Anyone Want A Lab?

[MrsJnuts]

I'm in a dilemma, our dog, a 2 yr. old lab is ripping up our back-yard. We bought this great house in Aug. w/ a beutiful landscaped but sm. backyard. We put her outside during the day , but yesterday I came home and 3 holes were dug and a tree uprooted. This has been the 3rd time she wrecked the yard, 3rd tree.

My hubby built a kennel but she barks all day when she's in it and we have close neighbors, we both really busy and she hardly ever gets taken on walks. I want her to go but my husband wants her and my kids cry when I talk about shipping her to a farm..... HUBBY TRAVELS ALOT AND THIS DOG IS HIGH MAINT. aNY SUGGESTIONS??

 

[jenscats5]

Look into behavoral therapy and/or Prozac.....seriously.... I've heard of destructive dogs being put on it....

 

[the-short-one]

I've owned labs all my life. They need lots of room to play and romp, and have seperation anxiety when left alone for long periods. You can either take time out each day for at least an hour to play ball and take her for a walk, or you might have to find someone who has more time for that big a dog.

Really, really nice dogs. I love labs.

 

[Gymgurl]

I love labs..great family dogs! Sounds like you need to spend more time with her..could you pay one of the neighbor kids to walk her daily...

 

[MrsJnuts]

I love labs..great family dogs! Sounds like you need to spend more time with her..could you pay one of the neighbor kids to walk her daily...

yes, don't get me wrong, she's a great family dog, but my kids are too little to walk and control her, its mainly up to me to walk her as my husband works all day and veg's at night. I'm going to look into getting a neighbor kid to walk her during the day. Thanx

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

I've owned labs all my life. They need lots of room to play and romp, and have seperation anxiety when left alone for long periods. You can either take time out each day for at least an hour to play ball and take her for a walk, or you might have to find someone who has more time for that big a dog.

Really, really nice dogs. I love labs.

exactly.. Labs are total people dogs & at 2 y.o., shes still a puppy. You really shouldnt leave her alone for more than a couple hrs.

 

[Raina]

Honestly I think most dogs are alone a decent portion of the time. Digging and being destructive like that can be a sign of separation anxiety though. You can turn to drugs if you think it necessary but there are also homeopaths that help (my sister's psycho wild cat is now calm as heck from homeopaths).

At puppy school they keep saying that it's the quality of time vs the quantity. As for barking, try spraying him in the face with water (we have a little spray bottle) and say "no bark". Very few dogs like it. It's nonviolent and can really help teach them to be quiet.

I'm sorry to hear he's wrecking your yard though. Some kind of training might help him or giving him lots and lots of stuff to do/play with when he's alone. Our dog went from being hysterical when we were at work or asleep to being totally fine with being in the kennel.