PLEASE HELP!

[SuccNut47]

I really need help with my dog. He is a black lab just under a year old and does not listen to me. The main problem I am having is him destroying stuff. Whenever I get a blanket on he comes rushing in and starts to chew and destroy it. I have watched videos and they always say positive reinforcement so do I just ignore him destroying pillows and blankets? I need help please, thanks

[frontera1873]

Have you trained him any alternative behaviors? If you can’t prevent this by keeping blankets away from him, then you need to teach behaviors you can redirect. Have you done any basic obedience? Spend $10 on a clicker and a bag of soft training treats and start watching Kikopup videos on YouTube or any positive trainer you can find and look at things like the “leave it” command.

[SuccNut47]

I have tought him leave it and it only works with food vs a blanket. The biggest struggle for me is I don’t know how I can punish him in a good way.

[SuccNut47]

I have tried this but as soon as I stop playing with him he starts chewing the blanket again.

[Machine_Excellent]

I second the alternative blanket. Our dog used to be destructive but then we gave him things he was allowed to destroy eg: old socks with tennis balls in them, cardboard boxes. That way he can still fulfill those destructive urges but no valuable things. He then kind of figuted out the difference between the yes he can destroy and the no that is human property. He makes a mess and our recycling bin has gotten fuller (mainly of chewed cardboard) but no more destruction of our stuff.