chewing shoes / bed / pillows when not home

No, he really doesn't know that it's wrong...he just knows that something he did ticks you off.
 
My dogs are crated when I'm out.  Period.  And I have german shepherds...not forever puppy labs.

In my experience (and I am not an expert, but grew up with labs) many labs tend to be chewy, and sometimes for a long time.  I would consider crating, once you crate train your pup, not just for the sake of your stuff, but for the sake of the dog's safety (who knows what he could chew up and swallow []!!).  
If you really don't want to crate, could you maybe dog-proof a room and confine your lab to a room, with only things that are appropriate to chew, when you are gone?  Wherever you choose to confine your dog, you might want to leave a few things that are appropriate for him to chew, chewing is natural for dogs and when there is nothing around that they should be chewing on, they tend to chew on things they shouldn't be chewing on, especially when they are bored, like when left alone... 

I agree with the others.  Crate your dog.

I don't think dogs should be crated all day, but dogs who destroy things do need to be confined. Every time a dog practices a bad behavior he gets better at it. I'd doggy-proof a room and leave him there. Then watch him carefully when you are home. Reward any and all behaviors that don't involve destroying the house. Make sure he has appropriate stuff to chew on and destroy, though. Bringing home a cheap stuffie every now and again and encouraging the dog to tear it to shreds (use a specific command and location for this activity) can help placate this drive.

Until Dakota is more dependable, he is crated when we're not home.  I don't have to worry about his safety or the safety of our house! []

I leave Chase gated into the dog-proof kitchen.  When he was a puppy, I sprayed some bitter apple on the table and chair legs, as well as some wires, so he only tried to chew those once, when he was about 4 months old.
 
Anyway, if you don't want to crate him, I would recommend confining him.  Your pup is probably missing you, or else he's just bored and trying to entertain himself.  He doesn't know that he's being bad.  Maybe you could get him some acceptable chew toys, as well.  Chase is very mouthy, so he likes to have things to carry, chew and lick.  I freeze a couple kongs for him to empty out and also let him have some emptied-out raw bones that I know are tought enough not to crack.  I used to leave him with a fresh frozen bone, until I realized that he was able to crack off bits of the thinner ones.

When Toby first arrived, he chewed 2 things. One of my shoes and part of the rug. My friend told me about a product called Bitter Apple. You just buy it from the pet store and spray the things that you don't want them to chew on. Its not harmful but supposedly tastes really gross. I did exactly that. To this day (and its been 5 months) Toby hasn't chewed anything else but his toys!~  And I only sprayed my shoe and that area of the carpet once!~  Good Luck!~

actually, your dog does not know that he is doing something wrong. dogs have a very short term memory, so if you don't catch them in the act, they will not know. all he knows, is that when you come home, you a mad at him. he has no idea why.

eventhough you don't want to crate him, you obviously need to. b/c eventually he is going to start getting into stuff that could potentially hurt him. heck, he could be into other things right now that you don't know about yet.

Separation anxiety is diagnosed in around 15% of behavioural cases. When left alone, most dogs find a familiar spot and go to sleep. However, a dog when suffering from separation anxiety will become extremely anxious. Not understanding where you or your family has gone or if you will ever return, the dog exhibits behaviour which may include chewing, barking, salivating, urinating, defecating, vomiting or escape behaviour, such as chewing through walls, scratching through doors, breaking out of cages or trying to dig their way out. In some cases, the dog can become ill, stop eating, or suffer from depression

Possible Causes
Factors at the core of this problem include, genetics, early learning, lack of socialisation and owner behaviour. Your dog is a social, pack animal that relies on the others for individual protection by safety in numbers. Dogs that lack confidence, due to over bonding, under socialisation, lack of communication and training or no knowledge of what is expected of them, mistreatment in the past, long confinement or even dogs that have been abandoned are more likely to exhibit behaviours relating to separation anxiety.

Solution and Treatment
·         No long goodbyes
When it is time to leave, just leave. Do not say a big and drawn out "Good bye" to your dog. In fact, ignore your dog for five minutes before you go. Paying too much attention will make your dog feel more insecure when that attention is abruptly withdrawn. I also recommend you buy Dr Bach's rescue remedy, you can get this in any good chemist 4 drops a day in his food, and a DAP diffuser you can get this from your Vets. It plugs in the wall socket and gives out calming pheromones. DAP means Dog Appeasing Pheromone, the scientists have isolated the pheromone that the nursing mother gives out to calm the little pups when she is feeding them. These combined should help to take the edge of the anxiety.

·         Distractions are the key
Prepare a "Bye-Bye" bone. A hollow cheese filled bone from the pet shop, or a Kong. Fill it with grated cheese, peanut butter, or other things your dog really likes. Put it away and only take it out when you leave each day. Place it near your dog just before you close the door. When you arrive home put the bone away. The bone only comes out when you leave. When it gets low then poke out the contents and refill. You are distracting your dog with something that he will find interesting enough to concentrate on and will ignore your leaving, he should appreciate the bone so much that he will look forward to it coming out instead of getting upset with your leaving.

·         Crate Train
Confining your dog during your times of absence has two positive results. First, a dog who is confined crate cannot do damage to your home. Secondly, a crate, when properly introduced, will act as a safe and comfortable den where the dog can relax. Limiting his movement also acts as an anxiety reducer for some dogs. However you should not create during the day for longer than 2/3 hours maximum as this could cause depression and panic attacks
 
·         Exercise Your Dog
A dog that is lacking exercise is more likely to have stress and tension. Tiring a dog out with a long walk, run or with play goes a long way in reducing stress.

