Who knew dog sitting could be so stressful?

[Milngavie]

I've currently got my Mum's dog to stay as she's been called away from home urgently.

The dog is a chocolate lab and can be a pain to have around. She will not sit/lie still for more than 60 seconds. She is awful to walk with (pulls like a train), has no recall whatsoever, can not obey basic commands and is a terrible thief. She chews anything she can get her mouth on. Mum has had to replace TV remotes, phones, mobiles, the list goes on.

She is about 3 years old. Is there anything I can do? Mum has started training classes with her but it's only been 2 weeks and I don't think Mum is carrying on the advice from class when at home.

She is pacing again now! She does this when at home with Mum too. She is exercised regularly and eats Wagg.

Can anyone advise?

First and most importantly change her food. Wagg is full of rubbish and additives ad will turn the most laid back dog into a hyper active loon .

Then back to basics. A good walk and then teach the dog to settle, put her in her bed and treat when calm and in a down position.

Keep anything she may chew out of reach and give her a kong or chew toys that she can chew.

Lead walking loads of ways to do that but if your Mum is not consistent for a few weeks that will not change.

Labs are a joy to train as they love to please and will do anything for a piece of cheese. If your Mum has the time and can be bothered clicker training a lab is just sooooo easy and rewarding.

Thanks Mimimuu. Mum ha a clicker, I may go and get it to try it out.

Can you recommend a decent dry dog food? We live in the sticks so would probably have to order in.

Brilliant get a bit of cheese put her in her bed but hold the labs collar so she can not get the cheese.

Take her away from the bed.

Let her go and say in your bed

Lab will run to bed Click and she will gobble down the cheese

Do this a couple of times then pretend to put the food down and send her to her bed.

By the time your Mum comes back you will have a "go to bed" command sorted!

When she is in a down position in her bed click and treat and say good settle. Soon you will have a settle command!

Re food I fed raw so don't touch kibble - Would raw be an option? Others will be on to recommend kibble. Don't use anything you can buy in a supermarket and you need to avoid cereal, additives, and the dreaded beet pulp.

Thank you again . I will definitely be trying the cheese/bed/settle combo .

Burns is a good, low protein dry food. A lot pricier than Wagg though

Skinners Duck & Rice or Salmon & Rice is a good quality hypoallergenic kibble that my dogs like; it's VAT free for working dogs so it's a bit cheaper than JWB, etc at around £28/15kg but way better than Wagg or Bakers. Fish4Dogs is also good but more expensive. I order from Viovet or Petmeds and the delivery is often free for orders over £30 or so.