why has doggy started this behaviour?

[DwellsUndertheSink]

I have a 11 mo female retriever who has suddenly started to jump up and steal food from the table or the work surface. SHe has also started to pee and poop in the hallway, so much so that we have to block it off at night.

Foodwise, she is fed twice a day, with the recommended amount of kibble. No scraps, as retrievers are very prone to weight gain.

She gets daily off lead walks. SHe has a large garden to play in and company all day from me and a small child.

She has just finished her first season, during which she went a bit doo-lally. SHe learned how to slip her collar, and would bolt at every opportunity, also pull on the lead like a bugger! She is much better now in a harness. During her season we did not dare let her out, even on a retractable lead. She is increasingly disobedient.

How do I stop this, and why might it be happening? Is it just a teenaged floozy dog thing??

[DwellsUndertheSink]

oh and season ended about 3 weeks ago

[IAmNotAMindReader]

Sounds like teenage reversion. Go back to square one with her training, maybe even invest in a trainer if she becomes particularly stubborn, it won't last forever you will get your beautiful dog back.

As a precaution it might be worth getting her health checked out by the vets as illness can also cause sudden changes in behaviour, although this does sound like you've hit puberty with her.

[MothershipG]

The food stealing is just because she can and now she's a teenager she's confident enough to give it a go!

I'd be more worried about the toilet accidents, does she hold it if she can't get to the hall? What time is her evening meal and do you take her out afterwards?

[RedwingWinter]

I would get her checked at the vet for the toileting accidents. It may be that she isn't fully toilet-trained yet, but when this is a new behaviour it needs checking in case there is a veterinary problem. If she gets the all-clear from the vet, go back to basics with toilet-training, take her out frequently and lots of praise and fuss when she goes outside. Also clean up the mess with a biological cleaner (to completely get rid of the smell), and without making a fuss.