My dog keeps getting into the garbage.?

Question

We've increased how often we walk him and are spending more time playing with hime. He's 6 yrs old and we adopted him 1 yr ago. He started doing this about 3 months ago. We've started putting the garbage in a room he can't get into, but then he just finds something else to get in to. We've even hired the teenager next door to take him and our other dog out around lunch time.

Answer 1

Best thing to have is a garbage can with a locking lid, that way even if he tips it over the lid won't come off.

Try to teach the "leave it" command that way if he's near the garbage and you see it you can use the command to get him to back off. You seem to be doing the right things, maybe he's just a scavenger and looking for a tasty food treat. Try increasing his dog food if he's getting lots of exercise he might need a bit more food.

Another suggestion, by a scat mat or something that gives him a little bit of a shock when he goes near it. They make mats that you put on sofa's that emit a shock when an animal jumps on it, to keep them off, maybe placing one in front of the garbage will teach him to stay away if shocked enough.

Good Luck

Answer 2

With all due respect.. none of what I am reading will work. I had the same problem with my girl. I also adopted mine and she didn't exhibit this behavior until recently. I also increased her walks, etc. and still no change. I put it the trash on the counter when I leave, but if I forgot or just ran out to get the mail.. it was everywhere. I even have a trash can with a lid that locks, but she just takes off the lid. It scared me to know what she was eating. I needed to teach her not to do it, not change everything (like you are doing as well) in order to ensure the behavior does not occur. I was told by a dog trainer as well as some online sources that one of the best ways to do it is to add some hot pepper or tabasco in the trash (on top). It will take a couple times for her to stop, but eventually she will think that it tastes too awful to keep doing it. Now, she finds yummy things in it.. soon, she won't. BUT - - make sure your dog has plenty of water to wash down the burning. And, make sure you clean her paws so she doesn't get pepper in her eyes, etc. This worked for me.

Oh, and if you don't want to use the tabasco or pepper - you can buy a product at the pet store that is called something like Bitter apple spray. That also tastes awful and will stop them from eating the trash. My friend used it on her dog to stop him from chewing on her furniture. I would assume it would work for the trash too. Spray that in the trash or on a paper towel and put the paper towel on the top.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

This gets asked all the time! Really, how hard is it to: Put the garbage in a locked cupboard? Put the trash outside? Close the dog off from the kitchen? Get a can with a locking lid?

Answer 4

Crate. Crate. Crate.

I tell everyone who adopts a dog from us this over and over.

You protect the dog from the house and the house from the dog.

You don't have to crate the dog forever, only until he or she earns his or her freedom. They have to learn the rules of the house and earn your trust.

Some dogs learn quickly, some don't.

I have 5 dogs. 4 are free in the house. My youngest is almost 2. He was free in the house until he turned into a beaver recently and started chewing woodwork again. He's in his crate now. He will be in his crate until he stops. He is left out for very short periods and if he is good, the time is increased. If he is bad, back in the crate for a week. We start all over again.

Right now, he's in for 8 hours a day. We work on the short time frames on the weekends. Eventually he will stop chewing on inappropriate stuff. If not, he stays in the crate.

He's safe and so is my baseboard.

Same with yours and the garbage.

Answer 5

Keeping the garbage in a room that he cant get to isnt going to correct the behavior. You'll have to spend the rest of his life keeping it away from him. Like teaching him any behavior reward the good and punish the bad. I have 3 large dogs, who could all easily get in the trash, and none of them do. They got hit on the nose (not hard, just to make a point) and get rewarded for not getting into it. When I see them sniffing it I tell them to get their nose out of the trash then pet them when they do. Getting him more exercise will help, but you have to show him that the particular behavior is bad. Good Luck!

Answer 6

That is all very nice what you are doing for your dog but I do not see anything that is correcting the bad behavior. Do you know how to correct behavior? You should enroll yourself and and the dog in a good obedience class. They will teach you about dog behavior and how to teach your dog. In the end you will have a better pet and a safer dog.

Answer 7

Learning how to train your dog will improve your life and hers, enhance the bond between you, and ensure her safety and it can be a lot of fun. Dogs are usually eager to learn, and the key to success is good communication. Your dog needs to understand how you’d like her to behave and why it’s in her best interest to comply with your wishes. Check here to learn how to train your dog properly https://tr.im/62892

Answer 8

Try to put the garbage up where he can't get it when your not able to supervise him. Try keeping him in a kennel or designated room while your gone so he isn't able to destroy things. Good luck

Answer 9

well you should not put the garbage near him to were he can see it cause that can cause the problem to where he sees it and then gets in it. you should just keep the dog away from the garbage

Answer 10

You are doing the right things, obviously your dog needs more exercise and play time - keep the trash out of his way and make sure he gets enough exercise.