·         Leave the Radio On
Tune a radio to a talk station; not music, put it on in a room you are often in but not in the same room as the dog, and close the door. The dog will hear the human voices from your room and may not feel so alone. Some clients tape record their own voices and play the recording rather than the radio program. Dogs know the sound of your voice. And remember, since the dog is most anxious just after you leave, therefore it need only be an hour long.

·         Build up a routine
The hardest time for dogs is immediately after you leave. Their anxious, frantic, and occasionally destructive behaviour generally happens inside the first hour. You need to modify your dog's behaviour through reinforcement training and behaviour modification. Leave your dog out of his crate, get ready to leave, walk the like normal just leave. Come back after 2 minutes. Greet your dog calmly. Tell him to sit. When he does, reinforce this behaviour with a food treat he enjoys. Wait a few minutes and then repeat the exercise, this time remaining outside a few minutes longer. Continue practicing leaving and returning over the next couple of weeks, when you return, greet your dog after he has settled down then ask him to sit before offering a cuddle or a treat.

·         Leadership is Vital
When a dog has a strong consistent leader, it has a calming effect on him. He feels safe and taken care of. In the absence of a strong leader, your dog feels obligated to assume that position in the social hierarchy of the family pack. Since a leader must control all that goes on, his inability to control you leaving causes him stress and anxiety.  They sometimes exhibit dominant behaviour to try to stop owners from leaving. Obedience training and NILIF techniques is normally the best methods of establishing yourself as a beneficial and strong leader.

Consistency is the key. You are responsible for providing food and shelter. You also have the responsibility of supplying an environment whereby the dog feels safe and secure.  Leadership plays a part lack of consistency and over-bonding can be a cause and effect of separation anxiety, though it must be said other factors may also play their part. Sometimes you may need to get another dog for company and comfort for you existing pet, especially if the symptoms are severe. Sometimes you may have to rehome the dog, as your lifestyle does not allow for a happy and contented pet

I am not at all sure that we are dealing with SA here.....to me this sounds like a pretty normal young lab who gets bored when left home alone and gets into mischief.
 
I do not believe that crating while you are gone is a horrible thing to do, or I wouldn't do it myself.  I have german shepherds. They are always crated when I am gone.  Most of them are perfectly trustworthy in the house, but, if someone were to tick someone else off......the pack mentality kicks in and I could come home to find someone seriously injured....or dead.  Now, normally, they get along fine, but who the heck knows what ticks a dog off sometimes.  To me there is also the major concern about fire.  No firefighter in their right mind is gonna enter a home with SIX frightened gsds and who knows how they might be acting at the sight of strangely dressed people entering THEIR domain?
 
Crates are not some horrible creation to torment a dog. They are a safe place and for mine at least, a happy haven.

ORIGINAL: glenmar

I am not at all sure that we are dealing with SA here.....to me this sounds like a pretty normal young lab who gets bored when left home alone and gets into mischief.

I do not believe that crating while you are gone is a horrible thing to do, or I wouldn't do it myself.  I have german shepherds. They are always crated when I am gone.  Most of them are perfectly trustworthy in the house, but, if someone were to tick someone else off......the pack mentality kicks in and I could come home to find someone seriously injured....or dead.  Now, normally, they get along fine, but who the heck knows what ticks a dog off sometimes.  To me there is also the major concern about fire.  No firefighter in their right mind is gonna enter a home with SIX frightened gsds and who knows how they might be acting at the sight of strangely dressed people entering THEIR domain?

Crates are not some horrible creation to torment a dog. They are a safe place and for mine at least, a happy haven.

 
This dog is not a young dog or a puppy it is 3 or four years old and fully mature and I fairly certain that it's behaviour is not puppy chewing it is ANXIETY.
 
If you wish to crate your dogs that is up to you I have a serious issue with locking dogs in small crates all day, if  I have to be out then I have Kennels with runs in the open air these kennels have water heating lighting and full mod cons. I would never crate a dog in a small crate daily that is not what they are or were intended for.
 
Crates were intended for overnight not a day to day existance when the dog is most active.
 
Stan
 

As I read the OP, the dog is 2 or 3 years old MAYBE...they are not certain of the age.  And, it is a LAB and labs tend to hang on to those puppy behaviors for much longer than some other breeds.
 
Thank you for your permission to crate my dogs.  They are, FYI, crated in the very largest crates available and have ample room in the crates for all but turning summersaults, which my dogs don't do anyway.  WHEN I go back to work, they will be crated for a maximum of four hours at a time.  Knowing that they are safe is worth more to me than your opinion that I'm being cruel.  But, I do appreciate your input.

I'm confused.  How can you be against crating and say it's not appropriate when

  ·         Crate Train
Confining your dog during your times of absence has two positive results. First, a dog who is confined crate cannot do damage to your home. Secondly, a crate, when properly introduced, will act as a safe and comfortable den where the dog can relax. Limiting his movement also acts as an anxiety reducer for some dogs. However you should not create during the day for longer than 2/3 hours maximum as this could cause depression and panic attacks  

Now i understand the 2 to 3 hours bit of it but a properly introduced dog will voluntarily spend time in his crate - I know mine do.  I don't think 4 hours is too much to ask.  Due to work schedules mine are crated 6 hours a day and they have no depression or anxiety (only one depressed or anxious is me!).

cancelled