbage, Kleenex, newspapers, dog food, Coke cans, money, CD's, and bank statements. Thats just the list from today. As soon as I walk in the house, he bolts because he knows he did wrong. Then I have to go out, grab him and show him all the wrong things he did. What do I have to do to get him to stop? I convinced the wife to give him until August 1st, but he might not make it that long. Little fugger just doesn't get it.

[Her454]

Talk to Lindsay....aka Mj19 or Wifey on the boards. She has great advice for dogs.
I would suggest a TON of chew toys tho and take whatever you dont want chewed up out of reach until they pass that stage. Consider yourself lucky.....BadMeds had to fix my ENTIRE air conditioning unit awhile back because my golden lab chewed up the outer case, wiring and copper tubing while I was gone for the weekend. THEN got ahold of a 256compaq flash card for the camera that was dropped on the floor....she got it and took out into the yard before I noticed and *poof* .
DOG TOYS, DOG TOYS, DOG TOYS, DOG TOYS, DOG TOYS, DOG TOYS.

[welk2party]

Well being a lab owner, all I can say is have patience. They will get over it eventually. Keep them outside when your not home and make sure they have lots of toys. They destroy things when they are bored.
One fun thing if you have a large yard is buy a tennis ball shooter. Teach the dog to drop the ball in the feeder and then he will chase it and come back. Basically, he can play fetch with himslef. Fun to watch.

[Her454]

Originally posted by welk2party
Well being a lab owner, all I can say is have patience. They will get over it eventually. Keep them outside when your not home and make sure they have lots of toys. They destroy things when they are bored.
One fun thing if you have a large yard is buy a tennis ball shooter. Teach the dog to drop the ball in the feeder and then he will chase it and come back. Basically, he can play fetch with himslef. Fun to watch.
My dog would chew the shooter up.........................

[THOR]

I have had a few goldens and they do grow out of that stuff.

[Wet Dream]

This is my 3rd golden, and he is proving to be the bastard child.

[Lightning]

It may just be the whole puppy stage thing. There has definately been some good advice on here already. Have you tried any obedience training with him to help him bond with you? What about crateing him during the day, that would solve a lot of the problems? How long do you leave him alone during the day, if it's 7 or 8 hours at a time, that's too long for a dog that young - they need more attention.

[BrendellaJet]

Ive got one of those too.
Not a lab, but a puppy who likes to eat shit that aint hers. Funny thing is, her misbehavior rubbed off on my other dog, and now they are both kinda bad, that is until I started crating them. Get a cage. Dogs generally will not piss in their own bed, so you teach them to wait until you say they can go. Befroe I leave during the day I let them out. When I get home from work the first thing I do is let them out again. Works like a charm.
Also, Dogs need EXCERCISE. If I dont take my dogs out and run em for atleast an hour, they'll have A.D.D.
Im also very strict with my dogs. Of course there is a time to play, but they know when I mean business. They walk around the house with a leash handle on their choke chains. They know that when I have a leash or the handle in my hand, I am in total control. They get out of line and I let em know it. It helps to speak a command right before making a correction, such as "heal", now thats all I have to say and she will be right by my side looking up to me waiting for the next order. It helps if you put the choke chain on right. If it binds when you pull and doesn't release, you're doing it wrong. It should be very smooth and release when you do.
Im not afraid to punish my dog after they have done something wrong, even hours later. They know what they did, some "trainers" dont give dogs enough credit.
If you are consistent with the crating and training, your dog will become a well behaved one. But if you give em an inch, they will take advantage. It seems cruel to keep them in a cage, but their obedience will determine when they get out. after two month sin the cage, my 4 year old pit is back to being good. Im afraid to let my puppy out, Im tired of mopping up dog piss, its already ruined the finish on my floor. Probably gonna cost me 10 grand to get it fixed-I aint putting that shit down again...

[welk2party]

Originally posted by BrendellaJet
Ive got one of those too.
Not a lab, but a puppy who likes to eat shit that aint hers. Funny thing is, her misbehavior rubbed off on my other dog, and now they are both kinda bad, that is until I started crating them. Get a cage. Dogs generally will not piss in their own bed, so you teach them to wait until you say they can go. Befroe I leave during the day I let them out. When I get home from work the first thing I do is let them out again. Works like a charm.
Also, Dogs need EXCERCISE. If I dont take my dogs out and run em for atleast an hour, they'll have A.D.D.
Im also very strict with my dogs. Of course there is a time to play, but they know when I mean business. They walk around the house with a leash handle on their choke chains. They know that when I have a leash or the handle in my hand, I am in total control. They get out of line and I let em know it. It helps to speak a command right before making a correction, such as "heal", now thats all I have to say and she will be right by my side looking up to me waiting for the next order. It helps if you put the choke chain on right. If it binds when you pull and doesn't release, you're doing it wrong. It should be very smooth and release when you do.
Im not afraid to punish my dog after they have done something wrong, even hours later. They know what they did, some "trainers" dont give dogs enough credit.
If you are consistent with the crating and training, your dog will become a well behaved one. But if you give em an inch, they will take advantage. It seems cruel to keep them in a cage, but their obedience will determine when they get out. after two month sin the cage, my 4 year old pit is back to being good. Im afraid to let my puppy out, Im tired of mopping up dog piss, its already ruined the finish on my floor. Probably gonna cost me 10 grand to get it fixed-I aint putting that shit down again...
Same with mine. It takes patience in the beginning but it works. Mine knows when I mean business and when she can play. I use hand signals combined with verbal commands. Hand signals work if she is running in a park and I want her to come back without yellin for her.

[Ziggy]

Lots of patience...My pup isFINALLY not chewing and tearing up my yard to bad anymore...She's about 2 now.
I can get back to attempting to regrow a few things in the yard.