Young Labrador keeps shredding crate bedding overnight, any suggestions?

[LabradorLadbradoo]

We have a male Labrador now 10 months old who keeps destroying his mattress in his crate!

We have always used the crate for overnights and if he has to be left alone in the day (never for more than a couple of hours in the day).

He goes into the crate perfectly happily, in fact when he’s tired he chooses to go lie down in there and if the door happens to be shut he’ll whine or nose at it until I open it and then he’ll go in.

So I don’t think he finds the crate itself stressful.

But in the last month he has completely destroyed three of the big comfy crate cushions by clawing/biting them - I come downstairs in the morning to find it shredded with stuffing all around.

Any ideas or suggestions? Is this some kind of digging/shredding impulse that we could try to channel other ways? Do we need to rethink using the crate?

You missed one off your list @Molleeeee
Give the OP 48 hours in a day.

Perhaps my post was negative. It wasn’t intended as such particularly just an account of what I tend to do.
As competition dogs I will certainly do more training than the average with mine
And to be fair much of my training is slotted in the way you detailed rather than specific time slots. I’d suggest much the same as you tbh and rushed my post somewhat in hindsight.
But the OPs first thought was panic at needing to fit in extra and she sounds at full capacity already. Saying even the moments currently waiting for the kettle are fully utilised does not scream capacity is there for extra to me! Its not unreasonable to draw the conclusion that a first time owner without the knowledge already in place to train effectively and give the needed mental stimulation, who works full time and cares for two SEN children with what appears to be limited help is going to find that one hell of a stretch!!

He possibly needs more stimulation and satisfaction during the day. What time are you getting him up in the morning? How long is he in the crate? I would remove all bedding and place a dog bed, the platform type, just outside the crate and leave the crate door open during the night so he can choose. Dogs move arpund during the night, and unless the crate is large enough he will get frustrated

I’m just coming back to the thread to thank everybody for the input, even the harsher comments! We have taken what everybody says seriously.

We did go wrong choosing a working line lab, and if we could go back in time we would choose a different breed. But we do all love this dog and want to do right by him so have been looking at what we can do to make this work.

So we have found a local dog walker that will be doing a walk with him every morning while I’m busy with school run, that means I can then work through my lunch and give him a short walk and some training time when I have gaps between meetings in the afternoon.

We’ve found a dog trainer with a lot of experience of gun dogs and larger breeds who is going to do some training sessions with us and also teach me what exercises/games to do with him between sessions.

And we’ve cancelled most of our planned weekends away so that he spends less time in the car and unfamiliar environments and we have more time with him at home rather than visiting family.

So I’m hoping that between us all we can give him more training, more stimulation and company. But I’ve also set a deadline that if in another two months we think he’s stressed or not happy we will admit that we got it wrong and find him a new home. Somebody up thread mentioned that the breeder might take him back but tbh given that we don’t think they were responsible that’s not an option, they would probably just sell him on to some other family that don’t realise what they’re getting into!

Thank you for all of the input.

This sounds like a very positive update @LabradorLadbradoo
I hope things work out for you and that your boy will end up being the family dog of your dreams.

Well done OP, that sounds like a very sensible plan!
I hope it all works out for you

That sounds like an excellent plan and well done for stepping back and reassessing. I hope it all goes well for you. A decently trained working Lab can also be an amazing family dog and although they keep you on your toes they can be so rewarding with the sort of effort you are going to put in.

@LabradorLadbradoo will keep my fingers crossed for you - really hope it's a good, happy, ending ❤

Hope it works out for you all. They really are worth the effort .

Please dont keep your dog in a crate. They are pack animals. He's stressed and so shredding. Let him do his job of protecting you all by being able to roam a little at night. Crates are cruel.

@LabradorLadbradoo you have committed a cardinal sin here by not posting a picture.

I adopted a working line labrador from someone who didn't know what they were getting into. Lots of scent work and outlets for his natural behaviours and he turned out to be fabulous. I miss him dreadfully.

Good luck.

I have a male, working line lab. He is 18 months old now. He is also my first dog. I knew I was getting a WL lab as that is what I wanted.

I’m glad you posted now as things are likely to get much more difficult in the coming months. I did as much research as I could, knew about adolescent phases etc and train him daily (and have done since I first brought him home) and he is maturing in to a solid dog. He has never destroyed anything (save for a few of his own toys) can be left with free range of the house if I go out and is very calm at home. His recall is better than it was pre adolescence as is his lead walking. I used a crate until he was about 5 months old and he has slept with me since then.

I say all of this to basically give you hope of turning everything around. With the right input, advice, consistency and attitude - labs (even working line ones) make excellent family pets.
I wouldn’t be without my boy.