i have a 2 year old neutered black lab, who is crated at night to stop him running riot and wrecking things. he's always been happy with his crate, goes in himself without being asked etc. now, he seems to go through phases of messing his crate through the night if he's unhappy. he did it when my oh moved in, then when he got neutered, and now since he pulled one of his nails out. i'm exhausted with him. he gets fed first thing in the morning and gets out for 4 walks a day, inc last thing at night. but he seems to hold some of his "toilet" needs in so he can do it when he gets back 3 nights in a row now, my house smells terrible and he's very down, i took him to the vet she said she couldn't help, it's behavioural. he gets loads of love and attention. what can i do?

Hi there

When you say you take him for four walks a day, how long are you walking for or how far are you going? The main thing with labs is that they need a LOT of exercise, they're very physical dogs. Does he get to run around a lot or is he quite confined?

More exercise will give him more opportunity to relieve himself. You'll notice as well that the times you mention he has messed his crate have been times when he probably got less exercise ie when your OH moved in, it's only natural to want to be more cuddly at home so the dog would have been out less, and when he was neutered and pulled his nail, he would have had less exercise as he healed anyway.

I would get him a nice cosy bed to be honest and put it in your bedroom at night so he can sleep in there with company. Also you need to really exhaust him on his walks so all that pent up energy is gone.

hi, thank you both for the replies.

he gets on a 15 minute walk in the morning and at night, and about 45 minutes each walk through the day the other 2. it makes sense about the less exercise thing, i was thinking maybe it was his way of showing he was upset about something. when out he doesn't get to run around because he won't come back once off the lead-have tried every trick in the book to try to train him but he's stupidly stubborn and just wants to do his own thing no matter what.

i tried having him in the bedroom but he kept jumping on the bed and jumping around a lot at all hours, so it's not right either. also my bedding got covered in hairs, so he doesn't come into my room now.

Sounds like he is a bit put out your O/H has moved in. I would agree with the above get him a cosy bed and try not to exclude him. He probably feels a bit pushed out.Maybe up his exercise slightly too

A tired dog is a happy dog - believe me, give him more exercise and the problem should sort itself out

How long is he in the crate for? I would think that all night is too long

usually about 7 hours. he gets out at 11ish and bed about half 11, then we're up and about at half 6 so he gets out. he has his bed in the crate, the crate just prevents him from wrecking the sitting room at night. i might pay someone professional to train him recall so he can get more of a run, thanks for all the advice.

I would have to agree with this a tired dog sleeps all night and does not get up to go to the toilet, if you cannot trust him off lead you will need to jog with him he really needs to have a good 30 mins off lead a day to run and play labradors are quite high energy dogs.

Unofrtunately though if he has relapsed with his toilet training you will need to start from scratch again and go outside with him and praise him when he goes, i would also feed him twice a day.

With your recall you need to find what your dog will do anything for, mine doesn't do praise or treats but he will do anything for this one squeaky ball it's the only way he can be let off, just remember to be the most exciting thing ever to your dog when you're out, get him hooked on a game of fetch in the garden and associate a ball with fun then take it outside somewhere enclosed first.

Hi OP - we have a Lab Ridgeback X who we have had many issues with during his 5 years with us, thank goodness we are the other side of that now.

Although your dog has always been happy with his crate, it may be that he doesn't want to go in there any more. I didn't go down the crate side of things, but at night we would confine Rolo to the Kitchen - we always did this from his puppy times and then all of a sudden he would whine and whine and howl and we found he was much happier with a little more freedom - he now has the dining room and kitchen

It may well be that the presence of your OH has upset his position in the 'pack' and just needs some extra reassurance that he is still important

Good luck, it's never easy but worth while once you cross the bridge of problems

I agree with the advice that's been given

1. The dog is probably feeling a bit pushed out with your partner having moved in etc, make sure he isn't feeling second best etc.

2. All those hours in the crate and he is two now, I would say definitely try giving him more freedom, lose the crate, when you go out etc, leave him in the kitchen, it's more freedom.

3. Try and find a disserted spot, anywhere quiet around where you live, a field etc to really leave him run, or play ball tire him out. Failing that an extra walk will make all the difference. Dogs needs alot of exercise

4. As mentioned it's hard but to get your dog to come back to you, you need to make yourself more exciting than anything else going on around him. To do that find out what he likes best. Take perhaps a little bag of tiny treats and as soon as you spot another dog etc approaching call him and offer him one. It takes time.