My lovely year old labrador bitch is gorgeous, she behaves well most of the time.  She is left for periods up to three/four hours in the day time and is very good - normally she settles down for a nap.  She has been living in our lounge as it's been easier to dog proof than any other room, but I'd like to move her into the kitchen as it's easier to clean and I would love to have a functional lounge again instead of one stripped almost bare of rugs etc.  There is an aga in there so she'd be warm and it's a very large space - but it does contain furniture and I'm worried she'll eat it.  When will she become one of those labs I see who calmly saunter around a room without having a nibble at everything they pass? Older labs seem to resist the urge to run about with underwear/plastic bottles/CDs/bowls/settees in their mouths - is this an age thing?  If so - what age?! 

I have never had a labrador chew but older dogs chew because of boredom normally and so she obviously needs to have more similation. Now that she is 1 yr old you can walk her alot more, so do that before you go out to walk. Use some of your walk time to engage her brain, 5 minutes of obedience, a game of ball etc. Also use things such as a kong which can be stuffed with different treats everyday, mine love peanut butter and melted cheese!!! Also you could buy a buster cube, much harder to get the treats out of than the activity balls. My 2 yr old lab takes about 40 minutes to empty the cube. Don't worry about all the treats making her fat cos you just reduce her food to take into account the treats. The spaceship toy which is a food toy is also great for a lab. You don't need to use them all everyday just that it means she isn't gonna get bored with them if they are rotated daily. By time you have worn her out from the walk and then she has had her toy whilst you are out she is gonna sleep, so if you are only out 4 hrs you should be ok. Leave her other toys around as well, somelike teddies but nylabones are a favourite too and will give her something to chew.Of course the chewing could have become a habit and so you may need to try putting something on the bits of furniture she chews I know people who use a horse product think it begins with c but someone will know what it is. Of course it depends on what you want to put it on as it is very sticky!!!
As for the bowls, plastic bottles, underwear that is part of the fun of having a labrador, they naturally like to carry and retieve everything so you will have to learn to live with that. Say no and take it away everytime it is clothing, cds etc. Mine still love plastic bottles and in the summer they have them outside with water in them!!! or in the house they will have dried peas or something in for the different sounds. I also introduce pups in the litter to bottles which make differnet sounds!!!
I have a 6 yr old here that will nick my mobile if it rings she loves the sound of it and I often sit and go through the ring tones etc with her. Yes yes sad I know but there we go!!!
You don't say if your lab is from working or show background. People will disagree with me but in my opinion and I have owned both, the show types are easier and more laid back. My working lab was as you would expect very active and needed so much more stimulation. My working lab would not have suited a pet home at all.
Good luck with your lab and if you can get her those toys it might help.

I think I explained my question badly in my original post.  This isn't about her chewing when she's alone out of boredom.  This is about her constantly picking things up, jumping up and being a bit of a pest (in the most loveable way).  For example I went round to a friends house, she has two older labs, and I noticed her lovely Christmas tree.  She said her dogs don't play with it, they just walk round it and show no interest in it.  We didn't have a Christmas tree this year as I knew Poj would be at the baubles and tinsel etc.  So I'm asking at what age do dogs calm down and leave things like this alone?

Hi Emma - we have a Golden Retriever who is 16 months old. Last Christmas we had to put our tree up on a table because our dog who was only about 4 months old at the time found the Christmas tree fascinating and I got fed up with keep picking it up after he had knocked it over. Christmas 2006 we had two floor standing trees and after his initial inspection and a couple of "leave it's" he was no problem at all. He used to get so excited when we had visitors and I spent most of my time telling him to get off and not jump up. About two months ago he started to be a lot calmer when visitors arrived. He still wiggles all over the floor in a sit position and is very eager to meet the visitors but he doesn't jump up or be a nuisance to them. I normally make him sit or lie down when they come in and hold his collar until they are sitting and then he is allowed to go and greet them but he has to sit before they take any notice of him. After a few minutes the novelty of visitors wears off and he takes no more notice of them.

I used to think he would be too enthusiastic for ever but he is now capable of controlled enthusiasm as long as I make sure that I watch him and give him a sit/down stay command at the first sign of him getting ready to pounce. I would imagine that labradors and retrievers are fairly similar in their zest for life so hopefully your girl should be well on the way to controlled enthusiasm.

An unexpected visitor last night actually commented on how well behaved Harley was ( he was having a particularly good day :D)

well my youngest lab is 19 months old and she knocked the tree over about 4 times this christmas. She still picks up everything like bras etc and carries them around, however I have just managed to get her to swop to carrying teddy bears instead.
I think it depends on the labrador pedigree lines but mine are very relaxed and laid back however they do carry things around and bounce and play. It is what I expect from normal happy labradors and I have a 6 yr old here who loves the cardboard tubes from kitchen rolls etc, loves coke bottles and socks.
I like well behaved dogs but a labrador is a labrador they are bouncy and they do have big personalities.

She's a labrador, a breed that's had generation upon generation of breeding to need to carry things in their mouths - that's their purpose! She's also a youngster, to whom everything new is interesting and exciting, and needs to be investigated enthusiastically. She sounds normal and utterly delightful! As she matures over the years she'll gradually steady and calm down.

Thanks everyone.  I was just worrying that I would forever not be able to decorate the house/have rugs / hang out washing etc.  I do love her dearly.  One of my favourite sights is when I've been out of the room and return to see her sitting, innocently, next to some object she's 'found' and has been eating.  She looks at me, then looks at the object and is completely suprised to see it there next to her.  So cute.  I am forever picking things up, wiping them off or discretely disposing of them so my lovely man doesn't realise she's a scamp.  She is delightful, thanks Jean.  I'm more used to Springers who don't have that mouthing fetish.

I used to put dried dog food into a 2 litre plastic pop bottle when Zak (GSD) was younger. He too was left for 4 hours & soon got bored. I also had one of the cubes. I think you need to practise the 'leave it' command if your dog is picking things up which you don't want her to have. You should give her something else that she can have when you make her leave the offending item.

Wow!  NEVER had a ladrabor that chews?!!  Are you sure they aren't cats with costumes?

You sound like me Emma - I am constantly covering up for the dogs so Stephen doesn't realise I've been careless and left something to George to rip to shreds again! :-D He is also a carrier (he's an American cocker so I guess carrying is in his genes too) but luckily only chews paper, not clothing. A couple of nights ago I had to humiliate him by photographing him wearing my hat and gloves that he insisted on stealing out of my pocket and carrying around! :-D