male lab question

[MemphisStockBroker]

got a question for you experts... have an 18 month old black male lab that was given to us about two months ago. if he ever gets out of the yard (by mistake), which is not often, he is bad about dumping over garbage cans and exploring. in light of neighborly relations, i need to break him of this.

after about five times in ours, i caught him one time, turned the can over on him and jumped on it.... keeping him in there for a couple of seconds which has broken him of it. but he still enjoyes trashing the neighbors.... literally. his obedience skills are otherwise very good. not competition quailty, but not too far off either.

yes, keeping him in his pen is first priority. but any thoughts ? could I be not feeding him enough? he gets two pint-size can-fulls of food in the morning, and one in the evening...

[marionfd708]

msb,you might try a shock collar.watch him close when he is out and give him a small jolt when he gets close to the other cans.i know alot of people do not like ecollars but if used marginally and in the right situations they do make the difference.hope this helps.
good luck
kev.

[dukbum]

try the shock collar it works....

[BigLou2]

If you use a shock collar to correct your dog in any circumstance just remeber to issue the command he is not obeying with the correction. the worst word you can say with a shock is "NO!" reenforce the command not the negative. just a shock would not tell your dog what he is doing wrong and could mess him up!

[chance]

I would be more concerned with him being run over by a car or beat up by neighborhood dogs than trying to break him of dumping out garbage cans. Stopping him from getting loose in the neighborhood would be my first priority. I would spend all of my efforts getting that done.

[MemphisStockBroker]

thanks for the info... dog is into my pocket book for an additional $2k already. I built him a way-cool dog house (shingles, insulated, vents, a window & even a porch)... which he uses as a launching pad to jump over the 6' tall kennel. bought a tri-tronics shock collar to zap his butt when he jumps out, but it does not work if he is facing away from me. (and he will not do it if i am in sight).

he has made friends with all the neighborhood dogs, so when he gets out it is a big play fest in my yard. (we have 4 labs, 2 german shepherds and a collie that visit on a regular basis that are in the 'hood...)

he is just a big ol loveable baby (98 lbs) that for the most part is very obedient. just have to break him of a couple bad habbits... (sounds like what my wife tells me all the time )

[chance]

You can get a nice cover for the top of your kennel. Keeps leaves out and gives nice shade in summer. Also stops the climbing or jumping out.

[Alaska Dave]

M S B, I had to put Radars house in the middle of the pen (12x12) as he thought that he was trying out for the olympics. As soon as I get another panel of hogwire i'll place thae atop of the walls in a corner. Hope you had a good season. Dave

[gadwall2]

Get one of those instant fence deals and plug it into a katolite 59KW gernerator. That ought to break him.