Stealing...

[Jill DeMartino]

Hi.

I have a 15 month old goldendoodle named Lily.  She really is a pretty good girl.  we have done puppy kindergarten classes up to CGC prep class.  She knows most commands and listens pretty well.  She has had free reign of the house since about 7 months old and never had chewed or touched anything she wasn't supposed to.  I am home with her most of the time.   If I leave, its very rarely for more than 3 hours at a time.  I always give her a Kong prior to leaving and she will hang out in our mudroom while I am gone.  Activity wise, I do as much as I can with her.  I walk her every morning for an hour to an hour and a half and then again in the late afternoon for about 20 minutes.  I play ball with her in the backyard when it's not too muddy, which is at least 3-5 times per week.  She gets to play with other dogs in a playgroup I go to at least once every two weeks. I take her to Petco and other stores that allow dogs when possible.  SO I think she gets a lot of activity.  All that being said...

The past 2 weeks she had been stealing my belongings.  Only my belongings, not my husband's.  She will pull my shoes out of the cubbies in the mudroom and she went and took a pair of pants off out bed and had them in the kitchen.  She doesn't ruin the things she steals, she just moves them around.  I now shut the bedroom door so she can't get at anything in there, but she is still stealing my shoes out of the cubbies in the mudroom.  I also sprayed all of the shoes with bitter apple.  Didn't seem to help.  Also, when I am home and doing something in the kitchen or whatever, she used to hang out with me and chew a toy or relax.  Now, all she does is stare at me and jumo up every time I take a step.

Anyways, any thoughts on these sudden annoying habits that seem to have developed?  And also, why is it just my stuff?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated:)

Thank you!

Jill

Update:  I emailed our breeder (she is also a "dog trainer")...  she says to start crating her again for about 2 months then start with short periods of alone out of the crate time.  If she is good, increase time, if bad decrease time spans.  Lily still sleeps in her crate, so I don't think she will mind too much, but I haven't day crated her for like 9 months.  Has anyone had to do this?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I can answer your last question. It's your stuff because she's most strongly bonded to you, and your stuff smells like you. 

[Jill DeMartino]

thanks Karen:)

[DonMarie and Picco]

You got yourself a velcro dog! She's going to follow you around ALL the time!   Your stuff/scent is the next best thing to you.  It wouldn't be annoying to me unless it was being destroyed.  Picco will go in the bedroom and steal something of mine just to get my attention. If I ignore him he'll just leave it, he just wants me to chase & play with him. 

[Jill DeMartino]

Just googled "Velco" dog...  Yup, that is her to a tee.  It's not too annoying, but I am concerned it will escalate.  Escalate to the point where she is destroying or chewing on the things she steals.  She doesn't really do it in front of me.  I just notice things are out of place when I come home.  So I can't say she is doing it to get me to play.  Thank you for your response:)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack used to take one of my T-shirts or PJ tops out of my dirty clothes hamper when I was at work; I'd find it on my bed, and it was clear that he'd been using it as a security blanket while I was gone. If it only happens when you're not around, she's using items that have your scent to comfort herself. 

[Diane and Alma]

My 8 year old doodle has done this to me for years.  She usually does it when I'm not paying attention to her - if I'm busy and wait to take her out for a walk.  She never chews on anything but brings it to me as if to show me what she has.  I try to ignore her.  She eventually drops the item (usually my shoe from our mud room, never my husband's or kid's things).  I don't want her to associate my stuff with a big prize/treat or game of keep-away so, I don't make a big deal about it.  I think it's funny how she tries to communicate with me.

[Nancy & Echo]

My 14 month old Echo does this too, though sometimes she does chew on them (like credit cards or pens).  When she prances out of the room, I know she's stolen something, and I think she wants attention.  Once she stole my slippers (which she's never chewed on), brought one back to my bed, and balanced it (sideways) on the rail that contains my box mattress. That took me a while to find! If I ignore her theft, she eventually loses interest.  Sometimes I do find the item in the back yard.

[Jill DeMartino]

thank you for your response:)

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

My youngest one does that too. Instead of bringing me a toy to greet me like Daphne, sometimes Pippa brings me my shirt or my PJ pants that she gets off my bed. Sometimes it's a jacket or sweater that was left within reach on the couch. I find it oddly endearing and it makes me laugh every time. She doesn't chew them up, just wants to carry them around. She is always trying to get my socks, sometimes she watches me take them off and then tries to get them. If I pay no attention to her, she might lay down with her head on my clothes items like it is her treasure.

[Jill DeMartino]

thank you for your response:)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm wondering since you say that this has just started happening, if the last few weeks the weather has been particularly bad with snow or rain or mud and her outside time has been less than normal?  Many times when they start acting up or behaving differently it is because of a lack of exercise.  I agree also that it is your things because you are with her the most and are her "pack leader" in her eyes.

On a side note we used to live in Stratford CT.  Oh the memories!

[Jill DeMartino]

hi!  where do you live now?  nearby still?  if so, I am always looking for a playdate:) 

thank you for your response.  yes, it has been difficult to get out in the yard and play because it is like a mudpit from the snow melting and the rain this past week.  however, despite poor weather, I still make sure we get out for walks...  at least an hour everyday.... Rain or shine!  if it's muddy in the backyard, I will try and find another daily activity to do  (go to Petco, Home Depot, car rides, toss the ball in our finished basement or do training drills for 10-15 minutes.)  No matter how much activity I do with her, she always is looking for more.  she will sleep for like 20 minutes after the activity and then starts staring at me with that look like "What's next?"  We had another goldendoodle before her...  She was high energy too, but at least she would be satisfied with a just a daily walk.