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? 

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

I always blame those behaviors on my husband.  He waits for me to turn my back, then feeds the dogs from his plate.  Puts his plate on the floor, for them to lick, etc. I swear that DH needs obedience traing, so the dogs can stay out of trouble!

[BG and Gavin]

Gavin has had free run of the house since he was about 10 mons old and has never touched a single thing.  Two weeks ago while home alone he chewed a card and the corners of some photo my SIL sent.  I was shocked.  Less than a week later he chewed a piece of paper and a mat that was down in the basement.  My immediate reaction is that I must not be meeting his exercise requirements and he had been left alone a bit too long that week.  He has had a bit of restriction since then - a couple of closed doors and a babygate back up in the basement.

[Michael Gurley]

Sunny will get into the garbage if there are tissues (Kleenex) in it. The kitchen can is covered, but the can in my room isn't and the ones in the bathrooms aren't... so she likes fem. hygiene items and toilet paper and tissues... she rips them up and leaves little pieces all over the house!!

[Michael Gurley]

Also, Sunny KNOWS that human food is off limits even if I leave a bowl with leftovers on the table. However, the day before yesterday I left a bowl with some chili left in it on a table and went to feed the lizards, leaving her in the main house because she is not good with the reptiles. When I got back, she was gobbling chili off the floor with shards of ceramic scattered among the beans. She looked up at me guiltily and then gobbled faster!! I pulled her away pretty quickly, especially since I was afraid she'd swallow a broken shard of bowl, and stuck her in the pool area while I cleaned up. Very messy!!

[Frannie & Callie]

Callie is a very good girl...until she isn't. The evidence below is nearly exactly a year old. I still, every day, specifically outline to Callie (as I'm getting ready to leave) that she only to play with items that are specifically "hers". (my smartypants sister's response to the blinds incident was "well did you ever TELL her not to eat the blinds??")

 

[Carol and Banjo]

WHOA!!!  Callie Girl!!!!   Banjo is seriously IMPRESSED!

[Frannie & Callie]

3 sets of 2" wood blinds. There's just always a "surprise" expense in december.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

On wow Ms. Callie...those blinds were hanging too!  I thought when I first read your post that they were probably sitting on the floor waiting to be hung.  She sure had a wild Zoomie with those!!! 

[Carol and Banjo]

And you look like such a NICE girl!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Callie, when you decide to misbehave you sure do it with a vengence. Are you the president of the Naughty Doodle Group?

[Camilla and Darwin]

Wow, that is some serious destruction! I would never believe it looking at sweet Callie.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Okay, I think DH and I have been endowing Darwin with some altruistic human emotions that he just doesn't have, LOL. Getting a covered garbage can today... :-)