Lab Puppy Chewing

Want to know how (in addition to exercise, mental challenge, and supervision) I avoided the well-publicized puppy chewing and other destructive dog behavior by my own Labrador Retriever puppy, Joy?

I gave Joy plenty of toys as a young pup, so she always had something of her own on which to chew and did not suffer from boredom. She loved her toys, and so she had no interest in my things.

She even recognized the names I gave to her individual toys. By six-seven months old, she would retrieve the specific toy from her toy box on command and bring it to me for play!

With Labrador blood and a great mouthing need, Joy also destroyed her toys faster and more completely than I have ever seen anywhere - even things labeled "indestructible!" She viewed that as her "hunt and kill" duty, and displayed her handiwork with great pride. She felt she had a purpose as she accepted and destroyed her own things -- never mine!

We had NO destructive chewing problem with this puppy, even during the teething periods. That is almost unheard of for a Lab!