Help with my thieving dog!!

[Britchic]

Hi all

Please help..... my 1.2 yr old lab cross has always been a bit of a thief, it got better as she approached a year, but has been really bad again recently. She seems to think anything within her reach is fair game - usually shoes, but just this weekend she has destroyed 2 bike helmets, a cap, and a pair of harry potter glasses.

She often steals and runs out to the garden, waiting for us to chase her (which we used to, but we don't now - if we close the back door she'll come to it and exchange her loot for a treat). More of a problem is if we're upstairs so aren't aware of her taking things - then she'll totally destroy them. She doesn't do it when we're out, so I think it's a bit of an attention thing.

Generally I have a very tidy house because we can't leave things lying around, but I have young children who aren't always as careful. And I can't forever keep shoes etc out of her reach!

In terms of keeping her entertained, she has a 2 really good walks a day, and when I leave her alone for more than 30 mins I give her a kong.

Please, any ideas on stopping thieving?!! Have you had to deal with this, and if so how?

Thanks so much, Rachel

The only really reliable way of keeping your stuff safe is either to put it away or restrict her access to parts of the house

My children know that if anything's left on the floor downstairs then they only have themselves to blame if it gets chewed (ddog has never been much of a chewer though so seldom happens)

In the meantime work on her drop command - and you're right not to chase her as that turns stealing things into a game

Another one to say the best method of solving this is getting organised about removing stuff - a shoe cupboard for instance. DC need to understand that if they leave stuff lying around it will be fair game. If house layout allows - a baby gate?

I think she isn't mentally stimulated, she is getting 2 walks a day, but she needs her brain to do stuff.

Try taking her out and hiding toys, treats etc and she has to find them. She just sounds bored and is saying play with me..

It's a labrador, they pretty well have to carry stuff - gundog breed, instinct is to retrieve.

Realistically prevent access and provide alternatives.

Our lab is a horrendous food thief when there's no risk of being caught, have special bin but basically dog doesn't go in kitchen, food cupboard is locked and we're pretty obsessive about shutting doors. Have still lost things through leaving them available!

Eric is a thief too although he doesn't destroy stuff he just goes and hides it either behind curtains or out in the garden (particularly dd's bras) For him it's a game, I think, he likes the reward for exchange and he'll do it more if he is bored or he thinks he's not getting enough attention.
I tape boxes up with treats in as that keeps him busy and I hide his toys in the places he hides our stuff and send him to find them and he gets a bone a couple of times a week which guarantees a peaceful hour or two.
Eric likes to carry stuff too so I get him fetching and bringing things for me although he's only small so it's never anything big or heavy but he'll carry me paired socks upstairs, dusters from room to room, shoes from the mat to the box.
Perhaps keeping her busy will help.

Thanks so much for all your responses.... looks like I need to keep putting things out of her reach! I realised this week that it's totally related to the children being at home - I work from home, and she's absolutely fine when it's just me. I think she gets overexcited when the kids are back from school, and if she doesn't get their attention then she gets naughty... hence the missing half pack of butter on monday night and subsequent unspeakable mess!

Thank you very much!