The "Grab, Go and Destroy"

[Holly Southall]

Angel is a little over one and we have had this problem forever and I just thought she would have to grow out of it.

Basically anything she finds appealing (stuffed animals, paper, empty caprisuns......) She will snatch it quick and run off and destroy it.

The trainers taught us and her "What ya got?" and if she has something we do not want her to destroy and we notice in time, we say that phrase and offer a treat. She drops the item in anticipation of her treat. It usually keeps her from destroying it. She will drop it and we treat her. If we do not notice she has gotten something, it is gone in a matter of minutes.

I would like to stop the behavior all together. Is this something she will need to grow out of, or is there a way to prevent it?????

Ideas, suggestions, experience please.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Ha...lol...when you figure it out, let me know. Lucca is 15 months and still does it. He's getting a little better but it's still a big game. I like the "what ya got"...it's nicer than the stern "drop it" or "leave it". He has also figured out how to nuzzle the top open to the wastebasket in the bathroom with his nose to grab kleenex out of it!!! He still grabs socks but doesn't seem to eat them anymore, nor chew on shoes. So, it is getting better!!!

[Michelle]

Our puppies are only 4 months and of course they also do this. We have been saying "share" and treating as well, but the behavior continues and has actually been getting worse. I was just thinking earlier this week, these are such intelligent dogs, aren't they going to figure out that they are going to get treats everytime they get into something they aren't supposed to? Won't this actually encourage the bad behavior? Both of your dogs are older, so this might prove that this original "solution" is backfiring on us! LOL I'm going to do some research and see if there is another way, I'll let you know if I find anything! Good luck!!

[Holly Southall]

I have thought that as well. Maybe she is learning when she gets something she is not supposed to have, she gets a treat.

If anyone has an older doodle that has gone through this please help.

[Deanna Marsh]

My mini Doodle Mango is 18 mos old and she has out-grown this. I realized the other day that she no longer gets the kleenex out of the trash to shred it anymore. She may still go get a sock off the floor, but she only holds onto it, does not chew it. She still shreds her own toys, but those are hers after all. When we would see that she had something she shouldn't we would say No, then say give and reach over and put our hands around it, or if it was small reach in her mouth. She would release it. We never gave her a treat for giving us what she wasn't supposed to have in the first place. They're babies still and are learning. But I never made a game of it, tugging etc. (I hope I haven't jinxed us, she may try to prove me wrong and destroy my couch or something) I don't think so, but you never know. Hope this helped.

[Ron Carnes]

Zack is 10 month's old and we fight that continually. Recently, since he likes ice cubes, he will use his paw to dispense ice from the refrigerator. What a mess that is.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Can't you lock the dispenser. Mine has that function.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I've been training Lucy something similar but with a difference. I give her one of her own toys to chew and say, "out", while holding the object, but not pulling on it, and treat when she releases. Then I give the object back and start over. That way she's learning it doesn't necessarily have to be something she's not suppose to have that gets her a treat upon releasing, but anything at all. We've only been working on this for a few days, as she's only 9 weeks old, so the jury is out on how it will work a year out from how.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

LOL!!!! that is great...ice cubing!!! Lucca has almost figured out how to push down on the water dispenser. Don't want to encourage that!!

[Lauren B]

Haha our dog seems to be just like Angel. Fozzie is 1 yrs old this week and he has been doing the 'grab, go, & destroy' since a young pup. He ALWAYS wants us to chase him and make a game out of it. Ignore him, and he will usually take the treasured item to a dark corner to destroy. He does it with other dogs when he takes their toys too. Sometimes we can bait him with a treat, sometimes not...
It's especially frustrating with paper. Shredding paper seems to be what he was meant to do in life. He holds the sheet down with one paw and tears in strips, then chews the strips. And of course he typically is interested in paper that have our scent on it....my magazines, uncashed checks, important financial documents. So much paper, so little time according to our dog.

[shelly]

OH YES!!! Tori has been doing this forever! And she just LOVES to go to her favorite spot... under the dining room table where we have to crawl on our bellies to reach her. She give a warning growl and try to get us to leave her alone, but... sometimes treats work and sometimes they don't. Guess it depends on the desire value... Lately, she has just been coveting the item and keeping it under her chin and paw, unless it's a paper towel or tissue. But that was another discussion....I'll be watching for some helpful hints!

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

I've done a similar routine with Zoe. If she grabbed something that was off limits I made a noise that I don't know how to spell...{ccchhhhhhtttt ??} I told her no, said drop and made her drop the item. When she did as I asked I praised her. Then I gave her something that wasn't off limits or treated her. I always switch it up though so she didn't always know if she was getting treated or toyed. Good luck, I think we've all come to know doodles are funny little sneak artists!