Was I correct? (eating trash)

Cassie Nova · 04-14-2007, 09:45 PM

Tonight we were going to leave for an hour or so, and I asked my mom if we could leave Cassie out of the crate to see how she did. She agreed, so we did. When we got home, the trash can was tipped over, the lid was off, and the trash was everywhere- even a few rooms over. It sounds alot worse than it was and it took less than 5 minutes to clean up but ANYWAY...

what I did was had everyone ignore (NOT scold or punish) Cassie while I cleaned up the trash and then I told my mom that from now on, we'd put her in the crate when we left, and try leaving her out some other time. My mom said we should just take out the trash before we leave....but I disagree. What should we do?

cshellenberger · 04-14-2007, 09:59 PM

You did the right thing about cleaning the trash up and ignoring. I would keep her contained too, she simply may not be ready to handle being out while unattended.

Ginny01OT · 04-14-2007, 10:25 PM

I don't know---I always say that you can't blame the dog for the mistakes we make. For instance, I left my glasses out and Riley got them--Riley was a puppy. If I couldn't watch him more carefully I should have 1. crated him or 2. put my glasses (or anything else) out of reach. Being you decided not to crate him, I guess you should have taken the trash out (#2)

So, in some ways, I agree with your mom----

Alpha · 04-15-2007, 12:17 AM

I'm on the fence.

One side of my agrees, don't set the dog up for failure.

The other side says, I like my dogs to know if I'm not pleased with them.

In some situations, like if they have an accident, and it was clearly an accident, like a case of diarrhea in the house, I could care less. It's not their fault, it was just that an accident.

If I leave Hades out and he didn't go for a run that day and he makes a mess, I might just say, "bad boy" and that's it, because yes, it was my fault for leaving him alone bored.

But, personally, now with Hades, if he makes a mess after a long run and if we haven't even been away very long, I let him know!

"Hades! Bad boy! Messes!" He knows he did something wrong!

I reward him when he does right, so why shouldn't I verbally tell him he's done wrong? I don't smack him or abuse him, but I do let him know verbally and by witholding affection that I am not pleased.

With that being said, would removing the trash fix the problem?

Or will she just find something else to chew?

I think removing the trash is an idea, if she still finds something to destroy, than you have to try something else. If it's just the trash in particular, I'd remove it and work on avoidance of that object separately than being left alone in the house.

Cassie Nova · 04-15-2007, 01:33 AM

Removing the trash would probably mean finding something else to chew.

She had just gotten a new bone a minute before we left and she had a 2 hour walk earlier + obedience...there was no reason for that.

RonE · 04-15-2007, 07:51 AM

My lab was 4-5 years old when we got him and never chewed on anything laying around the house. He wasn't really interested in chewing on toys.

But kitchen trash was an overwhelming temptation for him, so we avoided the temptation by keeping the trash covered or empty.

With the two canine miscreants we have now, we use some heavy, stainless covered wastebaskets in the areas of the house where they have ready access. I'm sure it's possible to teach a dog to stay out of the trash, but it's a simple problem to avoid so I like to devote the time to teach them something useful, like how to make a peach pie.

Ginny01OT · 04-15-2007, 09:59 AM

The one and only time my dog got into the trash was when I was cleaning out my fridge--I came back he ate almost everything I had dumped in the trash--diarrhea for 4 days--I think even he learned his lesson--I know I sure did. Now I seal that trash up.

skelaki · 04-15-2007, 10:09 AM

He's probably not ready yet for house freedom. One small step you could take is to use an ex-pen (or pens), putting the crate inside it with the door open. This gives the dog a bit more freedom but still keeps him from being able to destroy things.

You can also set him up by putting mouse (NOT rat) traps or snappy traps (like mouse traps but made specifically for dogs or cats) in the trash near the top with some loose papers on top of them. When the dog gets into the trash he sets off the traps and thinks the trash just bit him.

Cassie Nova · 04-15-2007, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelaki

You can also set him up by putting mouse (NOT rat) traps or snappy traps (like mouse traps but made specifically for dogs or cats) in the trash near the top with some loose papers on top of them. When the dog gets into the trash he sets off the traps and thinks the trash just bit him.

.....? That sounds a bit iffy to me...

Alpha · 04-15-2007, 11:56 PM

I definitely wouldn't be setting up mouse traps!

How old is she Cassie?

Hades was doing crate time on and off until he was about a year. Even now, sometimes he'll make a small mess if we're gone too long, he's got serious separation anxiety issues.

Something you can do is tape her when you leave. See if she starts destructing shortly after you leave or if there's a time like 10minutes or 30 minutes that she starts being destructive.

If she starts destroying right after you leave, I'd go back to crating. If she's good for 10 minutes, I'd only leave her alone for 5, come back and seriously praise if there's no mess.

Also, I see in your sig, she's a BC mix. Border's a well known for their high drive and energy. She probably needs a considerable amount of excercise to get tired, like a full hour of hardcore running/fetch.

Good luck

Cassie Nova · 04-16-2007, 12:03 AM

She's 14 months old.

Yeah- she used to be crated whenever I couldn't watch her, which was when I was at school or asleep. Now she stays out all night and sometimes when we leave. She's only like that when we all leave- if my dad is at home but not watching her, she's fine.

Haha, yeah, I know. I actually read up on/spent time with BCs for 4 years before even getting a mix. Today and yesterday we went for 2 hour walks and she didn't wear out. She also had obedience. It took her 2 hours of walking (a little running here and there), obedience, and a good hour of running with our bichon and I to get her sleeping peacefully, as she is now.

But, that's why I got a BC!!

poodleholic · 04-16-2007, 07:20 AM

You did the right thing. In the future, put the trash elsewhere, so she doesn't have access to it at all. Better safe than sorry is my motto. You can try it again, containing her to a puppy-proofed room, and see how she does. I would have her crate open and readily available to her in that room. Dogs differ in what age/stage they're ready for more freedom than the crate. My Maddy had earned her freedom at 6 months, but I had her from the age of 9 wks. old, puppy proofed the entire house, and kept her under supervision, so, no counter surfing, no trash bobbing, no chewing inappropriate items ever occurred. Bo, a rescue when he was 16 months old, was a different story! That boy had to be crated when I left (for his safety, since he was a *window terrorist*) until he was nearly 3 yrs. old.