Dog training tips

[The Mike]

I've never had a dog before and technically I don't have one now, but I live with some relatives now and they have a 3 month old Labrador, long story short the dog is a mess, she eats everything on her path, DVD sets, my pack of cigarettes, pillows, etc.

She's tall enough now to take stuff from tables, and only closed doors can stop her, I've talked to the family about it and they say this is just a phase and that I't will pass, honestly I can't continue living a life were I have to hide everything from her and running behind her to get my shoes back.

How do I stop this creature from bitting everything?

 

[Silver Jelly]

Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

 

[makare]

Putting stuff out of reach is just part of having a puppy. But it also helps to have tons of chew toys and other stuff that is just for the dog. Also, dogs do that stuff more often when they are bored so make sure that it is getting alot of play time and exercise. Especially for a lab.

I have four dogs and the youngest is three years old and she still chews on everything. Giving her bones, and chew toys did help though.

 

[Rubicon]

How do I stop this creature from bitting everything?

With fire.

 

[The Mike]

How do I stop this creature from bitting everything?

With fire.[/QUOTE]

She's afraid of cigarette smoke but I smoke enough as it is hehe

 

[The Mike]

She has tons of chewie toys, but maybe I could play fetch more often if you think it helps, I'll try anything right now

 

[doomdragon6]

If I've learned anything from psychology classes, it's that physical pain (a mild pop is enough), a loud noise, and 100% consistency will do it.

All chew toys do is say it's okay to chew on things.

 

[Twitch]

"Oh, it's just a pomeranian it can't do that much damage."
LATER THAT DAY
"WHERE THE FUCK IS THE BOTTOM OF THE COFFEE TABLE?"

 

[makare]

it is ok to chew on things. that is what dogs need to do for their teeth. It is not a discipline thing or a control thing. Puppies NEED to chew so give them something it is ok to chew, not exactly rocket science.

If I've learned anything from psychology classes, it's that physical pain (a mild pop is enough), a loud noise, and 100% consistency will do it.

All chew toys do is say it's okay to chew on things.

what kind of psychology is this you are studying because distraction from what is not allowed to what is allowed is also a tenet of child psychology.

Never hit a dog nothing good will come from that.

 

[HowDroll]

http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

 

[Baerdog]

Good news, everyone! He works with kids too.

 

[makare]

http://www.ehow.com/how_2133103_train-puppy-not-chew.html

 

[CynicismKills]

Catch the dog in the act of doing something, and make it known to them it's bad. Use the same words, same tone of voice, and eventually if the dog isn't terribly stubborn you should get somewhere.

Don't resort to hitting, though. That's just going to make the dog fear you if nothing else, and beyond that it's just plain cruel.

 

[Wahad]

Catch the dog in the act of doing something, and make it known to them it's bad. Use the same words, same tone of voice, and eventually if the dog isn't terribly stubborn you should get somewhere.

However, be aware he doesn't accuse you back.

You: "Bad dog! Bad dog! Chewed on the table! Bad dog!"

Dog: "Who are you to judge me? You humans, you've had genocide, war against peoples of different creeds, colors, religions! And I chewed on the table? Is that a crime?"

Anyway, you'll want to do what people said. Keep stuff out of range, play with him A LOT. Make sure to punish him if he does something bad - first by calling out, and if that doesn't work after a handful of times, you can grab him by the neck (that bit that's only skin) pull him away from whatever he's chewing on and say he's a bad dog again.

I'd say look into dog trainers, too, but that didn't do a lot of good for our dog so *shrug*

 

[CynicismKills]

Catch the dog in the act of doing something, and make it known to them it's bad. Use the same words, same tone of voice, and eventually if the dog isn't terribly stubborn you should get somewhere.

However, be aware he doesn't accuse you back.

You: "Bad dog! Bad dog! Chewed on the table! Bad dog!"

Dog: "Who are you to judge me? You humans, you've had genocide, war against peoples of different creeds, colors, religions! And I chewed on the table? Is that a crime?"

Anyway, you'll want to do what people said. Keep stuff out of range, play with him A LOT. Make sure to punish him if he does something bad - first by calling out, and if that doesn't work after a handful of times, you can grab him by the neck (that bit that's only skin) pull him away from whatever he's chewing on and say he's a bad dog again.

I'd say look into dog trainers, too, but that didn't do a lot of good for our dog so *shrug*[/QUOTE]

It's also difficult if your dog is like mine was and has those color marks that look like eyebrows. You get mad, they look at you like and you're like I'M SORRY.

Also also, playing is always good. Or a walk. Help the dog lose some of that energy that's being used to rip things up.

