Bit of a vent....

Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by Atemas, Oct 18, 2017.

  1. T Reischl

    T Reischl Registered Users

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    WOW! Just WOW!!!!

    Obviously there are huge differences in these guys. Murph had his chewing phase for sure. Wrecked his first bed, just destroyed it. A cardboard box did not have a prayer of surviving. I was building our workshop when he was a pup so he would be out there with me and he got to chew lots of stuff like really heavy duty cardboard, chunks of scrap wood and he wanted to chew up my shoelaces every time I sat down for a bit.

    But that all passed by the time he was a year old. Nowadays he just raids the laundry basket for socks and underwear but does not destroy them. His special treat is wrapping paper on holidays. He will reduce all wrapping paper to pieces no larger than about 1 inch. We let him do it since he does not destroy anything else around the house.

    One thing we were very, VERY careful of was to not turn it into a game. We both did the same thing, if he got something he was not supposed to have we just walked over, calmly took it away, gave him something else and walked away, saying nothing.
     
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  2. Aella

    Aella Registered Users

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    I’m yet to get my lab, :eek: is the chewing that bad, will be watching esme like a hawk when she is aloud in living room. Fortunately I have a gate to stop my 3 year old accessing other rooms lol
     
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  3. Kelsey&Axel

    Kelsey&Axel Registered Users

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    For me yes :rolleyes: everytime I was like ok, he hasn’t gone for anything for a few weeks, I trust him now. Then I would leave him and his response was basically ‘you fool:devil:

    It’s been a month and a half so I’m thinking of maybe leaving him again and seeing what happens, but I’m a bit scared:cwl:
     
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  4. selina27

    selina27 Registered Users

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    Well I know I have been very lucky in this with Cass, as she has not been destructive at all, in the way of major or dangerous things. But, and it is a big but, she has had a fascination for my glasses. Not one, not two, but three pairs of prescription glasses have gone by the wayside. The optician says it's very common and you can claim it on your house insurance.
    Imagine my horror yesterday when she appeared in the living room door way wagging her tail and dangling the current pair by an earpiece and advanced towards me (aghast and frozen to the sofa) ... and very proudly PUT THEM IN MY LAP !! She's never had such a big hug :)
     
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  5. JenBainbridge

    JenBainbridge Registered Users

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    It does sound as though we've been quite lucky with Stanley.

    The only things Stanley has chewed was a tiny corner or skirting board and a tiny bit of my kitchen unit. He's had a few beds of his and always destroys his toys. But generally I can leave him and rest safe in the knowledge my house will be ok *touch wood*.

    Although.. I did just buy a Hedwig cushion but decided it might be better of living on the bed rather than the couch. Might prove too tempting for little teeths..

    IMG_9338.JPG
     
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  6. Aitch

    Aitch Registered Users

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    Amber has been the most destructive dog I've ever had. My garden has been nearly leveled, furniture chewed, books destroyed and clothes torn. Thankfully I love my dogs and could not be without them!
     
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  7. Aella

    Aella Registered Users

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    Having had half my garden landscaped earlier this year, I intend to put a fence with a gate so puppy/dog cannot access it. Fortunately i have enough space for esme to have half the garden to herself when she is bigger
     
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  8. Jacqueline Mckendrick

    Jacqueline Mckendrick Penny and me

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    I feel your pain
    My specs were destroyed.
    I had just got 2 new pair and found them both twisted and beyond repair.
    As i write this i am currently wearing specs that i have had to join together with sticky tape. I am looking through scratches and bits missing. I am first name terms with my optician haha
     
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  9. Shaz82

    Shaz82 Registered Users

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    Sorry, I don't understand that last line - calmly took it away??

    It takes 2 of us and a kilo bag of treats or sausages or cheese, then at least 2 hours of lunging, pretending not to actually want what they have in their mouth, walking away, lunging again and finally swearing at the top of our lungs and leaping at full pelt in a swoop that any goalkeeper would be proud of to get anything back.
     
  10. Jacqueline Mckendrick

    Jacqueline Mckendrick Penny and me

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    I dont have a large garden but i loved keeping it tidy with my flowered border and large plants...well now its a disaster with urine burned grass and mulchy parts where Penny has dug..my flowers and plants are stumps ..ah well i still wouldn't be without her ..i will sort it bext summer
     
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  11. T Reischl

    T Reischl Registered Users

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    I hear you!

    What I meant by calmly:

    Just walk up slowly, no fast movements. Slowly reach down, SLOWLY. His head would turn to keep it away. We would not go after it. Eventually we could touch the piece. Then very very slight pressure to remove it from his mouth. I am talking a patience game, this process could take a few minutes. The idea was to not turn it into a game.

    My feeling is that doing what you are doing is GREAT FUN for them. Have to take the FUN out of it. Not sure what you are going to do now because they are probably dead certain you will eventually rise to the bait.

    BTW, Murphy still likes to play keep-away with us, it is great fun for him. But we do it with knotted up ropes and the occasional stick he grubs up from somewhere.

    More importantly, how come you are only letting the dogs have all the fun? You need to make some video's of the antics going on in your house. Sharing is good!

    "
     
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  12. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

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    I have a puppy (a few days shy of a year old) who likes to take things, especially when she feels like she's been ignored too long. I just work really hard on her "give", give her masses of praise and treats when she does hand me something. This morning, she took a teaspoon off the side, walked up to me and presented it. Last week, she took a wooden spoon, which I wanted more (it's my only one) and, because she sensed this, she wanted to extend the game. I had to just walk away and engage one of my other dogs in a game, so she came up, I could ask her to "give" and reward her. Squidge really feeds off attention, so I have to be careful to not give her any attention when she's being mischievous.
     
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  13. selina27

    selina27 Registered Users

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    Hence the appeal of my specs, guaranteed reaction.
     
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  14. Shaz82

    Shaz82 Registered Users

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    Maisy will also 'give' but usually only in a retrieve situation, as part of 'fetchit' then 'give' then reward. If she is in mischievous mood with a sock or stone then you've no chance! Then it is a game and not working so I tend to ignore her, walk away, no attention etc. (I was slightly exaggerating before with the goaly swoop!!)
    She also loves presenting us with things, walking from one to the other but not quite letting us have what she has brought us, a common behaviour I think.
     
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  15. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

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    That's why you have to train for it - it's hard, but you can get there. My puppy didn't start off bringing me everything, believe me :D
     
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  16. Tori_lizzie

    Tori_lizzie Registered Users

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    I know exactly how you feel! Max just chewed both of the back seatbelts in my moms new landrover!!!!
     
  17. Atemas

    Atemas Registered Users

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    Oh Lordy - these dogs :mad:.
     
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