More Doggone Dog Training Questions

[bluemtnrunner]

We took in a stray black lab puppy a week ago. He is about 8 months old. The death toll so far: to Haviana flip flops, one roll masking tape, one alligator head (don't ask), one bra.
He is really smart and doing very well with all of his training. When I find something he has chewed I show it to him, set it in front of him and when he goes for it I say no. I have put my running shoes near him and when he starts sniffing I give him a NO. If he eats my running shoes, he is going to be toast.
We have a lot of chew toys and bones around here, have been pretty good about picking things up and closing doors. He tends to chew stuff up at night. I hate to kennel him but he has the ability to open doors. (We should have named him Houdini instead of Smalls). I am sure that he will whine all night if kenneled too. He sleeps on our bedroom floor on his bed but then at about 4am he gets up and jumps on the bed to scratch and lick. I think it is after we kick him off the bed that he is chewing stuff but I'm not certain.

Yes, I know, clean my room, put away my shoes and all of that. I am worried that he will start grabbing stuff off the tables like cell phones, remotes, who knows what all.

OK, lay it on me, what is the best way to teach a dog what is ok to chew and what is not?

 

[Teresa Cline]

We took in a stray black lab puppy a week ago. He is about 8 months old. The death toll so far: to Haviana flip flops, one roll masking tape, one alligator head (don't ask), one bra.
He is really smart and doing very well with all of his training. When I find something he has chewed I show it to him, set it in front of him and when he goes for it I say no. I have put my running shoes near him and when he starts sniffing I give him a NO. If he eats my running shoes, he is going to be toast.
We have a lot of chew toys and bones around here, have been pretty good about picking things up and closing doors. He tends to chew stuff up at night. I hate to kennel him but he has the ability to open doors. (We should have named him Houdini instead of Smalls). I am sure that he will whine all night if kenneled too. He sleeps on our bedroom floor on his bed but then at about 4am he gets up and jumps on the bed to scratch and lick. I think it is after we kick him off the bed that he is chewing stuff but I'm not certain.

Yes, I know, clean my room, put away my shoes and all of that. I am worried that he will start grabbing stuff off the tables like cell phones, remotes, who knows what all.

OK, lay it on me, what is the best way to teach a dog what is ok to chew and what is not?

sounds like you are doing the right thing, only thing I would do is every time you have to tell him NO I would place a chew toy in front of him so he gets the point,,,,,Labs gotta chew,,,its what they do. And I believe in crate training, my first Lab I didnt use crate training and I had to deal with the chewing issues but the Lab I have now was crate trained and I haven't had half the problems as with the first one. It only took about 8 months and then he was past the need for the crate. its a wonderthing you did, taking in a stray pup.....Good Karma points!

 

[kathydwells]

I will tell you my opinion. I think that crating especially at night is the best option for you and him. I know it is very frustrating hearing the whining but after a little while he will get used to it and love his crate. Here is whas was told to me when I started crate training mine, and it worked! Put the crate beside your bed. Keep a pot or pan or something similar that you can use when he starts to whine. At the first sound of the whining hit the top of the crate with whatever you are going to use. It will startle him, but he will soon learn that if he whines the loud bang comes. It is a very humane way to crate train them.

Also, I kept a can filled with coins, very loud when thrown. When mine got close to putting something in her mouth that didnt' belong to her, I would throw the can beside her. Again the startle factor. I did make sure that everything that I did not want her to have was put up out of her reach. She had her own toys that I kept out for her. Also, a water bottle worked for me as well. I kept it near me and when she starting chewing on anything that was not hers she got a squirt in the face. She did not like and soon learned not to chew on whatever she was chewing on.

Good luck to you!!!! Post some pics so we can see them puppy! You know how we love our puppy pics!

 

[bluemtnrunner]

Our schnauzer loves his softside crate (house). We seldom have to use it to contain him but he sleeps in it all of the time with the door open.

I can see us now at 3am, our sniper super soakers and night vision goggles, Smalls with a shoe in his mouth and a little red dot on his forehead just before we open fire. [I'M KIDDING, I'M KIDDING]

 

[ClintClint]

Any self respecting male that is called "small" all day will revolt

 

[Cheering472]

I have no real advice. But congrats on the new puppy. Lab puppies love to chew, I saw one chewing through the bleachers at a ball game once. So I'd keep lots of toys around. Rotate them so he doesn't get bored and move on to your shoes or the baseboards.

 

[Will B]

Welcome to the world of Labs! He's doing exactly what Labs do. Crate training him will be the best thing you can do as Kathydwells said.

My only suggestion is that you should not punish him if you find something chewed up but don't catch him in the act. Dogs cannot make the correlation. It's no different that people who insist on rubbing a dog's nose in an old pee spot. The dog just won't get it. Catch him in the act and work on the "leave it" command. PM me, and I'll tell you how to do it.

 

[bluemtnrunner]

I actually just caught him chewing on an emory board. I was on the phone with a client so I had to let him continue to chew it, not knowing I could see him, until I got off the phone. I then gave him the NO and then offered him his toy.

ClintClint, I named him Smalls after the kid in the movie Sandlot. I didn't want another dog but the day I met him and he looked up at me I said, "You're killin me Smalls" and agreed to take him in.

 

[ClintClint]

Just messin' with ya'. I've got two black labs myself and I love them to death. My advice for what it's it's worth may sound a little counter-intuitive. I suggest you remove all chew toys except his favorite. Currently, with all the chew toys around, he thinks it's O.K. to chew on everything---he doesn't distinguish between his toys and your shoes. teach him that his one chew toy is the only item that won't get him in trouble. Tell Smalls that Cheyenne, Millie, and Clint from Atlanta love him!!!

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!! I agree the the crate is a great thing. Lexie is still learning that everything is not a chew as well. A sharp no and taking it away seems to be working and crating her at night. Best of luck.