I would really appreciate any help or advice on this problem as I really have no clue what to try. Bailey is a six month old Labrador cross (not sure exactly what he's crossed with but our vet seems to think it could be a lurcher or something similar). I'm am at home practically all of the time with my 2 year old daughter, and only really go out for short lengths of time ie to the supermarket or to visit friends etc. The problem is Bailey is not just chewing things, he's completely destroying my house. He's pulled skirting boards off the wall, completely stripped the flooring in the kitchen and dug plaster out of the wall. He will do this if we are in or out (but mostly when we're out). We've tried tiring him out with walks, giving him plenty of toys and bones when we're out but nothing works. I could understand it if he was left alone a lot but he isn't. He's also extremely boistorous and I realise he is only young but does anyone have any ideas how to deal with this? Any advice would be most appreciated!!

Hi
i have a 7mth malamute who's very good with destruction lol
Have you tried a kong and stuffing it full of tasty things, you can freeze then aswell to make them last longer.
Is he confined to just the one room when you are out?
I know some will reccomend a crate for short periods, to keep him safe :-)

He is left in just one room now, we used to give him the run of downstairs (except the living room) but when his destruction got worse we started leaving him just in the kitchen. I will try the Konga thing and hope it works.

I would suggest crate training him for the periods that you are out of the house and during the night if this is also a time when he becomes bored and think he'll do a bit or re-designing of the kitchen floor and walls!
Walks are not always a good way of tiring out a young dog he also needs some mental stimulation have you considered training classes where you can learn ways of stimulation his mind as well as keeping him fit.
find a class in your area that does OB and agility if you can... he destroys things because he is bored.

hope this helps

~Roni
edit to add:I have 2 bitches 2y and 9m I have 2 crates in my kitchen thier own choice for thier beds and afternoon naps

I am going to look into some kind of obedience class for him, he's fine at night, never had any problem really. I have no idea how to crate train him, is it fairly easy to do? Also I feel a bit anxious about putting him in a crate!!

dont be anxious its fairly easy and unbelievable how much they love them I felt the same as you my previous dogs were not crate trained either.
Some people like them some dont its a matter of choice and if you are not going to be out for long periods then dont worry.We take the largest crate we have to shows and they run right in them and fall asleep!
I stopped my eldest girl from travel sickness by putting her  in it for  a few weeks and it worked wonders.
If you decide to go down that road then I'm sure I or many.. more "experienced " owners will explain to you the easiest way to crate train there nothing to it ...honest .

~Roni

Hi, I know exactly how tiring this problem can be,when the dogs just will not respond to anything.We had one many years ago that ate a Settee,ripped a brand new leather coat to shreds,ate 2 pairs of a visitors new shoes,piddled all the time in the hallway,spraying up the walls,eating the car seats etc. In the end he was rehomed at 2 yrs for chasing sheep on a private estate where my husband was gamekeeper.The dog was mine not his as he kept reminding me! We advertised him privately using a box number to vet the homes,and we had 72 replies,one from a Nobility family!! In the end we let him go to a Golf Club,near a beach and well away from sheep. He apparently settled in time!!

It must have been difficult for you to rehome him. I really want to try everything to sort this out before I consider rehoming Bailey, it would break my daughters heart to lose him now! Apart from this problem he lovely, and especially good with children (which was our main priority). I think I would like to try the crate training so if anyone could provide us with some guidelines I would be grateful!

Steph, Just had a thought! Down our Vets there is a notice advertising dog sitters,walkers and virtually anything in the way of a "doggy" homehelp you could want.I know a few people around this area who are using these services, and I must say the walkers or sitters are always passing through our Road with their "students" and all the dogs seem very happy with this arrangment.I know one dog belongs to an elderly gent who cannot get out,and another one belongs to a single mum who works.Apparently they will also take the dogs from under your feet and just bring them back for meals etc.Don't know the charges though.I wondered if your Vet had similar people available.
Once your boy gets over a year old he hopefully will calm down.
We were not too upset about rehoming the naughty Dalmation we had, but I do recall going to tremendous lengths to ensure that dog had a good home.

Hi Steph,

I agree with Roni & Jane - crate training could save a whole lot of worry for him and you, not to mention prevent danger to himself and save on the expense of putting right damage to your home :)  Crate training is relatively easy - put something comfortable in the base for him to lie on, preferably also something smelling of you like a worn T-shirt or nightie.  Cover top and sides of the cage with a blanket to make it den-like. Leave the door open for him to come and go.  Feed all his meals in there initially so he has a pleasant association with the crate - don't try to shut him in initially, because that will be scary for him.  NEVER use it as a punishment for anything - you want him to accept the crate as his den, a comfort zone and a place where he can relax. :) 

> He will do this if we are in or out (but mostly when we're out).

I'll be honest, I can never understand how a dog does this sort of stuff with the owner about (apart from maybe one isolated incident) - just doesn't make sense to me so if you can come back and elaborate on not just what he's doing when you're physically there but what you are doing to allow this to happen it might help those more experienced on behavioural issues to come up with specific ideas for curing those situations ;)

Young, exuberant dog + lots of physical exercise means more energy builds up hence more exercise is needed which then becomes a circle of events that can be counter productive.  He needs mental stimulation as much (possibly more) than anything else.  Toys aren't much fun for a dog - it's the games WE have with the toys and the dog that provide pleasure and mental exercise.  Kongs are fine, particularly stuffed with goodies, as a distraction when we're out but when we're around we have to find time and put in the effort to interact with our dog - that's what builds bonds, and ultimately makes any type of training easier.  You'll find that if you play some games with him and train him in ways that require him to use his brain he will tire much more obviously than trying to stay out longer on a walk or fit in an extra walk.

HTH, regards, Teri :)

 

I think maybe I do need to spend some more time with him to give him some mental stimulation, which I will do. I think when he does do things when we're at home it could be a kind of attention seeking (because it certainly get our attention). He will chew or bite anything he can, from furniture to toys, shoes, door frames, skirtings, walls, you name it he chews it. He's also very clingy, he has to be laying on you, touching one of us all the time.
Also, something I forgot to mention is that he whines and howls sometimes when we're out. I only know this because whilst I was at the supermarket the other day I came home to find an annonomous note on my front door telling me that he had been noisy.

Definitely crate train him. 

Read this: http://www.westieclubamerica.com/behavior/cratetraining.html

Hi
I know Labs are very hard work. They need a lot of stimulation not just walks etc.
I'm training to be a Vet Nurse and I know one of the behaviourists at my practice swears by Kongs, you can even get Peanut butter 'kong' paste now which they love. My B Collies love it and it keeps them busy for a while!

Good Luck

Jo