GARBAGE PICKING

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Do you have a garbage picker? How can we stop that behavior?

[Lynne B]

I would train the dog to stay out of the vicinity of the trash container. I do this by blocking the dog when he is in the area and using my body to force him to walk out of the area on his own. I don't touch him or grab his collar, just move my body to block him and walk him away the whole time using the "my mom is mad noise 'ah ah ah'" when he moves away I give him a treat or a hug. I used this technique to train my dogs not to go in the kitchen or bathrooms, and since those are the main rooms with waste baskets, I don't really have a trash picking problem. If what I'm describing isn't clear maybe I can have my husband video it.

[Adina P]

The easiest I think is to 'allow the dog to be good' by not having trash cans that are easy to get into in the first place. There is no need for tempting a dog with such things... at least not a dog that isn't superbly trained.


Our kitchen trash can is behind a door. Our bathroom trash can requires stepping on a pedal to open up the top. Rosco and Thule have gotten into Clark's office trash can (no lid) but as long as there isn't anything enticing in there...they don't bother it. Granted some doodles can figure out how to unlatch anything...but ours aren't that bright ;-P

[Lynne B]

yes, you are absolutely right- the best approach to training is always to set up conditions where the dog will NOT fail, that avoids about 80% of the problems people have with their dogs.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My short answer to this question is, you make sure the dog doesn't have access to the garbage. This is easy enough to do in kitchen areas...you use a metal step-can with a lid, and/or keep the garbage inside a solid cabinet, closed broom cupboard, laundry room with a door, etc. Bathroom doors can be kept closed.
I agree with Lynne B about training them to keep away from the garbage as you train them to leave other things alone, but until they're reliable with it, you have to deny them access. Dogs can die from eating garbage.

[Rose]

The only solution to my garbage picker problem is a waste basket with a lid!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Do you think that "Bad Boy" Bear, Donna's adorable GD, learned anything from this garbage picking mishaps?

[Leslie and Halas]

Bear's probably thinking, "You can't prove it was me! What? You can? How?!"

[Lynne B]

ok, that just made me spit coffee all over my monitor, that is one of the cutest things I have ever seen. I had a funny thing happen here last week, but unfortunately didn't get a picture of it, my kitchen counter separates the kitchen from the family room, the dogs don't go in the kitchen no matter what so I just don't worry about that, and the family room is at a lower level, so the counter is too high for them to reach from the family room, or so I thought.. I had some steaks on the counter defrosting & left the room for a minute. About 2 minutes later I hear a huge CRASH and run back to find one of the bar stools that was adjacent to the counter in the family room knocked over and both dogs standing next to it trying to look all innocent with steaks hanging out of their mouth. Apparently Beck had figured out that he could reach the counter by climbing up on a bar stool in the family room, amazingly he was able to balance on it long enough to grab 2 steaks before it fell over.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

OMG, this should go in the Counter Surfing one. That is too funny. How can you look innocent with a steak hanging out of your mouth? LOL

[Kathy Wilson]

Lordy, Lynne, I'm adopting one of his new sisters........making BIG note not to leave food in the refrigerator and defrost only there or in the microwave.

*(did you let him eat them?) ;)

[Lynne B]

they were swallowing them whole, there was no point in getting them back, I gave them my most disgusted look, folded my arms and walked away, actually Beck dropped the rest of his steak and came over to me and stood there whining and crying to get me to look at him (which I refused to do for 5 minutes) the Aussie just stayed there and ate what was left of both steaks.

[Kathy Wilson]

Oh my......you are strong! Could I have resisted the whining? I have to, but my heart will break from time to time! I am so jazzed to be adopting one of his sisters!