how can I stop my dog picking up my tortise? any tips.

[Bananaknickers]

Last year he picked it up and droped him. He had never taken any notice before then and it was a shock for me and more so the tortise. I really don't want to get rid of the tortise he has been in the familt for years. Dog is under a year old. Help please

Just give the tortoise to me . I have always wanted one!

I promise I will bear you in mind if we can't find a solution to this one

Was it just a one off? He would have been a very young puppy at the time, I assume, if he's less than a year old now?

Put something that tastes nasty on the back of the tortoise, like chilli powder mixed with vaseline type stuff, so when he goes for it it is disgusting.

(disclaimer, have no clue if this is bad for the tortoise or not! It worked on my friends dog and tortoise and it also works on my dustbin to stop cats getting at it!)

I would give the dog a quick blast with a water pistol on his rear leg as he does it.

My mum and dad's dog went through a phase of pinching food off the kitchen bench when she was younger, so I bought one of those screeching alarms (in an aerosol can - like a rape alarm) from the pet shop. I set her up with a tempting piece of a ham sandwich left on the edge of the bench, and left the kitchen unattended. She hovered in and out for a bit, and when she thought the coast was clear crept back in to pinch the sandwich. Unfortunately for her, I was lurking in the sitting room, alarm in hand. I ran up behind her and gave her a good loud blast. She dropped that sandwich and ran as fast as her legs could carry her, ears back, look of panic.

Has never stolen a single item of food since then (about 7 years ago). Aversion therapy works every time (IME). Failing that, you can get some stuff from a horsy shop called 'Cribox'. It's designed to stop horses chewing their rugs/stable doors etc and tastes absolutely vile. It comes in a tacky brown glue-like form or as a clear spray. That would probably work, too if put on tortoise's shell. Best to check if it's OK to do so first (obviously!)

Thats the thing isn't it. It is no good saying leave because he will touch it when I am not looking. I will try chilli powder mixed with olive oil first and will look into getting a loud thing to set off. Wish me luck.

Yes they can hear! You can get some bitter spray from your pet shop to spray on the tortoises shell - much less messy than chilli powder. Should taste revolting to the dog but safe.

when I was a child my dog ate my terrapin

I think she thought it was a crunchy pork pie

LOL