Our beautiful 8-month Labrador has been with us since February. We were expecting him to be much harder work than he actually is, and are so happy with him and him with us. However we are due to move into a brand new house next week, and we seem not to have solved his skirting board chewing habit. Whilst not a problem in our current house, as we've filled and painted along the way, we really don't want this to continue and are not sure how best to curb his habit. We have sprayed with chew deterrent & bitter apple spray (the boards not him). We've never caught him in the act, as he tends to do this during the 6-7 hours he's alone when we're in bed. He was in a training crate when we first had him, however I am not keen to re-introduce him to one. Can anybody offer any advise on how to deter him from chewing??

Sorry but the only thing that worked with my two was physical seperation - a crate, first one slept in it for the first 4 years, cos he was such a naughty nibbler when we were asleep. Tried all the usual bitter apple, chilli etc, he licked them off had a drink and then just tucked in :( 

IMHE, the only way that you can stop a dog chewing anything when you are not present, is to physically remove them from it, ie, a crate, as bluebell said ;)

Why aren't you keen to reintroduce a crate? I know that some people and dogs don't get on with them but if they are used in the right way, for a minimum amount of time, they can be a godsend :)

I have only recently been using crates and this is the first house that we've had that hasn't looked like a domolition site :D My little darling is now 6 months old and from experience is still prone to the odd "kitchen lino rip" when my eye's off the ball which is why she still sleeps in her crate at night.......of her own volition as well which makes life easier for all of us :)

I agee with the other posters. Think of it this way: Your not saving your house, but saving the dog from harm!:-)

I would crate him in a new house anyway as he will need time to get used to his new home

A crate is indeed the answer mine has one and goes in there at bedtime and if we go out that way he she can't hurt herself or my furniture its a blessing although we have trained her to use a crate from 8weeks old may take time now as yours is 8 mnths good luck :)

I would also go with the crate, better safe than sorry.
It sounds like the pup is restless at night, perhaps a short walk or exercise before you head to bed may help your pup sleep through the night.
Mine is 8 months (not a lab) and has been outside his crate now for several weeks and has not chewed anything. I've been lucky so far as he's never chewed furniture just the toys I brought him. Please remember that not all toys/chews are safe to be left in a crate without you around. I would leave the kong in it but those rawhide chews are a no no because they can swallow them which can get stuck in the throat.

our lab chucked it only when we smeared vicks on the things he chewed, he actually developed a taste for the bitter spray and would lick at the pump on the bottle when applying it!!

Funny you should say that. My gsd loved the taste of vick. Be careful when leaving dogs/puppies in crates. Remove their collars in case they get hooked up.

I agree with the other posters -there is no other way really. The good news it though that most puppies tend to grow out of this stage eventually. Been through it many a time. Once I had all my woodwork in the kitchen chewed (skirting boards, shelves, door frames), the carpet ripped up, it was replaced with lino so that was ripped up too, and the wallpaper taken off!!

Marianne