troublesome dog

[spanky]

Can anyone help me I have a yellow lab that is 7 months old and I cannot make him stop barking or chewing every thing in sight.
I have a bark collar, tried the can full of change trick, sprayed him with a hose and the list goes on and on. He also chews on anything that you dont want him to. He has all kinds of toys, bones, ect. We have tried the anti chew sprays and cant make him stop. Any new suggestions or tricks I could try would be very much appreciated Thanks
Spanky

[DHotRod]

Cant say for sure ....but you may need to start working him more in the yard/field.....

[WigWam]

Sounds like a typical 7 month old Lab to me. One thing is for sure, he sure does like you.

[doubleheader]

Excessive barking and chewing is a problem for you, but it is more of a symptom for the dog. The root cause of the dog's behavior could be a myriad of things including one or more of the following:
1. Insufficent exercise 2. Lack of attention- loneliness 3. Confusion caused by conflicting training and commands 4. Patterning- Young dog has patterned the behavior from another older dog 5. Undetected health issue, teething 6. Breeding- Some dogs inherently are easier than others, just like kids. Breeding plays a big role.

I suggest you consult with an established breeder and consider an obedience class. Be careful with the shock collar, too many people use shock collars incorrectly. proper training requires knowledge and patience. The collar may have a place, but not as a substitute for proper training. Remember also that all puppies are exhuberent and willful, don't expect perfection, it's a process.