I have a 16 month old chocolate lab that is wonderful when I am home. When I leave for the day for work..some days I come home and things are untouched. Other days..I come home and he has gotten into the garbage, ate the cat food out of her bowl, eaten a box of cookies on the counter and sometimes chews. Any suggestions? I do not have a yard. We live in an apartment. When I am home he is a perfect angel! Perfectly house trained. Also any suggestions on how to get him to stop pulling on his leash? Help.an Lab owners out there?
Answers:
Take her for a lot of walks, perhaps in the morning before you go off to work. Put garbage, cat food and any other temptations out of her reach...and maybe consider a friend for her.
I would crate the dog. It's the safest thing to do for you and the dog when you aren't there. Unsupervised, your dog could choke on something, eat something not good for him... not to mention develop some destructive behaviors. If you crate though you'll probably have to do more exercise with him to keep him from being too hyper.
He is BORED and feeling quite lonely. Get him some nice chew toys and confine him to a large room if you do not want to use a crate. Since you cant catch him in the act when you are not home, reprimanding him will do NO GOOD and confuse him. So, when you go out to work confine him to lets say... the kitchen. Remove all food from counter tops, leave fresh water, KONG is a great toy sure to keep him very busy. Also he may not be getting enough excersise. Take him for at leat one daily walk!
good luck and enjoy your dog!!
Hello..he is getting bored %26 labs are big babies...you need to create him his own space that he can't escape...or CRATE him...our lab ate the arm off the couch..LOL !!! I can put up the crate training instructions here ..but they are a bit long or if you wish E Mail me %26 I'll send them to you...just omit the potty training part ..LOL...Take Care :)
Try using a kenal for a little while. Your lab will not enjoy being caged up and learn that he has been punished. Also, if he is still bad afterwards, don't give him extra attention. On Oprah, she trained her dogs to not get wild by turning around or not giving too much attention to them. If your dog needs professional help, see a local pet store or vet for ideas.
labs are like children! you should child proof or doggy proof your apartment. put up anything that he can chew on and you might try making him a little space of his own. then of course there are large kennels you can buy to put him in. I know that sounds mean but dogs do realize how long you've been gone. try that.
it might be because she is alone she gets lonley. get another little dog perhaps a rat terrier to keep him company while you are gone. =)
Oh dear he is bored , can you hire a dog walker when you are at work.?You could also buy him a Kong toy ,you fill it with his favorite treats. It will keep him amused for hours.As for the pulling whilst he is on the leash a sharp tug usually does the trick .A short sharp NO may be used as well.Have you read Victoria Stillwells book ?
crate training is a graet way to help her stay out of trouble when you are away.Get a crate and put a blanket that smells like you in it. Also get her a brand new chew toy. Slowly introduce thedog into the crate by feeding him in it. after he is comfortable just close the door (don't latch it yet) Later latch it and keep her in for about 10 mins or so be right next to the crate. Next show him his new toy. Let him play with it then put it in the crate just near the door. He will bring it out repeat this untill the dog plays with his new toy in the crate put a blanket over te crate and wait 20 min. let him out only when he is not whinning. Do this through out the day untill he is comfortable being inthe crate. Every time you have her go in the crate say crate . this is her new command word to know she needs to go into the crate. when you let her out always praise her and maybe give her a treat. leave the door open when you are home so he can go in there whenever he wants
he might whine for awhile do not let the dog out of the crate while he is whinning wait 5 mins after he has sopped then le him out also don't tell her no if he starts whinning just ignore it if you don't do this he will learn whinning get him attention and/or lets him out. As far as pulling on the leash when he starts to pull stop tug on the leash and say no pull do this every time when he is on the leash. He will learn quickly if he wants to walk with you he has to be close
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