Behavioural help required please.

[GingerWrath]

My 8 month old (as yet) un neutered Labrador takes great delight in stealing things and doing a runner. He thinks it's hilarious to be chased. If I ignore him he soon settles down to gnaw on whatever he has taken and ingesting pants/plastic/toys/ gravel which I know can't be good for him.

Tonight he managed to grab a piece of lolly wrapper from the lolly I was unwrapping for DD aged 6. In the ensuing chase, he managed to knock her flying into a display cabinet, I eventually managed to corner him and retrieve the wrapper, shouted at him in my harshest voice 'you naughty boy' and sent him in disgrace to his bed.

If I chase him it's a game, if I don't he risks making himself ill, I really don't know how to deal with this!

[Cuebill]

Don't chase.

Run in the opposite direction, sounding very excited if possible with a squeaky toy. Most puppies will follow you. When he gets to you have the best game ever be completed uninterested in what he has stolen.

I know this is easier said than done but at the moment try to put things you do not want, out of his way to prevent this happening. However still play the running away game so that if he does steal things then you still have a plan of action.

It may be easier to restrict where he is allowed to be whilst he is in this stage..... it too will pass

[GingerWrath]

We are extra careful but he literally stole the wrapper out of my hands and DD sometimes forgets.

Thing is, even if I ran away with a bag of his food, he is more interested in the 'booty', and will not chase me, if he does, the minute I turn round to get his spoils, he is off again!

[AbsolutelyNotHoneyDragon]

Have you time to devote? Try purposefully putting steal able items around and let him roam as usual but with a house line on. Each time he steals pull him towards you remove the item and let him go. Eventually he'll get bored.

Gwen Bailey does this, it worked with my old lab

[GingerWrath]

I have got a house line but haven't used it for months, might have to dig it out because at least I'd have more chance of catching him!

[daisydotandgertie]

What is his most favourite food?

Liver cake? Cheese? Stilton? It'll have to be really stinky.

Don't even look at him when he steals something. Make a mammoth song and dance about going to get his fav food - and give with no fuss when he comes to you. Start off using the house line if you have to.

He has made himself the very best ever game and you're playing it perfectly. Don't let him have the control. You may have to sacrifice a remote or two, but it will be worth it in the long run.

My two youngest labs play this game with each other all the time. It is lovely to watch - they even chase each other around the table, comedy stylee. Your pup has forced you to play the same game.

[AbsolutelyNotHoneyDragon]

I have to admit..... I love the dance of forbidden goods when they prance around waiting for you to notice they have a manky tissue or similar hidden in their mouths.

Obviously I don't let on, but it's rather cute.


I have taught ds to act like Gollum when she steals their toys. He picks up one of hers and holds it away from her sight going "My preciousssssss", till she gives in and sits nicely waiting for him to give it to her.

(The Gollum think is not necessary btw, that's just for my entertainment )

[MrsZoidberg]

My HuskyX steals all the time. We never chase her but "reward" her for dropping the item. We have a small cardboard box with a large handful of kibble in it. When she hears me shaking it, she drops the item and waits for me. She knows she won't get the kibble until I have picked up the item.

I'm glad she can't read the answers above as then she'd start holding out for more exciting items than just plain kibble