chewing and licking peoples plates when they are eating

Question
i have a 8 or 9 month old black lab male named bear and well lets say i should name him distructor. anyway i was asking what to do about chewing everything under the sun from boots to toilet lines. i dont want to get rid of him. hes not fixed so i thinking that might the reason why. also he has a habit of licking peoples plates when we are eating how do i stop that. also how do i clean his ears. i dont have the money right now to go to a vet. i would greatly appreciate your opinion and so would my shoes. thank you.

Answer
The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  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.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. 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/  Here are some other ways to to help establish yourself as top dog, http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

Once he know his commands and you are established as top dog, you should require him to lie quietly near or under the table while you eat.  Each time he gets up, correct him and make him lay down again.  It may help to keep the leash on for the meal.  That way you can give him a leash pop if he moves.  At his age it will take a while to break the bad habits he was allowed to form.  Getting him fixed will not fix the problem, but make other steps more effective.  

A mousetrap is very effective in making a dog leave something alone.  Most
dogs will stay away from anywhere they were surprised by a snap.  The best
part is that it is not you that is correcting the dog.  It works whether you
are around or not.  The mousetrap is very patient and is always on task as
long as you reset it.  Bitter Apple comes as a spray or cream.  Many dogs won't chew anything it was applied to.  

Better than mousetraps when you aren't around is the crate.  Other dogs may
not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with.  Still your house and dog
will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away.  The dog may be
happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its
den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic
ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  They are harder for
dogs to open too.    Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any
bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

Accidents and damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy.  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 ''Bad dog, its name drop!''.  Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of her toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.


A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding
time for more than one dog.

For the ears, mix about 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water.  If the outer part of the ear is ghastly, start with a cotton ball.  Otherwise, use Q-tips.  Soak the end and carefully clean the ear.  If you hold the ear up and out, you can work well back into it.