hi!

[Jenjen2626]

I understand dog/baby proofing, but it's impossible! I never thought he would eat the remotes. Once he did, we try to keep them out of his reach. He will sneak up and grab it. He finds something! The toilet brush, the bathroom garbage can. We put shoes up, we keep everything we can out of his reach, but again he will find something! This is not occurring when we are gone only, he will do it right in front of me. And like I said before, he knows he isn't allowed because he's sneaky when he does it. He goes out in the morning about 7am, we play fetch and he runs for about 30-45 min. When my daughter gets home from school around 2 she walks him. He of course has indoor play, and does go out in between those times. He's a digger, so I have a dirt pile so he digs in it not my yard, but he spends alot of time digging as well. Around 6-7 he's outside with me for another 30-45min again. My 6 yr old nephew is here 5 nights a week so with him and my 2 kids, they run around and we all play tug, and he runs after his ball in the house too. So even when in the house, he still plays. It's not alot of room but he does run around some. Maybe should add another walk. With the weather now, I don't think I could last longer than 45 min at a time. They also sent an advisory not to have animals out for longer than 30 min when temps are 32 and below. I think it's meant for people who leave their animals out all the time. But it is 3 right now here!! So we only stayed out this morning for a half hour. So it differs from day to day the amt of exercise he gets.

[Tanya]

ok so physical exercise seems good. i would maybe start working in more MENTAL exercise. short training sessions as recommended above, maybe make eating time brain time (use kibble for the training sessions, play hide and seek or other games, train a new command, use interactive toys for feeding like kongs or kong wobbler or tug a jug or whatnot).

I would crate when no one is around, but first start taking it out again and get him re-used to it. He will need more supervision when people around by managing where he can go. use baby gates or other, close doors. Have someone keep an eye on him. Sounds like with so many people in the house it's hard to keep track of him.

[Jenjen2626]

I will definitely try to implement more mental exercises. No, I don't believe he's hard to keep track of. He's always with someone as he doesn't want to be alone. I think he thinks he's one of the kids, so he runs with them. He is usually right with me or my daughter. I always say I should have named him Shadow, he's always following me around. If I go to put something in another room while cleaning he follows me. If I'm upstairs I tell him I'm just running down, I'll be right back. Just stay. He follows. One example, he was laying down. My son got me this funky little rubber ring that looks like a ball. He saw it, he tried to grab it i told him no. He tried again I told him no. He laid back down. He slowly crept closer to me. Close enough he laid his head on my leg. Then inched up closer to my hand. He sniffed it. Then laid his head RIGHT next to it. He put his mouth on it, I said no. He put his head down. I dont think he realized it was attached to my hand so he'd just set his mouth on it, I'd say no.It was like so sneaky how he tried to get it. He knows he's not supposed to but is trying anyway. He's a sly bugger. Most of the time we can catch him before, but as I said he's pretty slick so it becomes a chase. I've read things that say when they do something like this take the object off of them and give them a toy or whatever theyre allowed to chew and I have been doing that too.

[Tanya]

train a command such as "leave it", and use leave it rather than "no". No can mean a great number of things that are not always clear to a dog. you may also need to train "drop it". Leave it for example can mean "do not touch that" while "drop it" woudl mean "release/let-go whatever is in your mouth".

[Jenjen2626]

I will try leave it! I do tell him drop it. He will just look at me on guard ready to take off if I move at him. If I get a treat he reluctantly will drop it for food. But I feel like that is like reinforcing the behavior somewhat. Drop it is what we definitely need to work on

[Laura]

I don't believe in neutering to correct what I see as behavioral and oversight problems. I know that he steals right in front of you, and I know that is frustrating. Believe me, I know from experience. Theo is a notorious kleptomaniac. I've never had a dog that enjoyed the stealing/chasing game more than he does. It's a game to him and he steals just to get me to engage in that type of play with him. I've not lost anything of value, primarily because I try to keep everything out of his reach, but it is still frustrating.
Here's what my house ends up looking like...remotes on the top edge of the TV, toilet tissue put in the cabinet under the sink, no trash can in the bathroom, bottle of soap in the medicine cabinet, keys/wallet on top shelf of wine rack, shoes always behind a closed door, and kids (nieces and nephew) know that any toys left in the floor are fair game. I try to keep him cordoned off in whatever area I am in. If I cannot watch him, he is crated. If he steals something that will not hurt him or cause great despair if broken, I let him have it until he loses interest.
I give him raw femur bones to chew on. I have also invested in MANY food/treat dispensing toys and part of his daily kibble goes in those. I alternate them so he doesn't get bored. Yesterday, he spent 45 minutes trying to figure out how to shake 12 pieces of kibble and a cookie out of a toy. I work hard to get him exercise and keep his little brain busy so he doesn't try to occupy himself. I feel you. Having a stealer is frustrating and I remember a few days when Theo was your pup's age that I actually prayed for bedtime to come sooner.

[sparky]

[QUOTE=Maxx&Emma;106461]Get enrolled in an obedience class ASAP! Preferably not at PetSmart if at all possible. Check with your local Lab club to ask for recommendations.

Not to argue, but we took Mocha to PetsSmart puppy class and had a great instructor. She raised and trained German Shepherds. We learned way more than Mocha. She taught us how to train. An example: DW would tell Mocha NO but she would be smiling. The instructor pointed things like this out to us. I guess it depends what kind on instructor you get.

[Jenjen2626]

Sounds just like my Sampson!! From what everyone is saying, he needs more stimulation. He does have a Kong, but I will get him more toys that will put him to work!! Thanks!

[Jenjen2626]

I am not against Pet Smart at all. I was just told it wasn't what I was looking for by a friend. Like I said I read nothing but good reviews on our local site. And the person I knew that actually took their dog there had nothing but good to say about the trainer. Maybe I will give them a call too.

[Laura]

Some favorites:
Starmark Bob-A-Lot
Planet Dog Orbee
Kong Wobbler
Busy Buddy Magic Mushroom
West Paw Tizzi (Good to stuff rabbit roll or turkey sausage bits in the hole.)
Bionic Stuffer

+/-:
Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug (Either pours out or yields nothing, and the dog loses interest.)
Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble (Dog likes it but have to tape it because he can unscrew it. Now knows to peel tape off as well.
JW Pet Holee Treat Ball (Doesn't hold enough.)
Petlinks Tricky Treater (LOVED this one but Theo can unscrew it and it won't stay taped. The threads also break easily.)

Ones that were not as successful:
Omega Paw Tricky Treater
Buster Cube (Just slides on the floor.)
Various puzzles (Theo just picked them up and dumped them.)