How to Stop a 7 Month Lab From Chewing Furniture & Rugs

Labrador retriever puppies are known for being active, playful, and sometimes mischievous. This mischievous behavior often manifests in the form of chewing. Whatever your puppy's choice of chewing material---whether it's furniture, rugs, clothing, or telephone wire---this behavior must be stopped. Besides their natural instinct, Labs chew on household objects for a number of reasons, including boredom, frustration, and anxiety. In order to completely eliminate the behavior, you must address its causes. Fortunately, there are a few ways to do so.

Things You'll Need

  • Crate
  • Chew toys
  • Anti-chewing sprays and gels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Walk your Lab puppy daily. Lab puppies have extremely high energy levels. Unless he is able to burn off that energy, your puppy will likely become anxious, nervous, and, ultimately, destructive. Besides walking, Lab puppies typically enjoy activities such as swimming, jogging, playing fetch, and participating in agility exercises.

    • 2

      Keep your Lab puppy in a crate when you are unable to provide supervision. Labs will often chew when they are bored or lonely, so placing your puppy in a crate will deny him access to those items you don't want him to chew. Additionally, being crated allows your puppy to rest and be calm.

    • 3

      Give your puppy objects that are acceptable to chew. Most puppies chew when they are teething. Give your pup nylon bones or other hard chew toys to help relieve teething pain so he'll be less likely to chew on forbidden objects.

    • 4

      Use a product that leaves a foul taste on objects you don't want your Lab puppy to chew. Pet stores typically carry sprays and gels that will leave a bad taste in your puppy's mouth when he chews on something that has been coated with them. Over time, your pup will associate chewing on forbidden objects with the bad taste and will likely avoid those items.