chewers and diggers

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Wow, you are thorough.  Thanks so much for the great advice.  I love the mousetrap idea.  I have gone through 4 plastic register covers in the last 3 weeks, they don't eat them, just bust them up.  God only knows why?  These are spoiled dogs, as are most labs.  I totally agree with the crate idea, but only have one and have an incredibly small home.  Other than the register covers, they usually only chew outside, (small bushes, etc).  I have recently removed all temptation and even put a chain link fence inside the already fenced in yard.  They have a very large play and rest area.  They are watched and never outside or without supervision for more than 10 min at a time, so they can't be bored or lonely?
B.J.
Hi
I have two darlings.  One purebred field lab, full of pis and vinegar, loves to dig small holes in the yard.  Then I rescued a yellow boy, (very English) from the pound and he digs holes damn near to China.  Tried everything to get them to stop.  Any ideas?
Answer -
Dogs that are left to themselves in a fenced area often dig holes and most people are not successful in training them not to.  People have tried burying balloons or the dogs feces.  I have tried putting rocks on the spot.  Trouble is, the dogs just go dig else where.  

More workable is to give them less access to the yard, either with a small outdoor kennel, or crating them inside when you aren't around.  The crate is sort of hard on the dog if nobody can give them a mid day break.  The outdoor kennel must have shade in the summer and shelter in the winter.

You mentioned chewing in the title, but not the body.  
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.

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.  Later 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.


Answer
You would have loved my Peggy.  She was field Lab stock too.  She was tall, fine boned and slender, dark and a red cast to her.  she had droopy eyes, and long ears.  I wondered if somebody snuck some bloodhound blood in their field Labs.  Peggy would carefully dump the dirt and house plants on the living room rug before eating the plastic pots.