I’m sorry to hear so many people complain about their labs being pests – eating shoes and furniture, pestering them with balls and toys all day.

Labs, like border collies, are addicts. One time is fun; two times is a lifelong obsession.

My labs are not pests. They respect peace in the house and get plenty of walks and exercise outside the house.

Labs are schizophrenic by nature. They love to chase things and run through the woods; they are also bred to be still patient with humans for long periods.

You can have both. Zinnia loves to lie by my side while I write for hours a day. As you can see in the video, I give her plenty of exercise – walks in the woods and a couple of aerobic ball throwing sessions. It’s more than enough.

First, when a Lab puppy comes, I flood the house with chewable ropes and rings specially made for Labs and available wherever pet supplies are sold. I got mine at chewy.com, my favorite dog supply site.

Everywhere the puppy goes, he or she will find a toy for them to chew on. If they pick up something that’s not theirs, I take it out of their mouths and replace it with a Lab chew toy. There are many, and they are not expensive.

No Lab of mine has ever chewed anything that wasn’t theirs to chew.

Secondly, it’s easy to keep Labs from driving people crazy with balls and toys inside the house. The answer is to play outside, not inside. In our house, no ball chasing, tug-of-war toys or wrestling on the floor.

That’s all for outside.

Inside is for quiet – working, cooking, talking, reading. I get a can of aerosol “off” spray for dogs, and if they bother me, I spray them once or twice with an air can and shout “off,” that usually does the trick. I always say “off” when I spray.

Labs are energetic and active dogs, but they don’t need hours of exercise a day like border collies. It isn’t good for them and is often arousing. These dogs know how to be crazy; they have to be shown how to be calm and do nothing.

Crates are essential for training a puppy to be calm. For one thing, it forces them to settle and be still. For another, I put a young Lab in a crate for the first eight to 10 months of his or her life when I go out.

When I come home, there are no accidents or mistakes, or damaged property. Also, they are never fed human food from a table. When we eat at a table, Zinnia goes to the other room to sleep. Feeding dogs from the table is a nasty habit; it often turns the dog into a thief or a food hound.

Two or three walks a day and some ball chasing outside is enough exercise; there is no need to turn them into toy addicts because you never think they’ve had enough.

I insist on my contract with dogs. I give them a great and active, and safe life; they give me peace and support when I am inside or working. That’s the deal.

I keep my end of the bargain; I insist they keep theirs. Labs are wonderful pets. Whenever you see one out of control, you know their human is too busy or lazy to train them.

They are happy to fit into your life and support a peaceful household. These dogs are easy to train and eager to please. There is no excuse in my mind for a well-bred Lab to be an addict or a pest.

My rule is when that happens; it’s always my fault, not theirs.