10 Month Old Labrador

[Jodielass]

Every time When my Jodie comes in the house straight away she grabs whatever she can and will not give it back.It might me anything like remote control to anything that is on the floor toilet rolls and especially socks.

She is playing a game with us.The tail is wagging .She is having fun but we are not

We already goes to 2 dog obedience dog schools.

I have tried to ignore her so it is not fun for her , if it is something important we have to get it off her otherwise she will shew it up

Please help

Diane

[email protected] .

This has been happening for several weeks now.She already goes to two obedience dog training schools.

Edited September 30, 2009 by Jodielass

[Ons]

make her sit

hold one of her toys up to her

say give

take what she has and immediately give her the toy

lots and lots of praise, go overboard

my house was never tidier when I had a pup, everything picked up, anything that the pup got was my fault

she is still a pup and a labrador pup at that, patience, patience, patience and she will turn into a wonderful girl

[Erny]

I began my boy's "inside house" training from the first day he came home. A good part of it back then was "prevention" when I couldn't be immediately on hand to supervise. The other part of it was observing those things he paid attention to (that I didn't want him to) and using a variety of things/methods to discourage him, depending on what they were and what was the most suitable to use. This included verbal admonishments (ranging in different intensities); distraction away from and then re-direction to something more suitable; spraying the 'forbidden' object of interest with commercially prepared 'bad tastes'.

In the meanwhile I also taught him the game of "relinquish" (using toys/items he was allowed to have) and not too far down the track was able to use this in events where he did pick up things he shouldn't have.

Through being very watchful over him and my household objects, I've never had to chase him with anything he might have managed to put his mouth on, knowing that I'd not want to anyway because yes, as you've recognised, this becomes a game the dogs quickly learn how to instigate.

Only a couple of days ago, my (now 15 month old) boy banged his exuberantly wagging tail on a cupboard, which succeeded in knocking off one of my vacuum cleaner attachments to the ground. I didn't realise this but took note when I heard him with something in his mouth. I called him to me and asked for "give', which he did - knowing that there was reward in it for him.

As to the latter (ie reward) - that's something you do have to be aware of. For many dogs, if the reward for giving up 'forbidden' objects is high it can lead to them looking for those forbidden objects, so it can prove problematic in itself. The general rule is to give the higher reward for getting and then giving 'permitted' items, with just a (eg) pat as a reward for relinquishing the 'forbidden' objects.

I don't have a huge problem with my boy so I'm not quite so observant of the variation in reward, but it is something you might want to keep in mind, especially as you have a Lab and knowing that it is part of their strong genetic make-up to explore things with their mouths.

For now though, given your boy has already developed 'stealing' as a learnt behaviour (and knows of the benefits it can reap him), I would suggest that you keep him well supervised when in the home. This can be by being on lead; in a crate; in a pen/restricted access area; off-lead but under your nose where you can prevent him from stealing; where all 'forbidden' items are out of his reach; or a combination/variation/randomisation of all (recommended). I'd suggest you reward him for grabbing 'permitted' items and keep all 'forbidden' items from his reach for the time being. Preventing by keeping all 'forbidden' objects away from his reach will help by giving you time to encourage him to his 'permitted' items (and for him to learn the rewards of that), but for practicality reasons you will eventually want/need to not have a home where everything is located high up on shelves. And this is where your supervision; the stop-chew (which helps to serve as a self-correction) spray comes in.

After a good while and knowing he's quite "in" to his 'permitted' items, you can begin to allow him access to 'forbidden' items under your VERY watchful eye, but I'd suggest you spray them with an anti-chew spray as well as use your voice to admonish BEFORE he even so much as opens his mouth to take it.

The important part in all of this is to also let him know how good he is for taking a 'permitted' item.

In addition, ensure that the mental stimulation and exercise you give him is sufficient for his needs.

Edited October 1, 2009 by Erny

[Seita]

if you can get it off her without chasing her and making it fun for her then give her something that she is allowed and give her LOADS of praise.

You can bring her inside on a leash and give her stuff that she allowed to play with until she gets the idea.

If she's picked something up trying calling her to you and giving her a treat as a substitute - she can't play with the item if she's eating a treat... although if she's clever she might start picking things up and bringing them to you in hopes of earning a treat! That may or may not be a desired behaviour!

Move things that you don't want her to get out of reach and make sure there are things for her to play with that you can give her when she's inside.

Most important thing is not to chase her when she does grab something as this will turn it into a game, ignorning it is good or offering a substitute and praising her when she gives the item up are all important too.