Dog Questiom

Question
Hello!
I have a 9 month old Lab/Pointer/Golden Mix.
He is VERY out-going and hyper you might say. If I let him run in the morning before I go to school,(AND when I get home from schoool)and that tires him down- will he not be as hyper and willing to nip at my 7 yr old Golden, and jump or nip at myself or family? (He does go to Obedience class too- starts aging in April)

Should I have him kenneled all day or can I just let him be 'free' on our farm? But if he starts to run to the neighbors or go down our drive-way then should I keep him kenneled? What about when company come? (He is not an indoor dog) Then should I put him in his crate? Then when we are done let him go?....

What kind of toys are best for him? Tennis balls?
He WILL tear up different things like those toys that have cotton in them or those plastic ones.

What should I do if he starts tearing up, say, our TV cable that is outside, starts to dig, tears up anything outside? Can I get that 'Pet Training Aide' that you can get at Wal-Mart or the Pet Stores, its like Sour Apple or some nasty smelling thing? Can I use water and vinigar? Then spray on those areas that is likes to chew most? (He has not done that in a while but he MIGHT get the great idea again).

What kind of dog food should he be eating? Like what brand is best? I use Ol' Roy, but should I get higher quality food?...

How often should I wash and groom him? Every Saturday?
Can I just have him stand by out water-hydrent and use warm/cool water to bathe him? And then use the 'Special Pet Shampoo'? Or should I put him on a table?... What about his ears? How can I clean his ears? He does have some mucus in them and I try and get it out with some water and vinigar mixed...but should he see the vet or get the 'Commercial' ear cleaners?

I think that is it! Thanks!! --Kyle

Answer
Hello again Kyle thanks for emailing again,

He would be very hyper right now... my labrador retrevier never started to calm down until she was over a year old... jumping wildy on everyone ect. I reccomend keeping him penned somehow in your area... if he goes up the road he may get hit by a car or attack someones animals or get skunked or bitten by w cyote or something. I reccomend keeping him crated only when really nesasiry not when people come over because he wants to see them too, If he is outdoors and the friends indoors also theres no problme don't crate him for hours on end unless you Really need to do so. I reccomend a food called athority it can be bought at petsmart stores if you can not get this try Purina one or the Acturim from walmart... all are much better quaility and by the way he needs to be on puppy food for another 6/8 months to keep him growing properly. I reccomend Kong/Durible Nyla bone toys avalible at pet store or walmart, THey are very strong and will stand up to almost anything. Nyla bone has just come out with a dental durible bone my dogs love it. These brand toys are expensive but are worth it, I've bought tyhe cheaper inmation ones and my dogs shreaded them but the kongs/nyla bones we will have for years to come unless they witle away the ends of the nylabone over the next 8/9 months(it happens lol) Tennise balls shouldnt be left laying around he will tear them up and swollow bits and cause blockages same thing with stuffed toys. Try playing frizbie with him sometime he may excel at it. Letting him run in the morning/evening is a great idea... but just leaving him outdoors to sit there wont work, Go run with him. I reccomedn bathing Only when you need to over bathing causes the natural oils in the coat and skin to disapete causing skin irrations/problmes. I personaly only bath my indoor pet dogs every 2/3 months or more offen if they got into garbage or something. Be sure to use dog shampoo if you use anything else you risk skin irrations. His ears... I reccomend leaving them be they are downy ears I assume(?) wash him upto the back of his head first then wash his head/chin/ears... if you do it before the rest of him he will shake and get you soaked lol plus they dont seem to like there heads being wet. You can try the outdoor pet repelnets from walmart,. You do need to clean his ears out about once a week, use q-tips/cotton balls for this, I made the mistake thinking the ears only eneded to be cleand every now and then... my dogs got yeast infections in there ears... which required vet treatment and expensise, Just letting you know so it doesnt happen to you as well. The repelents are made for outdoors and are pet safe, I saw them in my walmart over by bug sprays/wasp killers. I think I've covered it all if not just wright me again, Have fun with that puppy.

Tara