It’s been a year of work. Next steps…

To preface, I adopted an 8 week old puppy back in December 2024. He's a black lab mix, and highly energetic. He's a menace to the fullest extent. If he gets bored, he will start nipping at you or all the things you hold dear. In the first 6 months, my arms and hands looked like I was getting into daily fights with about 50 cats. Ever since then, his main priority has been destroying random things in my house.

He is now about 13 months old, and my couch has been obliterated at every corner, my coffee table looks like beavers had sawn off each edge, and I've had to replace doggy beds once every few months due to him destroying each one. Every toy I buy him ends up in pieces within a couple of hours, despite how "durable" it's branded.

I've tried many different tricks over the year. Redirection only works for a few moments, and being stern only makes him feel like a challenge to play more or play harder.

There's more to it, but the long and short of it is this:

1. What kinds of toys or objects can I get him that will keep him busy but will also hold up longer?

2. What strategies can I get him to do to stop chewing on my furniture and my belongings? It's getting expensive to replace.

3. As someone who works 40 hours a week and lives alone, what further strategies can I do to keep him busy and worn out? I already walk him every day, play fetch with him outside or take him to doggy day care 2x per week.

Let me be clear, I love the little stinker to death and wouldn't trade him for the world. He is my absolute baby. I just want further help in making the rest of my life easier and my belongings last longer.