Destructive Black Lab

Question
Hi, I have a 18 month old male Black Labwho is neutered, who is absolutely wonderful apart from the fact that he is trying to destroy my yard. He lives outside during the day and in the past to control destructive behaviour I have had him tied-up while we are at work. I saw that tying him up was not a "normal" life for him, so on and off for the past year i've been letting him run free around the yard all day when we're both at work. We provide him with numerous toys, food treats that he has to work for (ie. knog ball filled with treats or food) and big chewing bones every couple of days. As well as this we walk him at least once a day for 40-60mins, and most days i take him for a strenuous run for 40-60 also. Now my problem is that whenever i let him roam free during the day he eats the shrubs in the garden. At present he is systematically destroying our plants one by one. When i come home i tell him off for destroying the plants, but i'm never there to see him doing it and catch him in the act. This has been going on for a while now, and i've started getting really angry at him, which i think is making him scared. I really love this dog, and want to find a way for us to live harmoniously together. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Answer
Dogs don't know the difference between sticks on the ground, and ones that are attached to your ornamental and possibly expensive landscaping.  Unfortunately, most dogs don't do well alone outdoors, isolated from their humans.  And, at 18 months, this dog is not yet through his second chewing phase, which, for Labs, tends to be lengthy.  Some chew until they are three years old.  They don't do it solely from boredom - they also *need* to chew to set their adult teeth into the jawbone.  Punishing him for something he is hardwired to do simply isn't fair.  If you want to protect the bushes, and still leave him outside (which is something I really don't recommend - there are still weirdo people who will poison him for barking, and there are thieves who will take dogs to sell to laboratories or dog fighters or simply to another home, and if you live where there are predators - well, three coyotes to one dog is a losing proposition for your dog (coyotes can easily top a six foot fence) then you can get some cheap deer fencing to restrict those areas.  Once he is past the Lab chewies, he may be more trustworthy outdoors.