Pet Information > ASK Experts > Dogs > Dog Breeds > Labrador Retrievers > Whining, chewing, and overall disobedient behavior

Whining, chewing, and overall disobedient behavior

20 9:35:59

Question
Hey labman! We have a 16 month old chocolate lab that we are literally at wits end with. Just a little back history on our dog, my boyfriend got him well before he and I moved in together from a friend of his, he's not neutered as of yet, but will be within the next 3-4 weeks when the next appointment is available. here's what's going on: first of all, he whines NON STOP! We both understand that he's going to whine if he's in pain, or needs to go outside for a bathroom break or if he's anxious, but he whines for no reason! We take him out for his normal walks for bathroom time...about 15-20 mins at a time, and he also goes out for a daily romp for about 30-60 mins everyday. Even with doing that, playing with him in the house and giving him attention, he still whines. We've also tried keeping him busy by giving him things to do like working on basic commands if we're doing things around the house and it still doesn't stop. The next thing is chewing: His chewing has been horrible to the extent of ripping up carpeting, eating movie cases, electronics, shoes, furniture, bedding, toys and just about everything else you can imagine. The problem is he's gotten sneaky, he won't do it when we're around, so it's hard to correct him for it when he's actually doing it. We've tried rawhides, crating, correcting, kongs filled with all different kong filling recipes, toys, treats, and he still does that whenever he has the chance. We've gotten to the point where he has to be in his crate whenever we're sleeping, not home, or can't keep an eye on him all the time. and then there's the other parts of his behavior: he'll bark when we leave him, he tries pushing his limits with us even when we give him basic commands like stay, sit, lay down, or go to your blanket/crate (both 2 areas are just "his space") and we both always sound like broken records because we have to tell him the same thing like a dozen times for him to listen! With that we've tried getting a professional trainer's suggestions, we've tried lure & reward, we've tried patience, we've tried lienience, we've tried crating, and a training collar, and a squirt bottle of water to reinforce when we say "no". In the past we would take him out to the woods and let him run free through the trails with us for a long time, and then he ran off once during mating season and now he tries to run off all the time, he still ignores us and tries to do whatever he wants to, we're both out of ideas, and it's getting to the point where we don't know what else to do with him, we've both had labs in the past and never had these kinds of issues....we love him and we want to help him and not have to keep him crated all the time and we certainly don't want to have to get rid of him...HELP!!!!

thanks,
troy & ashley
columbus, ohio

Answer
We have had 16 Labs plus seen a lot of many more.  A few years ago some of our friends were struggling with difficult puppies while our puppies were doing well.  It was not that we were that much better, we just had easier puppies.  So the past dogs you had were easier than the one you have now.  

Neutering him should help even it it takes a month to show much difference.  

When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys. In a quiet, but firm voice give it an ''Ah, ah, ah!''. Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of his toys.  Continue to crate it when you can't watch it.  Some dogs can be trusted alone younger than others.  

Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  The obedience training you have been doing should help.  A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

I have had limited experience with whining.  Responding to it about the same as above for chewing may help.  

It will take a while, but things will get better.