Has your Labrador started chewing on the corner of chairs, carpets, mats or your favourite slippers? Has he taken to digging up every corner of your yard or barking for no apparent reason?

No doubt about it. These kinds of Labrador behaviour problems can leave you at your wit's end trying to figure out a way to stop it.

Well, before you do anything else, you need to observe your Lab to see when these unwanted Labrador behaviour problems take place. Think about what's going on in your dog's environment. Is he being left alone for too long at a stretch?

Could it be your Lab is just bored?

That's right! He may just be suffering from boredom, pure and simple.

Luckily, this is a problem that's easy to solve.

First, you should take a look at your Lab's daily routine.

Is he getting enough attention? Are you walking him enough? Does he need more physical activity to get rid of that pent up energy he's been diverting into those destructive behaviours?

You may need to re-think your schedule here so you can make more time to spend with your pet.

Make sure to take your Lab out for regular walks - particularly if you're going to need to be away for a while. Or get him involved in an energetic game of fetch before you put him in his crate for a while. That way he'll have used up some of the famous Labrador energy and be ready to settle down for a bit.

Now that you've taken care of your dog's need to move, the next step is giving him something to keep his mind busy!

And for that, you'll need to make a trip to your local pet store. You're going to want to pick up some toys to help challenge your Lab's mental dexterity and keep him entertained when he has to be left on his own.

Choose a few chew toys to place in his crate while you're gone (puppies particularly love these!). Anything from a hard, rubber ball to a cowhide bone will do.

Consider picking up a Buster Cube or Kong Toy as well. These are ingenious toys designed to stimulate and activate your Lab's problem-solving abilities. Just add a few treats to one of these and put it - along with your Labrador - in the crate. You'll be amazed at how eagerly he begins trying to figure out how to get to the treats hidden inside!

Don't let your Labrador behaviour problems destroy your peaceful home - take the time to evaluate your dog's day, how much time he's spending alone and whether boredom really could be the reason. If it is, then you now have a few ideas on how to nip it in the bud!