I have a 16 month old Goldie who is still chewing - destructive chewing!  I have resorted to a muzzle but he can now get that off - last night the wall and a new rug were chewed - any ideas how to stop this?

Have had similar problems over the years. Have tried sprays to no effect. Someone suggested mustard but it was so messy and unsightly I stopped. The best way,for us anyway, was to put the offender in a large crate -toys and comforts etc -if we went out /could not directly supervise. One young Border Collie ate a whole dictionary as well as chewing up the kitchen units. We have holes dug in walls and in carpets. Liffey, now long dead GR, even dug a hole in the kitchen floor. Retrievers have generally been less of an in issue than collies but it guess it's a  question of deed not breed !

Does the chewing happen overnight when he is unsupervised? If so could you consider having him sleep in a large crate?

Mainly at night - he is better now during the day.  He has loads of toys and with other dogs which makes it more frustrating.  I think the crate may have to return...

I either have a breed (s) not inclined to behaviour like this, or we don't leave them alone long enough to do that kind of damage.   Our puppies start out being crated in with me overnight and now I can trust them to be clean within the time we leave/left them, they go into the kitchen with radio or TV on for background noise.  Both still sleep/slept in their crates even now they are older.

I'd suggest your youngster is bored/lonely..... much as Labs/Goldens are known chewers.  He must be spending a lot of time alone to be THAT destructive?

Must go watch Ascot.

ps   I've just this morning finally taken Frankie's big crate down to be stored in the garage....... that HURT

He's not bored or lonely - I am at home all day and he gets a good run off lead and is then with other dogs all day/night!

He is improving during the day, he was chewing walls when you turned your back - he also loves chewing vet bed.  He knows he's done wrong but doesn't seem able to stop himself!

He's not bored or lonely - I am at home all day and he gets a good run off lead and is then with other dogs all day/night!

He is improving during the day, he was chewing walls when you turned your back - he also loves chewing vet bed.  He knows he's done wrong but doesn't seem able to stop himself!

What else does he have to do all day, apart from the off lead run?

As I'm home all day, he spends most of the day outside with other dogs playing with them, chewing toys and bones etc - shorter lead walk later in the day/evening

In that case I would introduce some more mental stimulation.  Some training, interactive toys, stuff to get his brain working as it sounds almost all physical, right now.  Even just scatter feeding in the garden might make a difference.

I also wouldn't discount possible anxiety about being apart from you at night (if he is) and even possible soreness, after a day full of physical activity.  Age is irrelevant for that, plenty of young dogs have problems and it may not show in any other obvious way.