Background: Charly is a 1.5 year old English Springer Spaniel. She's a very smart dog and the love of our lives. We've completed several obedience classes (3 to be exact and currently enrolled in pre-agility) and she's always "graduated" first in her class. I also work from home so she gets PLENTY of attention and exercise throughout the day.
Problem: She counter surfs, she steals shoes from the closet, she attacks ANYTHING resembling paper- basically, she's a terror when she wants to be (but not ALL the time). We loudly tell her "no" and clap our hands when she does this. I've even started using her crate as a "time out". Our house is as "puppy-proof" as you can get, and yet nothing seems to stop her.
For instance, she's destroyed an entire package of Toilet Paper (economy pack mind you) the other day. She went into the cabinet and got it herself! Paper... everywhere! This is a pricey habit too. She's demolished my glasses 3 times now. My glasses cost $300.00 to replace each time. Ouch! However, I understand this was my fault for leaving them where she could get to them. I can't blame her for that. But still-- she goes after everything! She'll also attack my shoes- which she knows not to do. We've taught her the "go get your toy" command and she has no problem identifing HER toys (has never mistaken a shoe or a book for a toy). She will use her paws to "reach" for things on the back of the counter- it could be a glass bowl or a pack of gum- it doesn't matter, she just wants it! Does anyone have any advice on how to stop this behavior??
P.S. She's got NO fear so the "pennies in a can" thing doesn't work
P.S.S. She LOVES water so the squirt gun mentod doesn't work either.
P.S.S.S The "redirection" method doesn't work either. She knows when she's doing something she's not supposed to- but chooses to do it anyway. She's got plenty of tough chew toys that she uses on a regular basis.
Thanks so much,
Tami
Problem: She counter surfs, she steals shoes from the closet, she attacks ANYTHING resembling paper- basically, she's a terror when she wants to be (but not ALL the time). We loudly tell her "no" and clap our hands when she does this. I've even started using her crate as a "time out". Our house is as "puppy-proof" as you can get, and yet nothing seems to stop her.
For instance, she's destroyed an entire package of Toilet Paper (economy pack mind you) the other day. She went into the cabinet and got it herself! Paper... everywhere! This is a pricey habit too. She's demolished my glasses 3 times now. My glasses cost $300.00 to replace each time. Ouch! However, I understand this was my fault for leaving them where she could get to them. I can't blame her for that. But still-- she goes after everything! She'll also attack my shoes- which she knows not to do. We've taught her the "go get your toy" command and she has no problem identifing HER toys (has never mistaken a shoe or a book for a toy). She will use her paws to "reach" for things on the back of the counter- it could be a glass bowl or a pack of gum- it doesn't matter, she just wants it! Does anyone have any advice on how to stop this behavior??
P.S. She's got NO fear so the "pennies in a can" thing doesn't work
P.S.S. She LOVES water so the squirt gun mentod doesn't work either.
P.S.S.S The "redirection" method doesn't work either. She knows when she's doing something she's not supposed to- but chooses to do it anyway. She's got plenty of tough chew toys that she uses on a regular basis.
Thanks so much,
Tami
Last edited: