What To Do?

[friedgreentomato]

Colin, my 10 month old lab/retriev X is out during the day - he has plenty of ground to play in, shelter and toys.

But he has started stealing stuff to destruct!! So far it has been 3 pairs of shoes, the mop bucket, plastic boxes, every single rubbish bag and the recycling bin!

He also likes to empty plant pots and to sleep on the compost he takes out!

I am at a loss what to do - I walk him each morning and as I said I leave toys for him.

[anneasquith]

how long is he left outside on his own ?

[pastafreak]

Anything with collie in it needs lots of exercise and stimulation. Even the older ones I see in the park every day-at 8-12 years old-run and play like hooligans. How long are his walks,and does he get time off lead to play with other dogs?

[themorrigan]

Sounds like boredom. Cold you perhaps get someone to walk him for you while you are at work?

[friedgreentomato]

pasta he's not a collie, he get a 2k walk in the morning and then a 2k walk in the afternoon evening and gets time of the lead to play fetch, we try and meet up with friends with other dogs at least once a week but that does not always happen.

6 hours annea.

[friedgreentomato]

no morrigan

[friedgreentomato]

I should perhaps point out that he does this if we are in the house and the back door is open and he has access to the garden and the house etc.

[Purple_Popple]

Why is he or all day? Do you work full time Fgt?
Definitely a boredom situation developing here...try him on filled bones from pet shops..
Collies are highly strung energetic dogs with amazing intelligence so require masses of exercise and stimulation.

[friedgreentomato]

He's not a collie!!!!

when I got him from the rescue centre - I explained I work full time and they were cool with that as he was outside not in.

He has bones it doesn't stop him destructing things and as I said he does it if we are in as well.

[pastafreak]

Oops...sorry,my mistake. Retrievers also need quite a bit of exercise-which it sounds like he is getting. Maybe boredom,but a lot of young dogs go through a destructive phase.

[ummmm]

Dogs are like toddlers.

[pastafreak]

Have you tried a Kong....with titbits hidden in it,he may busy himself for a while. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=kong+toys+dog&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=23553928352&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&;hvrand=12747778251159361808&hvpone=&hvptwo=&;hvqmt=b&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_1g7yzh5m24_b

[friedgreentomato]

Pasta - I am hoping it is just that stage - his history as far as we can make out was he was bought at christmas as a cute puppy and turfed out at 8 months with very little training.

We are getting there with training but the destructive stage is a bit difficult.

[tinkerbell23]

Those kong toys are good to keep em occupied!

Inconvenient i guess ( i know) but i suppose all the stuff you need kept away from ur wee angel will have to be put away out of reach! I know how hard that can be x

[themorrigan]

yes I go with the consensus of other replies -boredom. He is left on his OWN -dogs are pack animals and he is bored and stressed. If he shows the same behaviour when you are there then train him not to and he may realise this isn't acceptable behaviour.

[tinkerbell23]

Snap pasta x

[friedgreentomato]

I have a kong extreme but due to his delicate stomach I am cutting back on all titbits at the mo.

Will try that again and see if that helps.

[tonyav]

I think it's probably his age thats all fgt, he'll most probably grow out of it.We have a Chocolate Lab 2 and a half years old now, when she was younger if we didn't keep an eye on her she would dig up any plant in the garden chew at absolutely anything or try to tunnel her way to Australia via the back lawn. She's no where near as bad as that now though.

[Purple_Popple]

Ah..sorry fgt..collie x...but still the same energy.
Is there a portion of the garden you could fence off soley for him..with his own toys and chews to concentrate on so he is easier to supervise?

[AlwaysConfused]

(I know he's not a collie, but.....) My collie used to be quite destructive when bored. I'd vary his toys each days to keep his interest up. He was quite a food orientated dog. One thing that would keep him amused and out of trouble for a decent length of time was a kong.
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/large-extreme-kong-chew-treat-dog-toy-13501?cm_re=barilliance-_-cross%20sell-_-product%20details

[friedgreentomato]

Cheers Tony, I was hoping it was his age.

Morrigan I am well aware he is on his OWN - but I cleared this with the experts before I committed to taking him!

Yes dogs may be pack animals but they can live on their own too as millions do all the time.