1-yr-old lab getting into Trash!

katiencbabe

I believe our dog has separation anxiety but I am not sure. She goes into the trash everytime we're away, and sometimes even when we're at home and not paying attention to her. Is there a simple solution besides always keeping the trashcans on countertops?

She's a great dog, black lab with a lot of energy. We run her daily for at least 20 minutes. She stays in the bed with us, which we will probably have to change and put her in her crate if it is separation anxiety. I'm not quite sure what to do.

She knows when she did bad. We'll walk through the door and she'll already be hiding in a corner. Even when we call her into a room that she has done previous acts in (for example to give her her meal in the kitchen) she'll pee immediately even if we're talking sweetly to her and holding her food out.
What should I do??

Oh I forgot to mention that when we are home (which is fairly often that at least one of us will be home), she stays glued to our side all the time unless she's lingering in the trash.

lovemygreys

It doesn't sound like separation anxiety as much as she's learned that the trash is actually where the humans store all the really great stuff to eat and play with!

Either get a dog-proof trash can (the ones I've seen are very pricey, but seem to work) or keep your trash where she can't get it. We keep ours in the pantry. Honestly, I think it's WAY to much to expect our 15 dogs not to get into the one place they can reach where we put all the food, empty food containers, and yummy smelling trash....kinda like if you left me in a room with a Big Mac...you just KNOW I'm gonna eat it as soon as you are gone.

Dawn R

I'm by no means an expert because I got my first puppy in October 06. He just started showing interest in the trash. I've started splashing a little vinegar on the trash. It seems to do the trick, he sniffs it and moves on.

gardengirl

I would feel safer just putting the trash away. There are so many things that could be harmful to your dog in a trash can. We keep ours under the sink, in the cabinet, even the bathroom baskets. I have know dogs to open the lids on covered cans, so I just keep them put away.

Jan and rough collie, Bailey

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Cheetah

Your dog does not know that she did bad. She just knows that it's only safe to get into the goodies in the trash when you're not around, because the only time you get upset about it is when you find it that way. >u.u<

I used to have this problem all the time. The problem is, you can't correct the behavior if you are not there, so the dog begins to ejoy the trash more and more, and so is more likely to get into it when you're not around. Just get a covered trash can (not spring-loaded though), or put the trash can behind a door. That will solve your trash problem 100% of the time. >^_~<

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LabLady101

I second what Cheetah said. I had the same problem with my first Lab. I finally got one of those BIG Rubbermaid-type trash cans with the locking handles. I also realized that he was not ready to be left alone roaming the house while we were away, so he also got a kennel. Between the two, no trash problems.

dotd

i lost my choc lab last month and my 15 yr. old is not well. this will pass, and one day you will wish they could get in the trash.

sydney-the-cattle-dog

What they said .

Remember that dogs are dogs and they don't bother to weigh the consequences when sitting in front of a yummy trash can and no one around to chase them off.

Get a trash can that he can't open and also provide good things to keep him busy while you are out. A bored dog will find something to do whether you provide it or he finds it.

Your dog doesn't feel guilt for anything he does, ever. Only concern that when you walk through the door you are mad. He doesn't have a clue why you come home mad. There is no good or bad in the dog world only safe and unsafe. Everything is safe to do when you are gone and some of those things are unsafe when you are home. If you walk through the door and begin to search for what bad things he may have done and proceed to get angry when you find something then from the dogs point of view your arrival home is unsafe. That is why he shrinks away from you when you get home.

That is why we as dog owners need to be sure to keep the dog busy or in a dog proof location while we are away and keep no-nos out of their reach always.

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