[candycandy]

His is a 1 year old lab - he has had many toys but that doesn't stop him chewing anything else he can find. It doesn't make any difference if he has been walked for hours a few times that day & the non-chew spray stuff doesn't work.
I have stopped buying him toys recently (even the ultra "strong" virtually "indestructable"ones (kongs ball of rope knots etc) as he destroys them totally, sometimes within the first 10 minutes & sometimes it takes him a couple of days. He has chewed his beds too so now at night when he is in the kitchen all he has is a blanket (which is ripped to shreads). He doesn't have any toys or even a bed anymore which I feel bad about but I can't keep giving him things to destroy within minutes!
I thought it used to be because he was teething & when his teeth had grown it would stop, but it hasn't.
Any advice please, I feel like I have tried everything.
Thanks.

[cougarfan06]

Your dog sounds like the dog from the book Marley and Me.. I would try and direct his chewing like doing obedience. You just have to catch him in the act of chewing and correct him. Maybe having a leash on in the house will help. The minute he looks at something to chew, Don't Let Him! Correct him then and give him something to chew on. keep at it. Also, consult your vet or a proffesional dog behavorist.

[beks]

I had the same problem with my dog, who is also about a year, welll 13 month old lab. When we would leave him alone in the house he would chew, boots, books, cd's,dvd's,anything really, even my coffee table!!!! i put pepper on the coffee table where he had chewed and he never chewed it after, he does have a kong, he used to have a rope toy but he distoyed that we went through 2 or 3 in like 2 weeks.!

We went away at christmas and he went to a really ince kennel for the time and since we have been back he has not chewed anything when we leave him alone, a part from last night he chewed one mitt. We usually try and clean up as much stuff as we can just incase, things that he would chew like books and cd's and stuff.

so i guess for my dog thankfully seems to have grown out of it.
When he did chew though if we were gone when we would get home we would take what he had chewed show him and tell him no. and he would not get a treat.. but if he didnt chew anything he got a treat.

[candycandy]

Some friends advise me to get things like bits of beef femur, or other chews.
Well, I'm afaid I have to get him a collar or leash. Anyone can find me a suitable one for a strong and stubborn dog like mine?

[candycandy]

Now, from what I've read, you shouldn't leave a martingale collar on a dog all the time. Is that true of all the designs? I'd like to have one that fits my dog nicely, and one that I wouldn't have to put on 4 times a day. Are any designs safe? Would you recommend nylon over leather? Personally, I love how leather feels on my arms, but what about dogs, do you think they'd appreciate it more than a nylon?

[Critter crazy]

I have also seen that Martingales should not be left on unattended, like a choke chain i guess. I prefer Nylon to leather, as Nylon is easier to clean,a nd osent, crack or shrink in water.

[beks]

I am not really sure what a Martingale is, on my dog we use a Gental lead, mostly just for when he goes for walks as he is VERY strong and no other coller works for him, but i was reading the book and it is also supost to be good for chewing and a few other things, the dog can still drink and eat and everything with it on, it takes a while for most dogs to get used to it, but it works like a charm for our dog. helps alot to have better control over my dog while walking i belive its nylon