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  1. #1
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    Angry Destructive Behavior questions for a 1 year old lab

    I am new to this site sorry if i posted in the wrong spot.

    I have a total of 4 labs but only 1 is becoming a problem. He is 1 year old and still very much a puppy. I got him from a person about 2 months ago they stated they just didn't have the time for him and wanted him gone so i decided to take a look at him and he was very well behaved except he didn't know how to walk on a leash. he also came with his crate.


    My story: Everything was fine for the first 2 weeks and then it started.
    Excessive barking
    Digging
    Chewing of everything.
    Breaking out of his cage
    jumping property fence.


    Gunner has the whole property (1 acre) with the other dogs to run and play all day as well as me and my children are outside for 80% of the day everyday with them playing. He has started to jump the fence and take off and at night he is crated with my other dogs. all the dogs have the right size cage and none of them ever have a problem going in and laying down. He has destroyed his cage and broke it beyond repair to get out and destroyed everything he could get to. we bought another cage that is stronger and sure enough he broke both doors on it and chewed the plastic tray in the bottom so we decided to lock all possible exits with locks and he still broke the welds of the bottom and bent it like a taco and escaped. we have tried letting him sleep in a room by himself and with us but he chewed our bed carpet and walls. I do not want to give up on him and rehome him i want to help him.
    Does anybody have any advise? I am getting really frustrated with him. Oh and he is neutered as well so im not sure why he is taking off.


    Thanks

  2. #2
    House Broken AlexS's Avatar
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    He lives outside?

  3. #3
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    sorry i wasn't clear but no he doesn't live outside all of my dogs can come and go inside or outside as they please but at night they all come in and are crated for bed time. normally when i come in the house all dogs follow and when im outside they follow as well they are by my side most of the day.

  4. #4
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    sorry i wasn't clear but no he doesn't live outside all of my dogs can come and go inside or outside as they please but at night they all come in and are crated for bed time. normally when i come in the house all dogs follow and when im outside they follow as well they are by my side most of the day.

  5. #5
    House Broken AlexS's Avatar
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    I would say you need to limit his freedom if he is acting that crazy. Obviously the other owners did not train him much at all.

  6. #6
    Real Retriever
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    Shoot, lost my post!!!

    At one year old, he has a lot of energy and needs a job to do. Sounds like he needs some one on one time for training. I would think he is running away because he is bored and looking for action! You need to provide him with that action at home.

  7. #7
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ashley8908 View Post
    I am new to this site sorry if i posted in the wrong spot.

    I have a total of 4 labs but only 1 is becoming a problem. He is 1 year old and still very much a puppy. I got him from a person about 2 months ago they stated they just didn't have the time for him and wanted him gone so i decided to take a look at him and he was very well behaved except he didn't know how to walk on a leash. he also came with his crate.

    My story: Everything was fine for the first 2 weeks and then it started.
    Excessive barking
    Digging
    Chewing of everything.
    Breaking out of his cage
    jumping property fence.

    Gunner has the whole property (1 acre) with the other dogs to run and play all day as well as me and my children are outside for 80% of the day everyday with them playing. He has started to jump the fence and take off and at night he is crated with my other dogs. all the dogs have the right size cage and none of them ever have a problem going in and laying down. He has destroyed his cage and broke it beyond repair to get out and destroyed everything he could get to. we bought another cage that is stronger and sure enough he broke both doors on it and chewed the plastic tray in the bottom so we decided to lock all possible exits with locks and he still broke the welds of the bottom and bent it like a taco and escaped. we have tried letting him sleep in a room by himself and with us but he chewed our bed carpet and walls. I do not want to give up on him and rehome him i want to help him.

    Does anybody have any advise? I am getting really frustrated with him. Oh and he is neutered as well so im not sure why he is taking off.

    Thanks
    At a year old, most dogs are still very much puppies, but if he is in a home where he is not receiving what he needs to be a well-mannered pet, chances are that 1. he is immature for his age and 2. there is a good chance that he has had zero direction and has made his own rules and created ways to combat boredom. There is also a good chance that he has some issues, possibly genetic. People who give up their one year old dog because they don't have time for him "and want him gone" generally purchased the pup on a whim which means that he's most likely from a puppymill or BYB, which simply means he was most likely not bred for temperament.

    Four dogs is a lot of dogs and I'm sure it's hard to give him individual attention. It also sounds like you don't run a "tight ship" as far as the dogs go, which this dog may need. I only say that because he is chewing, digging, etc. and it sounds like, even though you're home, you're not necessarily supervising him. Like others have mentioned, I believe this dog has too much freedom and is unable to handle it. He also needs a job, which will help tremendously. Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF - google it) would be a great plan for this guy. Probably would not hurt to have all the dogs doing NILIF. It is just easier that way.

    Since he had a rough and slow start to his life, he needs individual attention and training, and someone to start all over with him, like he is a new puppy. He needs to learn the rules and boundaries. This will also help you bond and he may be less likely to jump the fence. He should not be unsupervised, left in the yard alone whether you are home or not, and he should have clear rules. The taking off part is probably self-rewarding. He gets to run, sniff, maybe play with other dogs, pee on stuff, and perhaps at one point during his adventures, he even found something good to eat. This may be a difficult one to break, unfortunately.

  8. #8
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    High energy dogs need to let off steam and they need a schedule. I would enroll in obedience class with the dog first to get the basics under control. Then you need to set aside time every day, rain or shine, just time with him for retrieving or ball chasing...whatever he will do. At least 1/2 hour. This won't be a total cure for all the problems but it's part of the fix.

  9. #9
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    sounds like he needs structure. some dogs do well with freedom and unsupervised time. But at 1 year of age and having been bounced around (and likely not taught some basics behaviours) he is a puppy with no clue what is expected of him.

    Structure: you need to supervise him and ensure to set him up for success. this may mean not letting him outside alone and crating when you can't supervise indoors (or tether if you are moving about). He likely needs some mental exericse and bonding with you as well. I would also inclde structured exercise (fetching, walks, ect.)

    Regarding being good for two weeks - that's the honeymoon period. VERY typical for a dog to be "on their best behaviour" for a bit THEN as they become comfrtalbe, start testing what they can do and trying new things (new to you, generally old learned and practiced behaviours). Two months is still very early days for a dog integrating into a new family. He still needs to bond with you guys via training and structure (you guys - the humans)

    Crate: he is good in the crate at night? is he breaking out when left alone? he may need some desensitization. where is he in respect to the other dogs when crated (and humans leave)? and yes structure, predicatable routine where he learns this is crate time and you come back after X time.

  10. #10
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Woodrow_Woodchuck View Post
    At one year old, he has a lot of energy and needs a job to do.
    People often mention that a person's dog "needs a job to do". Could someone please give some examples? Not all dogs are herders, for example, not all dogs live to retrieve. I can walk my dogs wearing a backpack (them, not me) but that lasts for as long as the walk or hike and they don't view it as a job. One of my dogs will go out and bring in the newspaper, two minutes, if that. Perhaps if people give some concrete examples of jobs that a dog might do, it could clarify the recommendation a bit.

    My approach to unwanted behavior is to try to increase exercise time, running around, not just walking on a leash. If your dog doesn't like to retrieve, check out some of the suggestions for making that more fun (e.g. Snowshoe's north-south fetching) or try different items to see what lights them up the most, like a soccer ball, or a tennis ball, or a frisbee, a stick, a bumper. Some dogs prefer some items to others. Once you find what they'll go after, even a few shorter sessions throughout the day can help take the edge off the energy.
    Sue

    Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
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    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

    Mary Oliver, Hidden Content

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