"Come on Zwick, beating the dog when he finally comes in ??? Kinda like beating a woman when she finally puts out...think about it. "

Nicely put!
Remember, it is easier to not a behavior in the first place than to unlearn a bad one. Bitter apple works well, and putting the animal into the situation you are trying to correct and then correcting them as they do it is a positive way of teaching them what you want them TO do. Get one of your daughter's animals and try to get the dog the dog to take it. As he takes it, give him a good stern NO!. They have to be corrected in the act or they can't learn what you expect from them. Eventually he will associate you and the toy with a negative situation. Back off a little bit, but keep him exposed to the toys. Correct him as he gets fixated on the toys. Keep backing off as he understands more and more that he not to touch the couch or the toys. Use bitter apple too. Dogs HATE the taste of bitter apple.
I never gave my dogs stuffed toys to chew because they have a hard time distinguishing between a stuffed toy and a couch cushion or a child's toy that is not his. My dog has a kong and a nylabone which he been working on for years. The stuffed toy thing was learned the hard way. Hope it helps.

ZWICK 4 PREZ wrote: This is the first black lab pup I've had and he's about impossible sometimes. Hes house broken and stays off furniture and only chews on his toys... but the fucker will not listen when you tell him to come inside. Every other dog I've had would come when u yelled at it. This fuckin thing just growls back and keeps running. Beating it's ass does nothing. He's not phased by an ass beating. How do u get a black lab to come when u call it? I just go in the house and wait for him to finally come in and then beat its ass. Not working tho.

HAHA the key word for my HAHA..is LAB.. Oh my, I have a Yellow Lab..great guard dog, house broken, hyper as shit! Great dog, but he can be quite the bastard. When I try and bring him in, he usually will run up to the door , and then bolt. I've tried the old ass smacking, hasn't worked..(worked on my shepherd though) he will occasionally growl at me when I try bringing him in. Ironic though, I have to literally drag him to the door to get him to go out, and then have to drag him in as well.

I was told the first 2 years of a Lab's life are the worst.. Mine is slowly working on 2 years old.. and slowly his stubborn ways are fading, and he is filling out quite nicely.. zwick you probably havent, but have you see marley and me? I thought that movie was dead on when it came to a Lab's behavior..

also, does he shred every toy you give him? Man a toy lasts with my Lab for about 3 min, and it's GONE.

v_falcons wrote: zwick you probably havent, but have you see marley and me?

No, I still like women.

out of my whole damn post and that's what you respond to.. lol why ya gotta try and convince everybody all the time.. ; )

v_falcons wrote: out of my whole damn post and that's what you respond to.. lol why ya gotta try and convince everybody all the time.. ; )

I'll convince u if u want. I'll turn u out anytime.

no wonder your dog doesnt like coming in..poor thing.. lol

Go get a clicker at Per Supplies Plus, they are like 59 cents. Give a comand then click the clicker. Somehow they seem to relate a command and that clicker sounds. It must trigger something in their brain.

Works for my Boxer who is generally a head strong dog, but when he hears the clicker he listens.

Training dogs is a battle of wills. IMO the most important thing you must do is not give up until the dog does what you tell it to do,if it knows your commands are optional it will do whatever it wants. Easier said than done.

A lot of people misunderstand the 'alpha male' concept...and think that they have to beat the hell out of their animals to establish control. Dogs are descendent from wolves...and wolves are pack/family oriented animals. You don't have to establish yourself as the most powerful physical 'dog' in your family...you only have to establish that you are 'dad or mom'. Frail old ladies are capable of training big dogs without beating the hell out of them.
In a wolf family unit...mom and dad always get first pickings from the pack's kill, even if "junior" is now the bad ass of the pack.