Help with Chewing Problem

Question
Hello,
We have a ylw lab that lately (well 2yrs now) has been destroying the house.  He is 5 years old and when he was younger we did the puppy training classes as well as continued on with general obedience classes.  He is kept inside during the day and we have never had a problem till about 2 yrs ago when he chewed several remotes but did not touch anything else left out.  We hid the remotes and after a few weeks they came out again with no problems.  Things would be good for a few weeks and then the cycle would start over.  
Only recently it has gotten worse and he started taking random items off the counter or chewing things in the living room.  I have no idea how to discipline him to stop or why he is doing this to begin with.  Please help.
Thank you for your time,
Binh


Answer
Hi Binh,
This is a typical problem with labs.  They are high energy dogs that do not (usually) get  enough excercise.   Do you take him for long walks making him stay by your side?   Well that is one of the tricks.  Remember, he is a retriever and is supposed to carry things in his mouth.  That is what he was bred for, so that is what he is doing to begin with.  Then he becomes bored and is not expending enough energy so he chews.   Soooooo

Get him a vitamin and mineral suppliment.  Make sure that he has nothing physical causing him to chew.

1    get him some of those toys that you put food in and he has to figure out how to get it out.

2    get him a bunch of chew toys that are safe to leave, BUT  only leave him 2 at a time.   Put the others away and switch them out every day.

3  take him for long walks disciplining him to stay by your side the whole time.  Put a back pack on him and put several bottles of water in there so he has to work a little harder on the walk.

4  if the above doesn't work   then during the day crate him with his toys until he gets over this.   Remember, only two or three toys a day and switch out.
good luck  
nancy