Feeling guilty and garden time.

Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by Rolokris, May 4, 2015.

  1. Rolokris

    Rolokris Registered Users

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    Ok so I have posted about Rolo's non stop chewing before and it's getting worse, my back garden is wrecked! I let Rolo have free access to the back garden now it's warmer and this is when he does the damage. The garden is secure so he can't escape. What I was wondering is should I stop this free access to the garden? I feel guilty for him tho which is not a good thing I know. He has a good 40 minute off lead walk every day and I do 1 or 2 short training sessions a day (approx 5 mins each) with him. I give him a cereal toothbrush before I leave him should I maybe give him rawhide chews more regular as these can sometimes take about an hour for him to work on.

    My husband keeps telling me it's ok for Rolo to not be entertained the whole day but I feel guilty for him.

    Any Ideas?

    Kris
     
  2. Rolokris

    Rolokris Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    By the way Rolo is 9 months old.
     
  3. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    If he is causing such damage , I would not allow him to be in the garden unsupervised , he can get up to far too much mischief ;) Being with pups/youngsters is the only way to stop unwanted behaviour, you have to literally catch them in the act of destruction in order to distract them . Re the raw hide , I personally don't like them for my dogs , maybe leave him with a filled kong with is much safer ?
     
  4. Looby Lou

    Looby Lou Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    We have chewing issues when we are at work, so far it's been the woodwork and the walls in the kitchen. I leave an array of toys and treats when I leave in the morning, including a kong ball with treats in, kong bone with treats in, a nylabone with low fat Mayo spread on it and frozen. They chew on the afternoons, so I lleave giant frozen stuffed Kongs for whoever does the lunchtime visits. This worked for a period of time the they started again, so I now leave a plastic bottle with no lid, and a pile of old paper like letters we don't need, on the kitchen worktop for them to 'steal' lol. Fingers crossed this seems to have worked. Jack & Barney are 1 in a fortnight, so I'm hoping they will grow out of this bit of chewing soon....., ::)

    Lou x
     
  5. JulieT

    JulieT Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    What is Rolo's routine in generl?

    One walk and two short 5 min training sessions doesn't sound like a lot of activity for a 9 month old dog - the chewing might be due to boredom?

    I don't think a dog needs unrestricted access to a garden (Charlie has no unrestricted access to the garden, I always go with him otherwise he disassembles the water irrigation system), or entertaining all day, but you might want to up Rolo's activities. I don't mean in the form of more intense exercise, as he is still young, but more lead walking training, more training in general, and a range of different outings and new experiences perhaps. Plus kongs and safe games in the house and garden will all help.
     
  6. Oberon

    Oberon Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    My dog Obi doesn't wreck stuff but even so he's usually only out in the garden when we are. Otherwise he's inside the house. Provided Rolo gets enough mental activity (and it does sound like he needs a bit more) he shouldn't need constant access to the garden.
     
  7. Rolokris

    Rolokris Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    Wow. Ok I thought I was doing enough but yes I see I need to do more. Need to come up with some ways to mentally stimulate him.
     
  8. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    I wouldn't let mine in the garden alone - I think any dog would dig and chew in those circumstances :)
     
  9. Naya

    Naya Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    We play hide the treats which can take a good 5 mins as I hide them under pillows, under and in her toys etc. I use barker and barker treats as they are such low calorie intake and can use around 150 per day . I also spend time getting her to sit and hiding her ball in another room, then sending her to find it. Just a few suggestions that might help keep his mind occupied
     
  10. maisiesmomma

    maisiesmomma Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    If you work on a wait command (basically the same thing as "stay", but when I say stay I expect her to stay where she is until I return, wait she is released and can go do something else, i.e. find a treat) you can use this to occupy him with minimal effort on your part. I use this to get Maisie out of the way when she is bored, or I'm cooking. On your spot is definitely another good one you could use, but this is not bad for chores, etc.

    Ask dog to wait - throw treat - ignore dog for a bit, if you practice you can get this up to quite a bit of wait time (several minutes, we're about maybe a minute right now) and then release the dog to get the treat. Then do it again. The treat can be a piece of kibble, so no worries about calories, etc.

    What about some puzzle toys he can throw about to get treats out? Some kongs? Those would also help with occupying him :).

    Maisie gets more walk time than he does and she is 2 months younger. Adding another walk, even a short one would help! Could you spare the time for even another 10 minute walk? Sometimes getting out and seeing different sights can be really helpful to just change up what they're thinking, see new things, etc, without spending too much of your time if you can't afford to spend more time.
     
  11. Rolokris

    Rolokris Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    Wow some great ideas thank you. I can fit in more walks through his day no problem. Saw a real improvement yesterday I was busy all day ironing mowing the lawn etc he followed me everywhere then whilst I made tea the kids played football with him. After our tea he just slept! So today because I am out this morning after 9am I will take him for a leaded walk for 15 minutes when I return around 12 I will take him for his long off lead walk (which I can now up to 45 mins because he is now a month older) then later on play some find it and wait games then perhaps a short walk around early evening time.

