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My chocolate lab keeps getting into the trash cans and making a horrible mess. I know some dogs do this, but she's 8 and I don't understand why she's beginning to do this. I'm a stay-at-home mom and am home a lot. But when I go out for an hour, she's gotten into a trash can and sometimes my children's diapers (icky). Help!!!!

2007-02-28 16:13:55 · 9 answers · asked by Jennifer C 3 in Pets Dogs

9 answers

I've had several dogs that do that. The only solution I found was to put the garbage can behind closed doors.

2007-02-28 16:19:08 · answer #1 · answered by Jen R 2 · 1 1

Labs are hunters, they also love to do things like this. I had a Lab that ate every thing in site. Vet said that he was bored. Ok, I took him for walks every day, rides in the car and played fetch with him in the yard. Still, to my dismay, he would eat every thing from window sills to furniture! I bought a crate and when I would catch him "in the act" I'd put him in there to chill, so to speak. All I can say is to either keep her in a separate room, especially when you are not home. Put the trash in a place she won't be able to get into it. Put the soiled diapers in a container or pail, or what ever and put a cover on it. Scold her when you catch her and put her in a time out. They are like kids, they will keep doing this until you take matters in your own hands and tell her she's a bad dog. Or, you could get a crate and put her in when she is doing this as well. Crates come in different sizes and different materials. You can check in with pet stores in your area and ask the sales people for help on your dilemma. They will be more than happy to assist you and to answer any questions you may have about crating. I really hope my advice helps you with this awful situation.

2007-03-01 00:28:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

Yea, I have to agree, move the can and don't put the diapers in it. Labs are scavengers. If you have a new baby in the house, she may not be getting the attention that he used to so she is looking for something to do. Tearing up the trash is way fun! Keep the diapers in an air tight can so she can't smell them as well, secure the other can and play with your dog.

2007-03-01 16:57:43 · answer #3 · answered by Deb t 3 · 0 1

There are two fast solutions for your problem: you can either remove the temptation (the trash can) from your dog's access, or your dog's access from the temptation. In other words, either the trash can needs to be dog safe - lid on it, behind a door, underneath the sink, etc. - or the dog needs to be unable to get to the trash can - for example, by gating off the kitchen using a child gate.

If she does it only when you've gone out, then you may need to reconsider allowing her the freedom of being loose in the house. If she truly does it at no other time, she might do it because she's bored, and she has nothing else to do but full run of the house.

In that case, you may want to try providing her with things to do in your absence - such as hiding treats around the room, giving her chew toys, kong toys, etc. - or placing her in a safe room or crate in your absence.

2007-03-01 01:08:15 · answer #4 · answered by Abby K9 4 · 0 1

Set some mouse traps in the trash, on top.

Once I laced, loosely, some clear fishing line across the opening of the trash bag, positioned the bag right under the kitchen counter, and had the fishing line run up and loop around the bottom of a pyramid of empty cans. 'Bout oh-dark-thirty that night, I figured out which of my dogs was getting in the trash!

2007-03-01 00:20:05 · answer #5 · answered by AF 2 · 0 2

Maybe you can secure the can with a bungee cord so the the top can't be opened. Or go to the pet store and ask for Pellets that you can put around the area, to keep her away. Another one is to clean the trash can with ammonia inside and out. Hope that helped.

2007-03-01 00:25:30 · answer #6 · answered by lennie 6 · 0 2

I used to put ammonia in the bags that I would put at the street. if the bag got ripped open, then one smell and they wouldn't drag the trash out of the bag. Doesn't hurt them, the smell might sting their noses...but no trash everywhere! It worked all the time.

2007-03-01 00:24:13 · answer #7 · answered by LAM 2 · 0 2

Simple solution, move the garbage can to where she can't get to it when you're gone.

2007-03-01 01:54:15 · answer #8 · answered by Bindi *dogtrainingbyjess.com* 7 · 0 1

well, like that one has never happened before, its a lab, they get into everything, is she getting fed enough? take her to the vet, otherwise she is going to get a foreign body, of rot gut.

2007-03-01 00:49:19 · answer #9 · answered by moose 2 · 0 2

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