My 11-month Lab is hyper, destructive, and biting. What's wrong?

Question

My 11 month old lab (male) shows signs of hypersrousal. He is destructive, cannot focus properly, snatches food from the hand. Jumps on anyone who comes home, shows excessive friendliness, constantly jumps and mouths, very much hyperactive. He whines if he does not get attention or if he does not get something he wants. He is getting aggressive. Bites people who comes home, people in the house. We pet him a lott. He has a half hour walk everyday. Im not sure where i am going wrong. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | unneutered | 10 months and 13 days old | 20 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

Labs can have variable energy levels. It sounds like you have a Lab with a very high energy level. Ideally, I would try to walk Ozzy at least twice daily for additional physical and mental stimulation. I certainly understand and sympathize with your situation. I have one younger dog that is high energy. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me. One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even if you have done a basic obedience class, I would consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. When he goes on walks, make him sit at each corner before he crosses the street. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. Ideally, I would find an area that Ozzy can run off leash any play every day to get some of his energy out. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I have not tried the Clever Pet yet, but it is an electronic interactive toy that am intrigued about it. clever.pet So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

My 11-month Lab is hyper, destructive, and biting. What's wrong?

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