 

[drawn_inward]

Lab pups are notorious for that. We kept everything we didn't want chewed out of reach and gave chew-toys (those big fake bones), and played catch until the dog stopped bringing the toy back and collapsed. Wear the dog out and keep stuff out of reach.

 

[Zonker]

If she's chewing a little bit that's normal. If she's chewing incessantly everywhere and everything it means she's going out of her mind with boredom. Take her outside for four hours a day at least and let her chase squirrels and stuff.

Oh, ninja'd. Oh well.

Labbies are super smart. Train her!!! She'll be less bored if she has a "job."

 

[Dubyamn]

Well there is a substance out there I forget what it's called but dogs apparently really hate it. So you buy that substance and you take some old perfume and water it down to a point where you can barely smell it.

You then take two of an object that can be jammed in the dogs mouth, Rags, tennis balls wad of paper towels. You coat one of the objects in the perfume and the other in the substance that dogs hate. You hold the perfume soaked one out to the dog so he smells it and then you jam the other in his mouth. Do this a couple times and he'll associate the perfume smell with a terrible taste. Then you spray whatever you don't want chewed with the perfume and wipe it off so that the water doesn't damage your stuff. The dog'll steer clear of the things you've sprayed choosing instead to chew objects you haven't protected.

I heard it suggested for table legs and furniture but I think the theory is sound but you might want to renew the smell every couple of weeks if it's something you use often. Also make sure to clear it with your relatives so that they don't freak out with you jamming something in their dogs mouth.

 

[sixpackshaker]

Walk the dog-sh!t out of her.... Literally.

Since there are more than one person in the house, take turns daily. A dog like that needs far more exercise than you could expect. Have at least 2 people walker a mile and a half daily.

Just tossing an indoor dog outside for a couple of hours does not release that pent up energy. And Labradors are very destructive puppies.

 

[CynicismKills]

Well there is a substance out there I forget what it's called but dogs apparently really hate it. So you buy that substance and you take some old perfume and water it down to a point where you can barely smell it.

You then take two of an object that can be jammed in the dogs mouth, Rags, tennis balls wad of paper towels. You coat one of the objects in the perfume and the other in the substance that dogs hate. You hold the perfume soaked one out to the dog so he smells it and then you jam the other in his mouth. Do this a couple times and he'll associate the perfume smell with a terrible taste. Then you spray whatever you don't want chewed with the perfume and wipe it off so that the water doesn't damage your stuff. The dog'll steer clear of the things you've sprayed choosing instead to chew objects you haven't protected.

I heard it suggested for table legs and furniture but I think the theory is sound but you might want to renew the smell every couple of weeks if it's something you use often. Also make sure to clear it with your relatives so that they don't freak out with you jamming something in their dogs mouth.

There's a bitter apple spray you can get at most pet stores that'll keep dogs from chewing if you spray it on stuff. We had to use it on an ace bandage we put over my dog's leg when he used to chew on itches too long (wore skin raw at one point).

 

[Shakey]

I tried that bitter apple spray, but my lab just licked it off. My lab's chewing "phase" lasted about 5 years.

The only way to stop it is to make sure they are getting enough exercise and have plenty of toys to chew on. Kongs with canned dog food stuffed in them work pretty good too. Just keep them occupied and the chewing won't be a huge problem.

Stuff my lab has chewed beyond recognition: 2 remotes, a pair of boots, a bottle of neosporin, 4 hardcover books, he pushed 2 cases of glass bottles down my basement steps, and a pair of headphones. I got off easy, but that's not counting the food he stole and stuff that just had chew marks on it. He was able to chomp down 4 loafs of banana bread my mom made in about 15 minutes though.

 

[Baerdog]

My lab behaved like an old dog from day one. He's always been super mellow and never went through a chewing phase. His sister, on the other hand....

So, our friends own my dog's sister and she was his polar opposite as puppies. She was very energetic and she chewed a lot. One of the first things she did was claim all of their other dog's chew toys and eat them. She ate several kitchen towels off the floor, ate the other dog's collar off of his neck (twice), and claimed his dog bed for herself before eating it. I think part of the reason she was so energetic was because she never got walked as much as our lab. My friends eventually found one of those heavy-duty Kongs (the black ones) to be the only toy she couldn't destroy and she loves it. The dogs are eight years old now and she's mellowed out quite a bit, but boy was she a terror as a puppy.

 

[sixpackshaker]

I bought my German Shepherd Dog one of those indestructible , giggle ball, chew toy for HORSES. He destroyed in in 3 weeks. He loved it so much and was so sad when it was gone, I bought him a new one. It was gone in 2 days. No more giggle balls for him.