Sneaky Dog! How to train not to steal things.

[Tami'n'Charly]

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

 

[LhasaLover]

She sounds like she might be a little bored. Does she have chew bones that last her a while? Or one of those Kong toys?

 

[Tami'n'Charly]

The dog wants for nothing. She's had a kong since she was a puppy-- but never interested in it. She also has several Nylabones that she likes. I rotate them so she gets excited when I take down a "new" one. However- that doesn't work for long. She does this too often to constantly "distract" her with yummy treats. Also, for health reasons, I don't give her rawhide.

Like I said- she gets plenty of attention and exercise. We'll get home from a 2 hour visit to the dog park where she is totally exhaused and next thing I know she's chewing on a spoon she got off of the counter!

 

[Romy]

I don't know of any positive training methods to curb this behavior, maybe doberluv can fill us in on the options there as it would be interesting to know how to handle the situation without negative reinforcers.

That being said, I do know of a couple of negative reinforcers (like the squirt bottle and can of pennies) that worked for a friend with a bold sneaky hound. She set her dog up to take something off the counter and hid really well where the dog couldn't see her. When the dog reached up, she let out a HUGE blast on an air horn just 10 feet away. The dog had never heard one before, and it was much more startling than a can of pennies. Now she only sneaks things off the counter if she is left uncrated when my friend leaves. ***NOTE! I would not recommend doing this to a sensitive dog.

She also had a problem with some barking behavior, I think that's what it was anyway. Her dog loved water too so the squirt bottle did not work. Her trainer said to mix in a little vinegar so that it was pretty diluted, but still smelled nasty and use that. She only had to use it twice and the behavior stopped.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Many of those activities are self rewarding. If you don't catch in the act it reinforces it's a great fun time to them..
If you can't watch crate, or put in one really really proofed room, so that when you can watch you can correct and teach. One reinforcement for behaviour you don't like and it' all that much harder to break the habits.

 

[Herschel]

Many of those activities are self rewarding. If you don't catch in the act it reinforces it's a great fun time to them..
If you can't watch crate, or put in one really really proofed room, so that when you can watch you can correct and teach. One reinforcement for behaviour you don't like and it' all that much harder to break the habits.

I agree. You should prevent these behaviors!

Don't use the crate as a negative place, use it as a positive place. If you can't directly supervise him, let him hang out in there with some treats, a bully stick, and a stuffed animal. Then when you're ready to play with him again bring him out.

If you are supervising him then he has no reason to be counter surfing, etc. If you aren't, he shouldn't be placed in a situation where he has that chance.

 

[Tami'n'Charly]

I know the crate shouldn't be used as a "punishment" spot. I just don't know what else to do. She adores her crate and I don't want that to stop.

As far as her "having no reason to counter surf if we're directly supervising her"... well, I don't know if she's an anomaly or what... but she'll do it right in front of us. If I'm cooking dinner and my boyfriend is training her.. she'll break her attention and come over and poke her nose up on the counter to see what I'm doing. We "catch her in the act" all the time.. but what do we do then?? And I guess my question- how do we trainer her not to jump on the counters and grab whatever she wants. We go over to her, say "off" and then what? Often times we'll give her a toy at that point but 2 minutes later she just goes right back to it.

 

[squirtsmom]

Be consistent, and try not to giggle. Sorry, but my dog doees the same th ing. We keep her crated if not working with her and playing with her.

 

[Herschel]

I know the crate shouldn't be used as a "punishment" spot. I just don't know what else to do. She adores her crate and I don't want that to stop.

As far as her "having no reason to counter surf if we're directly supervising her"... well, I don't know if she's an anomaly or what... but she'll do it right in front of us. If I'm cooking dinner and my boyfriend is training her.. she'll break her attention and come over and poke her nose up on the counter to see what I'm doing. We "catch her in the act" all the time.. but what do we do then??

Prevent her from doing it if she is right in front of you! Set up a gate if you have to. Condition her out of this by preventing it from ever happening.

 

[Tami'n'Charly]

Ok.. but HOW do I prevent her from doing this??? Do I yell at her, do I tell her "no"... I'm not going to hit my dog.

Gates are useless- she jumps them in a half a second.

 

[LhasaLover]

If she's putting her head on the counter when you're cooking, this is becoming a safety issue because it's only one step away from her touching the hot stove or tipping something off it that'll burn her.

If it was me, I'd very sternly say "NO" everytime I caught her doing it and stare at her until she's down - or if she doesn't get down on her own, push whatever body part is on the counter, off (firmly, but not roughly). I'd make her leave the room, in addition to that.

But, that's not going to stop her doing things like the toilet paper or your glasses or your shoes. Some of that she should grow out of as she matures, but some of it still sounds to me like she's bored, mentally. I would really work on finding something that fascinates/occupies her on a long term basis.