raiding the waste basket

[billprispark]

Every time I leave my dog raids the wastebasket How do I stop this

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hello,

This is a very common issue, especially with newly rescued dogs who haven't learned boundaries.

 

The easy, most obvious answer is to simply keep the waste basket out of reach by placing it in an area where the dog cannot reach it or keep the dog away from it by crating the dog, placing the dog in an exercise pen or in a room with a baby gate where there is nothing that can get the dog in trouble. This should be done when supervision cannot be provided so to prevent rehearsal of the problem behavior (the more dogs practice problem behaviors, the more they want to perform them as they become habit forming) and also for safety considering that some dogs may chew/ingest things in the waste basket that can be potentially harmful.

 

The more complex answer is how to work on the issue if we want to tackle it directly. If this happens every time you leave, this most likely means that your dog has associated your presence with being told to not touch the waste basket. So here are a few tips on how to work this:

 

-Work on training a solid "leave it." Start with normal items and then progress to more valuable items. Here is the guide on how to train a dog to "leave it:" https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/obedience-101/take-leave-it/

 

-Generalize the "leave it" to the waste basket. Any time you notice your dog is walking towards the waste basket in your presence, redirect the behavior by saying 'leave it" and praising/rewarding your dog for moving away from it.

 

-If the behavior only happens in your absence, you may have to practice "leave its" as you pretend to leave the room. This entails watching the dog from a window at a distance or a remote camera or using a mirror to watch the dog from a distance. The moment the dog attempts to the get to the item, the dog owners should announce "leave it"to remind the dog that although he's not in sight, the dog is still being watched. These sessions can be rehearsed several times, although there are no guarantees the dog won't steal the item if left alone for a long time. Also, such rehearsals should never be used with items that are potentially harmful to the dog.

 

At the same time, to help the dog succeed, it helps to leave around "legit items" that the dog can have access to without getting in trouble. These legit items should help provide more mental stimulation so that the waste basket appears boring in comparison and the dog gets to make good choices. Examples of "legit items" include stuffed Kongs, Kong Wobblers filled with the dog's meal or safe chews. Dogs who raid trash cans and waste baskets are often dogs who are looking for mental stimulation and 'scavenging" opportunities.

 

You can read more tips of dogs who tend to "steal" or get access to things when the owner is away in this thread:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/forum/showthread.php?43-Thieving-Pooch

 

Training your dog to drop it is also important considering that your dog may one day carry something out of the waste basket: here is how to train it: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/obedience-101/drop-it/

 

Finally, there's an easy solution that won't require all this work and provides peace of mind: investing in a dog proof waste basket with a lid.

Edited August 30, 2019 by Adrienne Farricelli

[billprispark]

I think I will try for a dog proof waste basket! THanks