Lab owners. Need help!!!

[Tubby]

What gets me even more is that he knows he's not suppose to do it. When he does it and I come home and walk to it he immediately tucks his head and tail without me saying anything. Makes it hard for me to thrash him when he gives that pitiful look.

and you can't thrash him because you didn't catch him in the "actual act".

Him knowing he did something wrong and knowing "exactly what and when" he did something wrong is 2 different things.

[Michael Chittum]

They need mental stimulation as well as physical. You might try throwing a bunch of dog food in the grass when he's hungry and let him forage and look for it. Great way to work his nose which is what he probably wants to do anyway, also, working on commands ever night is good mental stimulation as well. Throw in a good run of some kind and he's whooped.

JMO, Whipping with the hose, tying it to his head, shocking the crap out of your dog is not fixes to the problem. You want a dog to bond to you. Do these things and you end up with a dog they may listen to you but it is done out of fear, not because he wants to please his master. I want my dogs running to me everyday excited to see me, not come up with their head lowered and tail between their legs. In the long run these ideas cause behavioral problems that you may not even be aware you caused. Not to mention, some of them are just down right cruel. There is a reason he is doing it you just need to figure out what that reason is. Again, to each is own, this is simply my opinion...

[Captrix]

Why not get one of those hide away hose reels and throw him some chew toys or raw hides. My coonhound chewed up one hose so I put it away, along with anything else he might chew on. Seems pretty simple.

[Kdog]

Dog food in the grass, great idea! Did this tonight with my dogs.

[cantexduck]

Mine did that two times. They wont do it again. I dont kill them with kindness, I let them know when I am mad. They think the hose is the devil now. Never had a problem with them not running to see me when I get home.

[Coach W]

Mine did that two times. They wont do it again. I dont kill them with kindness, I let them know when I am mad. They think the hose is the devil now. Never had a problem with them not running to see me when I get home.

Im with you. Tough Love is the only kind for a dog. It would be different with the family pet, but as a hunting dog, he needs to listen and know his role every time Or it could be bad in the field!

[Michael Chittum]

Dog food in the grass, great idea! Did this tonight with my dogs.

Yeah, just got another horse recently and it kicked my mountain cur when she was walking by. Broke a bone in the dogs knee (one of the back ones). She is a high energy dog and the vet told me to keep her calm for a month. Yeah right, but that is one of the things I do with her, she doesn't have to run and can stay calm. Then I work on commands with her and let her chew on bones. Works great if your dog is motivated by food. Good luck on your hoses....

[Michael Chittum]

Im with you. Tough Love is the only kind for a dog. It would be different with the family pet, but as a hunting dog, he needs to listen and know his role every time Or it could be bad in the field!

Who am I to tell someone how to raise there dog and if your good with how you handle your dog, then rock on brother. Again,the above was just my opinion. I have never hit my cur or my lacy or the other 3 for that matter and they are great dogs with high prey drive. They track, they hunt, they work, they listen and there was never any tough love. But,,, they are pets too, I have never tried to decipher the difference and I'm sure they haven't either. But again, to each is own.

[t townsend]

labs do alot for attention.exercise,train, they dont care as long as there with you.mine act up when iwork alot and dont see me every night.they play with kids or wife. but they need to please the alpha personality. let em swim and fetch bumpers. they get there physical,and mental work,they wont be destructive and sleep like babies.

[Kdog]

mine would be in excellent shape if I had a treadmill....too bad

You might check Craigslist. I found no less than 3 last night listed for under $100 close to where I live.