How Honest Is Your Doodle?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I suppose the title isn't really a great one, because it's less about honesty and more about obedience. But a recent mishap with Darwin has made me ponder this. He has been trained to not go near the garbage can. Our garbage doesn't have a lid, but it hasn't been a problem because we always crate him when gone, and always watch him when home. Even when we aren't paying close attention, he hasn't tried to go near the garbage for a year or so. We have been very diligent in correcting him if he goes near it, and he is aware of that. He knows very well that it's off limits. 

Well DH and I were both in the bedroom hanging photos on the wall, and while we were in there Darwin went to the garbage and ate some stuff out of it. We caught him and he immediately knew it was wrong, he went into his crate and acted pathetic and sad. We were shocked because we can take a nap or leave the room and we are confident he won't go near it. He hasn't even come close for a long time. We assumed that over time, his training was solid enough that he was trustworthy. I guess this time the cream of chicken soup cans were just too tempting, and he really thought we wouldn't see him.

Will your doodle misbehave if he has the opportunity to? Is this a matter of him not being well enough trained, or is it really inescapable to have them go after something if the opportunity presents itself? 

[cheryl & oliver]

Our Aussie that is 14 yrs old, has never ever touched, eaten or destroyed anything in the house.  NOW, Oliver is another story.  He chewed the baseboard in the kitchen and family room, took wallpaper off the wall in my office, and has eaten some strange things, like glasses, elastic bands, paper of all kinds, etc.  I have kept the garbage can behind closed cabinet in the kitchen, and the bathroom doors closed and my bedroom door closed.  If the bathroom doors are open I have to make sure that the toliet seat is down and covered.  He thinks the bowl is a great place for a drink.  In the kitchen, he might sniff at the food on the table, but he backs away when I say no in a firm voice. Same with counter surfing, if i see him even thinking about it, a loud no does the trick.  Would I trust him?, nope, he is very food motivated, and he would take  it and don't need the aggravation, so I watch as much as I can.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Sadly, YES YES YES!  We thought Ned was Xmas decor proofed because he is 2 1/2.  Clancy destroys toys but has NEVER gone after non-dog items.  We put up our decorations including two cheap fake poinsettia plants - one on the den coffee table and one on the living room coffee table.  We came home to remnants of the poinsettias.  The next day we came home to two dead and headless AnnaLee elves :(  that were on a drafting table in the entry.  Walked up stairs and found a stuffed Santa pillow on the floor.... hmmmm...We don't really know which doodle it was, but Clancy does not counter surf and Ned does so.......  Dogs are now confined (again) to the den/kitchen when we leave.  We think we will miss getting a tree again this year.

[Carol and Banjo]

Hey...Nancy I lived in Meredith (home of AnnaLee dolls)...now live nearby and drive through it on my way to work.

I would think their dolls would be huge temptation to most doods!

[Dot, Maggie and KoKo]

I decided not to take any chances with decorations this year since neither dog has been with us for Christmas before.  Maggie is a thief, will steal shoes, socks, underwear and slippers but has never destroyed them. These are pretty much the only thing she goes after so I really think she would have been okay with the tree but KoKo is a pup who will steal or chew everything and anything.  So, we have a four foot tree up on a table. I dropped KoKo at my sisters for a 1/2 hour so I could go to the pharmacy and not leave her in the car alone.  In the time she was there she stole four ornaments off the tree quicker than my sister could get off the sofa to stop her.    I just added a picture showing her after she got hold of my "fake" poinsettia. 

[Eileen and Pretzel]

Pretzel is a registered offender in our home.  He knows all the rules and routinely breaks every one of them.  Yesterday morning while I was in the shower he stole my favorite pair of glasses and demolished them.  We are now at war.  He is going to learn who the alpha dog really is in this house!  

 

Don't be fooled by their sweet faces and how cute and cuddly they can be.  They have a genetic disposition to a life of crime.  We are merely their hostages......

 

 

[Shelby and Kev]

Honesty is taught through love in our household.  I do not deal with the issue of food theft because love and respect go hand in hand.  Shelby is a God Send to our family and Frankly the kids are more dishonest than ShelbyDoodle.  And my Kids are quite well mannnered and honest!! GrrDoodle!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Really? So how do you teach Shelby to not touch food? Our dogs are loved like members of the family, and they are very respectful, however, I wouldn't trust them with food.