My black lab won't stay home. Any suggestions?

If you don't mind...may I suggest training him??....a bloody bit???

1

Labs are HIGH energy dogs. They need a lot of exercise.

A few suggestions, take a mile or two jog or bike ride before you go to work. This make not be possible, but then try to work in a good hour or two of biking, walking, ball playing, etc. a day. He is tell you that he needs more exercise.

Training. He may be well trained, but he needs mental stimulation. Try training tricks, agaility, or another sport that he likes.

Interactive toys. There are toys like a Buster ball and others that he has to roll around in order to get treats out. These are great for mental stimulation.

Kongs and other stuffed toys. These toys really can help. Fill them and freeze them. They will take awhile for him to work at.

Another dog. ONLY IF YOU REALLY WANT ONE. But an extra dog can help him get even more exercise that he needs. They will play and romp for hours. I would suggest a resuce dog as you and your dog can meet the new dog and see if they get along. I have three dogs and they all play together and it is great for all of them.

If you don't want another dog, many communities have a doggies day care. Doggies day care two to three times a week can make a big difference too.

Some dogs just like to go. You really need to be out there with him until you see if any of these ideas works well.

If he stays in the yard for some time, then leaves, he is being left in the yard for too long. Also, I suggest walking your dog twice a day if possible, for at least 30 minutes, but more if you can. This will tire him out, curb some of his curiosity, he can smell and check everything out, dogs love it. It may not be easy at first, but if you keep a short leash on him and teach him to walk *with* you (and slightly behind you) and not walk/drag you around, he will learn some basic companion type obedience. Labs as a breed need the exercise. I think the walks are very important for the dog's health and for your relationship with him. It's a start.

You may need to use a hook and eye type latch to prevent him from opening the latch of the door, these are very cheap, easy to find and can be installed rather quickly.

Fences are not cheap to buy and install, even if you install them yourself. A standard 8 foot fence would work I think, if you have the means to do this. If not, you may need to stay with your dog when he is let out to do his business. If he is digging tunnels, and I know, my Saint Bernard and English Mastiff try it all the time, then he's is being left unattended or out too long and is suffering boredom.

this might sound stupied but have u tried to use the, sorry i don't know the name of it, but it is to keep animals away, maybe try and spray it all around the yard, maybe about 1 or 2 feet from the fence line, and back the one or two feet or so, and see if that works, and also try and teach him/her on a leash not to go pass the fence and then disapline him/her and still with the leash on take your dog up to the fence and hold the leash FIRM and tell him/her that is good and give a treat, try doing that for a while and see how that goes using the leash, i guess u can call it the sit and listen command ha ha, then after a while try and do it without the leash and if he/she listens to u then give him/her a treat but only if your dog listens, don't give in, and make sure u use a very strong voice on not wanting your dog to go pass the fence, and always award by giveing a treat, i have a black lab/english bull and when i was living in michigan she would never listen and then when i moved here to tn she was doing the same thing here but here there isn't a fence, but after i tought her the limits of where she is allowed to go, she don't need to go on a leash, when i call her a bad girl she gets really affended and she comes to me with her head down, and then later i will give her a treat and tell her she is a good girl, but every dog is different, but i hope this will help u. good luck i really hope this helps u. it does sometimes help to have the dog fixed also

Sounds like a normal Labrador to me - mine acted like a 6 month old until he got to about 12, then we got 2 years of quiet sedate dog! Naturally she will wee everywhere in a new place, she wants it to smell like her, this should settle down after a while. Some dogs seem to drool more than others, my mum's Golden Retriever drools everywhere, whereas my sisters doesn't. The constant fast breathing sounds a bit worrying, unless it's just because she is on the go all the time. Check her diet, maybe she is getting too much energy from her food (my Greyhound for example has to eat a food for "active dogs" to keep his weight up - this would be diabolical for a Labrador who put weight on as soon as they look at a plate of food). Ask the vet about this. The simple answer might be more exercise - Lab's are a highly energetic breed and need a good run every day (preferably twice daily), and something to keep them occupied in between. Maybe obedience classes would tire her out. Good luck - Labradors are gorgeous dogs and worth the high energy lifestyle.

Build a dog run, or don't leave him outside unsupervised!

If he is not neutered, basically nothing (not even an act of God) will keep him contained. He can smell her from a mile away and will be out to get her. So neutering can help if he is not neutered already. If he is, a dog run may be a much much cheaper option as opposed to a 10 foot fence.

Yes, another dog to keep him company would be good, but maybe you should neuter him if he isn't, get a more powerful shocker for both the top and bottom of the fence, or train him. If you see him out, chain him up for about 15 minutes in the fence. For every hour or two he stays in, give him half of a dog biscuit.

Get a10 foot fence. My neighbor had to do the same thing for her doberman. And your dog is in need of some training. Also you may want to look into a steak and a leash to attak to it. Neuter if not neutered. These escape runs are most likely fueled by hormones.

do you walk/ play (fetch) with your dog religiously everyday?...he might just be plain old bored!...if not: start walking your dog at the very least one hour a day. go swimming with him(no pool?...find a watering hole) take him running/ biking, heck mine even likes to "play tennis" :)(a tired lab is a happy lab. ) as for getting a 2nd dog....wow im amazed youre toying with such a notion.imo it might cause too much stress and worsen his frustration. I never bought into the bit that dogs need to come in pairs...as long as hes getting enough exercise and attention and knows his ranking in the family...no other pooches need apply :) good luck

Wow, you got yourself a smart one.. Is he neutered?? Neutering might help keep him home.. Turn up the shock on the electric fence.. Make the current fence taller.. Or build him a dog run that is tall w/ a top so he can't get out..