I have a yellow Labrador (which stays with my parents) and he is always extremely anxious to get out of his kennel while anyone is outside. He barks constantly and will even grab onto the kennel door and pull.

Today he actually pulled the wire back and was able to escape his kennel. My dad and I had to replace the kennel door. It's like a chain-link kennel.

He is ran daily for at least an hour. And we have tried using a corrective collar, but he knows when it is on and doesn't attempt to break out. I was hoping that some one here would have a suggestion to help break him of this habit.

Only changing the backyard things to look like a different backyard maybe :)

I don't think changing how the backyard looks is going to help.

My suggestion if you haven't tried it already is get a garden hose.
When you are outside and he is pulling on the wire give him a good spray from the hose.
It doesn't hurt him but most dogs don't like it and hopefully it will give him the idea that pulling is bad.

Normally you would use just a little squirty bottle for correcting behaviour but with your lab you would want to be standing as far away as you can so he actually does bite at the wire.

How old is he? How much time does he spend in the kennel? He sounds lonely and bored. Does he have any interactive toys like the ones that treats are put in and he has to figure out how to get them out?

He probably needs more exercise than he has been getting. I don't necessarily mean runs, but retrieving balls, going after doggy safe 'soap' bubbles, frisbees, etc. He probably also needs more working like in obedience training. Not for minding, but for the brain stimulation.

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Originally Posted by Cat1864

How old is he? How much time does he spend in the kennel? He sounds lonely and bored. Does he have any interactive toys like the ones that treats are put in and he has to figure out how to get them out?

He probably needs more exercise than he has been getting. I don't necessarily mean runs, but retrieving balls, going after doggy safe 'soap' bubbles, frisbees, etc. He probably also needs more working like in obedience training. Not for minding, but for the brain stimulation.

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Well, he does retrieves, that's what I mean when I say that he is ran. My dad does drills with him too, where he'll lay out multiple dummies and give hand signals for the retrieves. He spends most days in the kennel because he's an outside dog and my parents are working. He is definitely not an inside dog.

The toys would be an excellent idea if there is a toy durable enough. We're talking about a lab that has eaten a wooden dog house before. Sometimes I think he has pica. Anything I've given him before has not lasted through a day.

He loves Frisbees, but the problem is that they make his gums bleed pretty bad so we stick with a traditional dummy.

As far as the hose, he actually likes getting sprayed with it usually (probably not a good idea to do it now while it's below 30 degrees).

I want to say that he's about 3 years old. I forget exactly. I'm not one to keep track of birthdays (I even have to think when asked for my own).

EDIT: Oh, he spends probably about 8+ hours a day in the kennel. It's not tiny.

Yikes! You keep your dog out side when it is below 30?
I'll bet he is bored, have you thought about taking him to obedience classes? Or doggy day care or any where that he could get a chance to interact with another dog (s)?
Dogs are social beings and need to be around either other dogs or their people.
Also he is in an age where he is like a young adult, is he neutered?

He is not neutered because he is a pure bred with champion hunter blood. He is with two other labs too (just not in the same kennel). The only places that are reasonably nearby charge beyond what we can afford (that's for obedience and day care).

He's not normally outside when it's this cold. My father brings him in. But to spray him with a hose in winter is not something I'll do. But it is a good idea to try in the warmer weather.

EDIT: Plus he has an insulated dog house he can go into if it rains/snows or gets cold and we can't get home right away. Although my father is always aware of the weather so if it sounds like it is going to be a bad day he brings the dogs in before he leaves for work.

I'm sorry, I am at a loss...
If it's something really concerning, and you think he may hrt himself or someone, then I would speak with a professional such as a vet or a behaviourist. He could just be a little exra hyper from his age and not being neutered. When they are un altered they have more of a tendency to want to roam. I guess for the safety of your dog, you may want to keep the "shock" collar on him.

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Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

I'm sorry, I am at a loss...
if it's something really concerning, and you think he may hrt himself or someone, then I would speak with a professional such as a vet or a behaviourist. He could just be a little exra hyper from his age and not being neutered. When they are un altered they have more of a tendancy to want to roam. I guess for the safty of your dog, you may want to keep the "shock" collar on him.

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I appreciate your advise. Not just yours but everyone's here. I guess I will start lookin' around to see if there's a behaviorist (or our vet) in the area that can help out.

I wish I had an area that I could keep him myself so that I could see him more often, but bein' that I'm in an apartment... well, that's not the best place for a Labrador.

At least I've got some new ideas to try out. The hose idea sounds like a good one. If someone can suggest a toy that is very durable, then I could try that. I'll also ask our vet next time he is out to the place to see the dogs. If he's not sure then I'll check with a behaviorist.

So I guess for now, I'm looking for a toy he won't destroy. Haha.

Have you tried the kong or a nyla bone?

Oh whoops, I keep forgetting how cold it is in that part of the world at the moment, we are having days of 30C!

8 hours in the run isn't too bad. A lot of dogs are left alone that long while their owners are at work... however I know with mine they come inside with us so for the rest of the afternoon and night they have constant interaction.

Maybe you could make a sand box for him to go in his run.
I've seen this work with digging dogs and it gives them something to do.
You get the sand box and place treats all through it.
It takes to dog quite some time foraging through the box trying to locate all the treats.

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Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

Have you tried the kong or a nyla bone?

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I have not. I'll look into that, thank you very much. Perhaps pair that with Shaz's suggestion of the sandbox. I know we tried a Nyla bone with my sister's Jack Russell and he tore that thing to pieces in about a week (but if I recall correctly, it was one of the smaller ones).

Looking quickly at Nylabone's website, I think I might try something from the "Big Chew" line. Haha.

EDIT: According to Nylabone's website there's supposedly no retailer within 50 miles of my city or cities 50 miles away either. I know a couple places to check though.

The black kong is the toughest. I haven't heard of any dogs destroying that one - although I am sure it's happened somewhere. You can freeze some peanut butter and kibble inside, it can provide hours of entertainment. :)

YEs get the Nyla bone for the big chewer, I have seen Wal Mart carry them, and your local vet should have some on hand as well, if they sell products...
Goo0d Luck!

I'll look into both. My vet actually comes to the house, so I don't think he has much in the realm of products for sale. I'll check around though. It's worth a shot.