My 8 month old lab/GS mix has a terrible "habit" that's driving me out of my mind, not to mention casting me time & money.

I live in a traditional type log home that has chinking in-between the logs. Whenever she's out of my sight for a single minute (actually she does it even if I'm there), she pulls chinking out from between the logs in the great room.
I've been reading this forum since I got her at 8 wks & learned so much. I've followed your advice about not letting her have free run of the house etc. In all other aspects she's doing excellent except for the darn chinking. I've tried Bitter Apple but that doesn't work.

I was away for a month & when I returned last week I noticed she had "backslid" on many of the basic commands she'd previously learned but is quickly picking them up again w/daily reinforcements. The chinking issue however always was a problem & w/winter fast approaching I Have to find a way to make her stop.

I was thinking of putting her back on a leash & taking her wherever I go in the house like I did when she was younger. Currently I do let her free if I'm in the room. I also was thinking that perhaps I should let her pull some chinking out & when she does, correct her w/the choke collar? She is 70#, tall & lean.

Thanks!

Put an e-collar on here - and learn to use it. Get my new DVD on training with e-collars http://leerburg.com/318.htm For something like this an Innotek ADV 300 will do fine.

Problem is solved (probably in the first day) as long as you follow my article on Ground Work to Becoming a Packj Leader.

 Quote:

My 8 month old lab/GS mix has a terrible "habit" that's driving me out of my mind, not to mention casting me time & money.....

Training aside, this sounds to me like the kind of mischief that I have always had success with this way: Exercise, exercise, exercise.

Tying her to you will probably help with the behaviour, but underlying it (just my opinion) might be frustrated energy.

Even when there's some old unknown psychological scar at work behind some unwanted repetitive behavior, which wouldn't be the case here, a well-exercised dog (a tired, satisfied, worked-out dog) is still far less likely to indulge.

I'm going to go way out on a limb here, and I'll probably be chopped off (because my only experience is problem dogs -- new to special-training experience): I've never had a total lack of success when addressing repetitive behavior with a ton of structured exercise......training, walks, hiking, and even very fast-moving games.

Whatever you end up with, though, good luck! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />