Help! My Dog Is Eating My Furniture!
Last week, SSS! reader TJF wrote about her fabulous, adorable 15-month-old male Lab who was chewing “everything he could get his paws on.” The pup was well supplied with chew toys, TJF said. And both she and her husband work at home, so the dog has plenty of company. They take their Lab on one-mile walks about four times a week.
“Is it a lack of exercise, stress, or something he will outgrow?” TJF asked. “We are keeping him forever… but I would like to have a future with furniture and blankets in one piece!”
What’s up with that? How did a sweet dog with plenty of toys and companionship become a non-stop chewing machine?
Click on CONTINUE READING below for the answer!
(photo from dogbreedinfo.com)
Dog trainer and show handler Irene Roussos immediately pinned Doggy Destructo’s behavior to not enough exercise. Labs may be the nation’s most popular breed, “but they are like a Cuisinart without a lid,” said Roussos, of Fort Lauderdale, who is affiliated with Imperial Point Animal Hospital. “They need lots of mental as well as physical exercise.”
Roussos also suspects the chewing may stem from the dog trying to get his owners’ attention – and seeing them all day may make it that more frustrating for him. “He’s saying, dudes, let’s go do something!” Roussos said.
Roussos’ advice:
* High- energy dogs need a minimum of 45 minutes of sustained walking, twice daily. About four miles a day is preferred.
* When walking, incorporate games of fetch, or practice sitting and staying.
* The longest walk of the day should be in the morning, after the dog has rested all night.
* Do not feed the dog at least an hour before, or an hour after, walking, to reduce risk of bloat.
* If you catch the dog actively chewing something besides toys, instruct him to drop it. Then give another command, such as come or sit.
* Yell at yourself, not the dog, if you find your stuff shredded after the fact. The dog won’t equate his chewing with the damaged article after he’s already done it.
Have your own chewing horror stories or good solutions? Or other What’s Up With That? behavior questions? Speak!
ANGIE BRENNAN, a Sun-Sentinel page designer,
lives with four dogs and one boyfriend. And has a lifetime of animal stories to share.
DIANE LADE, a reporter on the Sun-Sentinel's Help Team, has lived with cats, dogs, reptiles, fish, an iguana, and an armadillo.
CYNDI METZGER, editor of the Sun-Sentinel's Outlook section, is smitten with Bella, her poodle who regularly ignores requests to sit, stay and get off the ivory-colored sofa. 
JOHN TANASYCHUK, a Sun-Sentinel lifestyle writer, has lived with cats as long as he can remember. He and his partner currently share their home with three.
Comments
Would also suggest crate training. also a switch to allow protein diet. The dog needs challenges to to keep it happy
Posted by: anthony | April 4, 2008 2:20 PM
Diane, thank you so much for all the info! I will have to get my walking shoes on because I am apparently not getting him out enough for those long walks...and will definitely follow up with the great suggestions.....the other question I have is: Is this chewing thing characteristic to one lab but maybe not another? I had two labs in the past, NEITHER of them chewed anything! I got my neutered male lab at 15 months, and he was alone during the day while I worked. Never chewed. Then, several years later, when he was ten, I got the two year old female as a friend for him and she never chewed either. (both dogs lived very long lives,till they were both 14, not chewing) I wonder why?
The other question I have is: Do you have an e-mail address you can give us, so that we can send you ideas for your blogs? I have several ideas I would like to e-mail you, if you would be interested...
Posted by: TJF | April 4, 2008 9:12 PM
Every dog (regardless of breed) is it's own individual personality. As well, behaviours are characteristic from one dog to another. True, labrador retrievers are high-energy breeds, however some more than others. Doggie Destructo happens to be one of those that is highter energy than others. Why? It could come from his breeding. But, it could also come from lack of guidance/training/mental conditioning as a young puppy. Young puppies are like sponges. They will absorb their environment and thus develop accordingly. Unfortunately, the bigger the dog, the bigger the damage.I don't believe in crating him during the day when you are home with him as that would build up even more frustration. I prefer you teach him (with help from a professional if you had to) to mind what you say when you say it. Also, a tired, mentally stimulated dog will not have such an incredible urge to chew, blankets, furniture, or even toys! Teach him to stay on a dog bed or throw rug for increments of time with multiple breaks in between while you are working. This way he knows what is expected of him when you are unavailable for him. He will learn to be patient, and his reward will be the next party session with you (long walk, game of fetch, obedience dril). I'm not sure that your dog knows what is expected of him during the day at this poing. Teach him TO DO things for you instead of NOT TO DO things. Your dog is looking for a "job" or a purpose. You must provide that "job" for him or he will quickly become self-employed (in your case, an interior decorator).
Posted by: Irene Roussos | April 6, 2008 11:02 AM
Chewing is a phase that can easily turn into a habit . . . like thumb-sucking in humans, and like thumb-sucking is aggravated by stress. I had a neighbor who used to leave his lab puppy alone for 30 minutes at a time (thank gosh, not in Florida) and got his just reward when he returned to his brand new BMW to find the leather seats eaten up. Try bitter apple spray and a lot of supervision until you can whip the chewing. They say with humans it takes 20 days to beat a bad habit. Count on at least twice as long for dogs!
Posted by: Robin, Florida | April 6, 2008 11:49 AM