Hello, I am new to the forum and I am really hoping to find guidance(before my husband loses his mind). I have a black lab who is now 10 months old. We have had him since he was 2 months old. I thought he would grow out of the whole chewing thing, but his bigger teeth allow him to chew bigger things. He has shredded his dog bed, chewed up my dining room table, two cushions off the sofa, the sofa frame, the wooden porch railings and the wooden trim around the door. He also chewed his doggie door up so his cat buddy could co.e through it easier. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hello, they can be chewy if not distracted or able to self settle. That's quite a bit of destruction though. When does he do it ? Is there a pattern ? What training and excerise are you doing with him ? It could all be linked ?
I think it is my fault. I am a truck driver and am on call 24/7. I never know when I'll be called or for how long I'll be gone. Some weeks I am home a lot and other weeks I am not. I have tried to determine why he does it and I think he is either bored or suffers separation anxiety. When my schedule was more set, he didn't chew on anything except my shoes. I made him a yard and gave him a doggie door. He gets a Barkbox every month so he has toys. When I am home he wants my constant attention, and I play with him. I try to get him to stay when I go to the bathroom but he is dedicated to following me everywhere. I do not allow him upstairs into my bedroom but he follows me everywhere else. Today he ate the ottoman so he has now chewed up every part of my sofa. I do not know what to do or what I am doing wrong
It sounds like a combination of separation anxiety and boredom. Probably by being alone alone to long, maybe due to your work schedule. Could you get a dog walker or use doggy day care if you are going to be out for a long time ?
