Need Help Disciplinning!!

[angie8023]

My fiance and I have a really great 10 month old terrier mix named Sancho. He is sweet, non agressive, and great around children. He hasn't been listening to us as much as he used to. The only bad thing he does is grab paper out of the trash. My fiance thinks that spanking the dog when he does this will keep him from not doing it again. This has not been working. I choose not to spank him but rather put him in his cage when he does something wrong. This hasn't been working either. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I am so lost

[Saje]

He's a pup. If he gets into the garbage it's your fault. Keep the garbage under the sink or somewhere he can't get to it. Any mistakes he makes are your fault. Always. Try to redirect the behaviour by giving him something appropriate to play with. He will outgrow it. Please do not hit your dog.

[angie8023]

I want to make it clear that I do not hit my dog! I tell him no and put him in his cage. My fiance is the one that uses spanking as a form of discipline. We are both still learning that it why I am asking for suggestions. I am hoping that he will grow out of it.

[Saje]

Ok, please do not allow anyone to hit your dog. That is not going to teach him anything except to fear you.

[Zoom]

Really, the simplest thing is to put the trash elsewhere, or to crate him when you're not watching him. It's fun for him to get in the trash and he will not connect his getting hit by anyone with "that means don't get in the trash." It will teach him that your fiance is unpredictable and that might affect your dog's behavior towards him as he grows up. Dogs respect those they trust and hitting damages trust.

[MafiaPrincess]

You need to put it where the dog can't get it. That is pretty much the only solution till he grows up a lot more. Even then, paper is tempting, and my 2.5 year old when zooming will still shred newspaper.

[coteyr]

don't put the dog in the crate. If used as a punishment it will become just that. The crate will go from a "safe spot" to a punishment. You dog will hate to be there. Just move the trash.

[angie8023]

This has all been very helpful. I appreciate everyones input! I do have one other problem that isn't as easy as keeping trash out of his way. He recently tore up our carpet in our brand new apartment. Do I need to crate him while we are gone? I want to be able to leave him out of his crate while I am not around. Am I nieve for thinking that this might be possible?

[Zoom]

It might be possible later, but right now he's proving that he's not trustworthy by himself. Start getting him used to being crated now so he doesn't form destructive habits, then when he's out of the puppy stages (around a year or so, maybe sooner, maybe later--depends on the dog) you can start leaving him out for 5 minutes and work your way from there. Also, make sure he's getting plenty of exercise. A tired dog is a good dog.

[animalcrackers]

Ditto on the no more spanking and using the crate as punishment. Aside from keeping the garbage lid secured, you can start teaching him "Leave it". I also agree with what the previous poster said. It's perfectly fine to crate him while you're gone.