12 week old puppy problem?

Question

She keeps getting in the trash, i have even spanked her while she was digging through it, but she still keeps going in there. It seems like she don't listen, when i don't want her to do something i make it clear that i don't want her to do it. She won't do it, but after a while she'll do it again. What should I do?

I don't spank her all the time, i usually make a noise or talk in a comanding tone and she'll listen. But after a while she'll try to do all the stuff again.

Answer 1

She is a baby....Do the intelligent thing and get a lid for your trash. Surely you can outsmart a 12 week old puppy or can you....If your puppy is getting into your trash it is your fault, not the puppys. Obviously, you have never been a puppy owner. Striking an animal for any reason is unacceptable. There are bad pet owners, not bad pets. In other words, any bad habits your dog has falls on your shoulders.

Answer 2

I had a similar problem when my pups were young. There are a few different things you can do.

1. You can buy a garbage can with a tight fitting lid. These can be hard to find if you need a small can.

2. Snappy Trainers. These trainers are placed on top of the trash in your can, They look like mouse-traps, but have a spring loaded red plastic flapper over the metal section. When your pup touches the flapper, it releases with a loud "SNAP". It will not harm your pet or trap her paws or nose or anything. It just makes a really loud noise, when combined with the moving flapper startles your pet and encourages avoidance of the "booby-trapped" trash can. The best thing about these devices is you don't have to be there or "catch her in the act" for the training to take place. She basically trains herself. They are small enough to fit one trainer in a bathroom trash can.

2. You can pour baking soda in the trash. (lots of it, completely cover the top of the contents of the trash) Most dogs do not like the taste of the alum in the soda. Since it tastes so bad, it becomes a self correction to the puppy, and she develops a negative connection to the trash and will start to avoid it. My vet told me that the small amount of soda that my pups would injest would not harm them in anyway.

I used the baking soda method as I couldn't find a trash can with a lid that was small enough for my kitchen and bathrooms.

I would set them up....I would put hot dogs in the trash (I would warm them up so that they really smelled good to the pups). Then I would put them in the trash can, add the baking soda, and wait for my mischief makers to explore. Usually after 30 or so minutes, they would come tearing into the living room, powdered white from the soda, and making the worst faces you have ever seen trying to get the baking soda off of their tounges. It makes a paste in their mouth and must really be bitter! I would let them suffer the consequences of digging in the trash for about 15 miuntes, then I would rinse them off and offer some water. It took about 2 weeks, but they leave the trash alone now.


I hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 3

The first thing to remember is to be patient. You may think you are making it clear to the puppy, but you must remember that all she has to think with is baby dog brains. Nothing is going to be as clear to her as it is to you.

You need to figure a way to make the puppy avoid the trash. When you spank her, you just make the puppy want to avoid you. I have had luck sprinkling ammonia on stuff I want my dogs to stay away from. You can also buy some bitter spray from animal supply houses that tastes really nasty to dogs. Use it until she gets the idea that trash is just no fun.

Or, you could try to hide the trash under a cabinet or somewhere the puppy can't get to.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Patience and persistence! That is what I can tell you. It is great that you are giving her commands for what you don't want done in your house. And a light smack on the snout is ok too. But remember she is just a puppy, no different than a baby. They need to learn it and that doesn't happen over night. As long as you are not getting carried away when you are scolding her, or you will make her scared and mean and you don't want that. She is a puppy and curious, they will make mistakes, but if you take the time out to love her and show her the right way, she will learn and be a great part of your life.

Answer 5

Get the trash can with a lid that can't be knocked off. I have a round metal cylinder type with a lid that I have to press to open. But I've done this a million times and it's a hassle, but if your trash is kept under the sink or in a pantry where the door can open just with his snout, put baby locks on the doors. All of my cupboards have baby locks on them, because of my dogs and for the same reasons as for my kids, it's dangerous!

Answer 6

She's very young, so while you want to teach her early, she's not quite at the age yet where she will understand. I honestly suggest you replace your trash bin with one that's "puppy proof". One that is tall and has a heavy lid that only opens when you step on a pedal (for indoors) and one that has a sealed on lid (like a Rubbermaid Roughneck) for outdoors. You would be able to train this out of her using the leash method (you put her on the leash, bring her over to the trash, let her attemp to dig, then correct her with a tug and by making her sit. The leash forces her to do what you want. If she sits and stays calm in front of the trash, reward her. If not, repeatedly correct her. You would do this over and over until you can walk her over to the trash and she sits down on her own without attempting to dig. Then you reward her like crazy with hugs and kisses and even a treat perhaps.) But like I said, 12 weeks is a very, very young puppy. It's kind of like teaching a 1 year old not to put things in his mouth. ;-)

Answer 7

This is a problem with all puppies. Dont leave anything out that you dont want chewed or eaten. A trainer told us to use a water bottle. When she is doing something wrong squirt her body and act like you dont know what happened and dont let her see the bottle. You can also put her in a time out. Yeah i know its kind of dumb but it works.

Answer 8

Don't ever spank a puppy-they don't get it. How about moving the trash? Remember-----puppy means baby.

Answer 9

maybe she likes being spanked and thinks that you are rewarding her.?

Answer 10

How dumb are you? That's a baby. Confine the pup**&** move the trash!! DUH