Trash shredding

[Heather & Brinkley]

 

So, I'm back living in my parent's house until my new place opens up in April/May.  Unfortunately, five weeks after my husband returned from being away at med school, he told me he wanted a divorce.

 

My dad's not a dog person.  He tolerates Brinkley well and he even takes him on walks.  He tries-- he really does.  But add the stress of my current situation + a 4 1/2 month old + my doodle and me back in their house, to say tension is on an all time high would be an understatement. 

 

Brinkley shreds paper like mad.  He goes into the trash and pulls out Kleenex and shreds to his heart’s content.  Aside from getting cans with lids, how can I train him to stop the shredding?  It's not my house; they won't get trash cans with lids.  There's nothing dangerous in these small cans.  Just a Kleenex or two. Luckily he never eats anything-- just shreds and shreds and shreds.  He does it when he wants attention. This will all end when I'm in my own place in a month or so... but last night my parents had cleaned and two minutes later the living room was a disaster because Brinkley pulled everything out that he possibly could and shredded it.  He has chew toys; he had three LONG walks; ball throwing and a play date yesterday.  Exercise is not the problem.  When I'm with the baby, he shreds. 

 

Any training advice?

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I'm so sorry for what you're going through.  I don't have any additional advice but I hope you're in your new place soon with your little one and Brinkley…and most of your husband's future earnings.  Hang in there.  Life will get better.

 

[Kyoko]

So sorry for the tough situation..... Brinkley may be stressed as well.....I have a shredder as well.... And it is hard to make sure every pieces of paper is out of reach. ( Because they find it from somewhere!!) Spring will be here before you know it.....

[Heather & Brinkley]

Thanks so much everyone!

[Rebecca Chynoweth]

I am sorry you are going through this. Since your dad is a lawyer we can all assume your jerk of a spouse is going to get a face full soon. So, I can forgive him for being a little inflexible when it comes to the tissue shredding :) Good luck and better days are ahead for certain.

[Julie and Max]

Heather I'm really sorry you're having to deal with all this. No advice here, I hope everything gets better for you soon.

[Sally S Miles]

Heather, sending you wishes for strength - you have plenty of wisdom -  the best thing I ever found was pepper, yep - regular black pepper sprinkled into the wastebaskets.     Meanwhile both of mine still think a tissue is a major treat,  the texture must be isky, dogs love it.

[Deborah Brown]

I find it odd that your parents aren't willing to move the garbage cans temporarily.  I'm sure it's stressful for them to see shredded kleenex all over the house.  Maybe you could address it from that perspective.  They want a clean house; Brinkley is not going to change in the immediate future, especially since he is likely stressed himself; find a solution to make everyone's life easier during a stressful time; promise to move out as soon as possible.  

Good luck to you!

[Heather & Brinkley]

It's not just the tissue-- the entire situation is stressful. I'm up at 4:30am to get to work early so my parents have inherited a lot-- from feeding my newborn to walking Brinkley on the days I go in super early. The tissue is what set him off but I don't blame him.  They've rearranged their lives for 2 years while my husband was away.  They weren't expecting to have me, my baby and my doodle back within 5 weeks of leaving.  They've rearranged everything abut their lives to welcome us back.  Having trash cans on desks, counters, etc. and having a nosey doodle is just what pushed him over the edge in an already very tense situation.  Brinkley is now spending most of the week with my (ex) husband and then I'm taking him the latter part of the week and weekends-- so the walking of the dog doesn't fall on my parents and my dad gets a reprieve from the doodle. :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Heather, Simple Human is one of the brands of quality lidded waste baskets.  Do you think if you bought those for your parents' home, it might keep Brinkley out of the trash.  We have them in our bathrooms as the second line of defense - the first is a closed door.    Luckily for us, our kitchen trash is kept behind a door.