    Kris
     
  12. rubyrubyruby

    rubyrubyruby Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    I really wouldn't recommend leaving any dog in a garden whilst not being at home, aside from the fact that they could be stolen, they could do themselves real damage by eating and chewing things they shouldn't. I also think Rolo is bored and although he doesn't need hours of walking he does need company. How long is he left every day ? Unfortunately at 9 months you have reached a testing time in a young Labradors life, otherwise know as the teenage phase!! I have a human in this stage of life and my god its testing me!!!

    Increase mental stimulation and fill a kong and freeze it, much harder work to get the food reward this way.


    Chloe
     
  13. Beanwood

    Beanwood Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    Benson invariably gets up to mischief if left to his own divices in the garden ;D


    http://youtu.be/d8G5_RljleQ
     
  14. Naya

    Naya Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    Lol
     
  15. Rolokris

    Rolokris Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    He's not left alone outside whilst I am out I am just not in the garden with him! He has the run of the kitchen when he is alone and never left for more than 3 hours and left with a few kongs. He has company the majority of the time. I'm sorry this reply is probably coming across defensively.
     
  16. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    [quote author=Rolokris link=topic=10815.msg161223#msg161223 date=1430824347]
    He's not left alone outside whilst I am out I am just not in the garden with him! He has the run of the kitchen when he is alone and never left for more than 3 hours and left with a few kongs. He has company the majority of the time. I'm sorry this reply is probably coming across defensively.
    [/quote]

    Not at all :)

    What I meant was, I go out with them or watch them as they are not to be trusted digging/chewing wise.

    I cured Gypsy of trying to chew a particular tree by putting Vicks Vapour Rub on it, but I know that's not PC round here ;) But I don't mind using it as it really does deter her and she would never lick it - other dogs may be different :)
     
  17. bbrown

    bbrown Moderator Forum Supporter

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    I wander in and out while my dogs are in the garden, they usually follow me inside, but I wouldn't leave them for any length of time unaccompanied. I worry too much about theft and I'm not sure I'd have a garden left to come back to and I definitely have some things in there they shouldn't eat!!!! They also don't really exercise if left on their own, they lie in the sun or find something to chew so while it's a change of scene it doesn't achieve much else and it certainly doesn't tire them or help them settle in any way.

    I have a 9 month old spaniel so I'll share a typical day (it's not very different to yours)

    He goes in the garden first thing for pees and poos, then we do 3 - 5 minutes outside training, his reward is food mine's a cup of tea as I've put the kettle on before training ;)
    After my breakfast I walk the big dog and Obi has a kong in his crate.
    I may do another few minutes when we get back or I may settle straight down to work. I expect the dogs to settle down while I work, they may wrestle for a bit first.
    Nearing lunchtime and he goes out for a 20 min lead walk to work on his manners and to keep exposing him to traffic and passers by.
    Both dogs play in the garden for 5 - 10 minutes together.
    More work for me with a sandwich at my desk.
    Mid to late afternoon depending on the weather (he gets hot quickly!) we'll either head out to train on a field doing some hunting or a chosen spot (garden or enclosed field) for some retrieving OR we'll just do another 3 - 5 mins inside clicker training something.
    Bit more work and then toddler comes home. Dogs wander around sharing the love while everyone comes home and they hang out waiting for dropped food because I never feed them ::)
    Another training session (the opposite of earlier) and a second walk for the big dog.
    Dinner for the big people and probably another 5 mins for the dogs at some point in the evening.

    The training is hard work mentally and sometimes physically. I don't take him for a walk per se......he's not really built like that. He's too into everything so if we're interacting we're training and subsequently he's tired.

    The other things I do include tiny little training as I'm chopping the carrots or whatever. Just a sit stay or a couple of sends to his mat......tiny little things but they all help ;D
     
  18. Rolokris

    Rolokris Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    Thank you so much Barbara. You have definitely inspired me to fill his days with more interactive sessions with me. [quote author=bbrown link=topic=10815.msg161229#msg161229 date=1430825972]
    I wander in and out while my dogs are in the garden, they usually follow me inside, but I wouldn't leave them for any length of time unaccompanied. I worry too much about theft and I'm not sure I'd have a garden left to come back to and I definitely have some things in there they shouldn't eat!!!! They also don't really exercise if left on their own, they lie in the sun or find something to chew so while it's a change of scene it doesn't achieve much else and it certainly doesn't tire them or help them settle in any way.

    [/quote]

    I totally agree, my thoughts were that if he was to roam around the garden in the sun he wouldn't be as bored as sat in the house. I see I am looking at it from the wrong perspective tho as if he was more mentally stimulated his time in the house would be resting as he would be more tired.

    Thank you for your great advice.
     
  19. Rolokris

    Rolokris Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=10815.msg161217#msg161217 date=1430821724]
    Benson invariably gets up to mischief if left to his own divices in the garden ;D


    http://youtu.be/d8G5_RljleQ
    [/quote]

    Bless! Lol!
     
  20. rubyrubyruby

    rubyrubyruby Registered Users

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    Re: Feeling guilty and garden time.

    Sorry, I read your post as that he had free access to the garden when he was left on his own!! Whoops!

    We have quite a large garden and secure field but my dogs don't really go out unless I am with them but that is through their choice not mine. I would love mine to have additional 'exercise' themselves in the garden but it just doesn't happen unless I instigate something!

    As I said before a 9 month old lab is not an easy creature to keep occupied !!

    Chloe
     

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