stealing - how can I stop them? - Page 1

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by SitasMom on 21 April 2009 - 02:04

I have a rather frustrating problem, my puppies, Hero 6 months and Sita 14 months steal my stuff. They will sneak around and find some thing of mine, take it and with great relish, destroy it.

Today it was the camera and my glasses. I put them on the high counter and next thing I know they are the puppies favorite new toy. They have eaten all of my bras, certain shoes, papers, car keys, koozies, bedroom pillow and more. They do not bother anyone elses in the house, just mine.

Where does this behavior come from and how can I stop it?


by SitasMom on 21 April 2009 - 02:04

 

i cannot turn my back for even a second before they take something.

short of keeping them in their crates all the time, how can I stop them?


by Sam1427 on 21 April 2009 - 03:04

Bitter apple. I've yet to find one that will eat or chew anything doused with bitter apple or some other bitter taste deterrent. You have to set it up and watch to see if it works. Spray something really attractive with the taste deterrent and then put it where they can get it. Watch the results.

You actually have another problem underlying this one: they don't respect your possessions. And they probably egg each other on, since they are both immature and still puppies. You will probably have to correct and if that doesn't work or you won't correct, then you will have to crate them when you can't watch them. You can't spray bitter apple on everything you own, after all. The 6 month old is teething, right? Give lots of frozen raw bones.


by olskoolgsds on 21 April 2009 - 05:04

No magic answer.  Lots of work.  Put your stuff up out of reach, monitor them when they are not in crate (which in my opinion they should be when you cannot supervise them).  I use Ben Gay.  Some dogs, pups are not affected by bitter apple, but all living animals will not have anything to do with Ben Gay.  Rub some on your fingers, put it in  the dogs face and you will see their reaction.  I do this with pups and electric cords.  I also do this on nice furniture corners that they love to chew on.  As mentioned, you cannot proof everything in your house but that is where dilegence comes in.  I have had a priceless antique book ruined because I spent two minutes in the other room on the phone.  They always go for the things that you value the most, I think that is what their calling is while in puppyhood.  UPS put a package of $750.00 knives in my yard, guess who decided to open the package before I got to it?  I have just learned to role with the punches and except the fact that they will destroy what I leave out if I am not watching them or I cannot treat it with Ben Gay.


by mobjack on 21 April 2009 - 05:04

Sitasmom, good luck. I feel for you but have no good answers other than what's already been said. I think Sam's right with the respect issue though.

Oldskool I'm going to try that BenGay trick. I've got a fence chewer. Nothing's worked so far, I even tried McNasty and bear spray on the fence. I swear it he liked the taste and chewed more.


by SitasMom on 21 April 2009 - 09:04

I will continue to work on teaching the pups the difference between "mine" and ok.  Hero just came up with a ball...........his ball - OK! I think Sita is the main thief and Hero is more then happy to help. Sita is almost ready for her BH, so I don't think regular obedience is the issue.

Ben Gay sounds like a great idea. I bet just a little dab will do.

Thanks all


JLB82

by JLB82 on 21 April 2009 - 12:04

I have one of those kind, Baily tears up everything! we never could get her out of it, she 2 now. we have to keep her out side, when were not home and because she chews the pickets off our private fence, we had to put up a electric fence around everything to keep her from chewing it up. I hated the idea of a electric fence, but it worked out pretty well, i only have to turn it on about once a month for about a week, She'll test the fence once in a while. Now when were not home she can relax and chill  back there, she is a wonderful house dog as long as your home.


by beetree on 21 April 2009 - 13:04

When you figure this one out, let me know! I stopped buying expensive sunglasses because of my dog's thievery. He always goes for the last thing I've touched. Makes gardening a nightmare! At 2 plus, and extreme diligence on my part, we have some improvement. When we come home, he always grabs something to hold in his mouth, folds his ears down and does the" happy to see you" dance. He will drop stuff on command but still loves to do the grab.


Kelly M Shaw

by Kelly M Shaw on 21 April 2009 - 13:04

I knew this 1 trainer that would get bitter apple gel, and hot sauce, hot peppers and put it on a mouse trap. He would then duck tape the mouse trap to what ever the dog likes to chew on that isn't for the dog. It supposedly worked for him. He said that the dog's are too fast for the mouse trap to get them, but the nose of it and the taste of the stuff on it made them not go back again. If the dog did it in front of him he would get the bitter apple spray and put it in a water gun to spray the dog if it was done in front of him. Just a thought if everything else fails.

Kel

www.boeselagerkennel.com


Okie Amazon

by Okie Amazon on 21 April 2009 - 14:04

Years ago I had a Dobie that was addicted to pens. After several really fine messes with ink, I filled an ink pen with chloramphenicol (a VILE tasting antibiotic), filled the cap with it and lay it enticingly on the coffee table and left. When I came home, I found the pen in the floor, cap off (unchewed) and a very slobbery, sad looking Shazam. He never touched another one.

Sounds like your problem is much harder, since they don't target anything specific, but you might try setting them up with something.  I think they still make chloramphenicol liquid. You might ask your vet if you can buy a small amount. It makes bitter apple (which some dogs actually seem to like)  look like sweet cherry wine; it is HORRIBLE tasting stuff.






 


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