What To Do?

[friedgreentomato]

Colin, my 10 month old lab/retriev X is out during the day - he has plenty of ground to play in, shelter and toys.

But he has started stealing stuff to destruct!! So far it has been 3 pairs of shoes, the mop bucket, plastic boxes, every single rubbish bag and the recycling bin!

He also likes to empty plant pots and to sleep on the compost he takes out!

I am at a loss what to do - I walk him each morning and as I said I leave toys for him.

[anneasquith]

I understand that the rescue centre knew the dog would be alone for 6 hours some days, but I agree with the abers who suggest he is bored and may be lonely, does he bark when alone outside, ( maybe ask your neighbours )

[friedgreentomato]

Lol wolf OK - I did consider seeing if there was a pet walker in the area - my friend may be moving round the corner so as she has 2 dogs I may get help that way!

[friedgreentomato]

No he doesn't bark as I have checked with the gardner who looks after the orchard - we don't have any neighbours.

[anneasquith]

re the kong and chews, it is not advisable to leave dogs especially puppies alone with food/chews.

[mazie]

Hi fgt...This thread made me think back a month or so when my Daughter and I and the 3 kids went for a picnic by Leith water..We'd polished off most of our sandwiches apart from a handful of cheese and cucumber ones. All of a sudden a Golden Retriever came bounding over and snaffled up everything left on the picnic blanket jumped right in the middle of us :o) Was funny but the owner was a bit embarrassed. I hope it sorts itself out, I'm sure a lot of it is down to his age and being in the kennels for a while

[friedgreentomato]

Lol mazie that would be Colin given half the chance!!

He is very food orientated but I know that is down to his breed aswell!

[islasmum]

I've had several labradors in the past, and we always reckoned that they were outgrowing the chewing and naughtiness stage by the time they were two. One of them removed a large area of plastered wall behind her dogbed one night - she did grow out of that, thank goodness and also appeared to have a cast iron stomach! I really think that with more to occupy his time, he will grow out of it.

[Prudie]

I'd just clench your teeth and put up with it, it's part of the growing up phase. I used to have to leave my boxer pup home alone for 4 hours a day and she ate an entire sofa but she did grow up eventually. As others have said as long as you leave plenty of toys/chews as well he'll settle down. He's only playing.

[friedgreentomato]

islamum and prudie - thank you for putting my mind at rest to the fact its his age!!

I will be hitting the pet shops tonight for supplies!!

[woofgang]

I don't think its boredom that makes older animals destructive as much as stress. Whatever the rescue said, I wouldn't have homed a pup with anyone who leaves them alone for longer than about 3 hours and that only after being taught to be alone....sorry FGT I don't mean to be rude but pups need a lot of input and teaching...a gyppy tum suggests stress to me too.
On the plus side, 10 months old is right bang in the middle of adolescence with all its attendant naughtiness and if he is handled properly, he will grow out of it.
Suggestion one is to put away everything that he would trash and then to offer him things that he can trash safely. Does he eat kibble? Get hold of a large cardboard box with no staples in it and stuff it full with balls of screwed up newspaper with a bit of kibble in the middle of each one. The mess will look horrendous but is pretty easy to clean up and will keep him safely amused. Walking a dog, even playing with friends, doesn't tire out dogs as much as working their brains. If you can build in a short training session before you go out, you will leave the dog more tired than a long walk would make him. Do you go to training classes?

[friedgreentomato]

Hi woof,

I am training him myself and if I do say so very successfully at the moment!! we have only had him a month and he is walking on the lead, walking off the lead, returning (most) times whilst running off lead, sitting etc etc.

I was very specific to the sanctuary when I got him that he would be left for this length of time - I was happy to leave him inside but it was their suggestion that he was outside during the day!

I love that idea about the newspaper and the box, it is just 1 piece of dried food or shall I use a mini bonio in each piece of newspaper?

[woofgang]

better more balls of paper with less food in each. A month is VERY early days for a pup to be settling with you so it sounds like you are actually doing well!

[friedgreentomato]

Thanks Woof its made easier the fact that colin is keen to learn! hubby is training him with his night time treat not to take it until told!

[lilacben]

My dog as a puppy was the same as yours in being destructive. I was told it was his "terrible teens". this was at 10 months and it went on for quite a few months. He wasnt bored as he had another dog to keep him company. He was so bad he chewed my bed base every time we left him. One day I set up a camera. we went out the door.......but I had forgotten something ss went back in to get it....When we returned I played the video back and was very surprised in what we saw. He didnt do a thing the whole time we was gone...except for the moment we went out the door and I came back and that was it.! he went straight to the bed base and had a good chew...I think he was just so annoyed we had gone out that he did it straight away as if in a temper.!

[FredPuli43]

For goodness sake, he's ten months, not ten years. And he's a fairly large breed; the larger, the slower to develop; so what he's doing is natural. I have an 11 month old wolfhound here. He has two other wolfhounds, all the time, and six smaller dogs for company. I am almost never out in the day, and then only for an hour.

And what does he do? He empties plant pots, chews everything and anything he fancies, from pipes for the washing machine to lawn mowers, and fetches anything and everything he can carry into, or out of, the house. The older two were the same, except one tried to eat the staircase, and their predecessors were worse. They once demolished a three piece suite, and, as an encore, ran through the glass doors between rooms when they were shut.

You have to learn to live with it. You can give him toys and distractions and be with him all day, but you have to watch him like a hawk because he'll be up to mischief.

[lankeela]

Agree with Fred, this is just natural puppy behaviour - problem is you are not around to give him any attention which is what he is craving. Exercise is good, but its his brain that needs it more than his body - and he will find things to occupy himself. I would ensure he is enclosed in a run or kennel area for his own safety. I am also very surprised that any rescue would rehome such a young dog to be left for so long - maybe an older one could be ok but puppies needs more or less constant attention.

[DTCwordfan]

fgt - if you have any chewing of things that you don't want chewed like shoes and furniture, get some Bittersweet Apple from any decent pet store or on-line. You just spray it on the item and 98% of dogs hate it and will leave it alone. For the 2 percent who do like it, well then, you have a problem.