Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

How to stop the stealing !

2 replies

MamaBanana12 · 10/08/2024 09:06

Hi!
I have a lovely 8 month old cockerpoo. He's fab in all ways, other than he is a little thief!

I'm just looking for some tips to help train him to stop taking things. I have 2 kids and my 3yo often drops (everything) and he's so bloody fast he whips over and runs off with it before she has chance to pick it up!

He will stop and leave but if we miss things it's a nightmare!

I'm sure he will grow out of it but it's just very annoying.

Also while on the training side, any tips on how to best encourage him to be calm, I'm wanting to bring him upstairs on a morning after husband leaves but he goes mental when he gets up there. Maybe because he's not allowed upstairs normally, so I'm slowly introducing him to it, with lots of treats when he behaves - but just wondering if there is a better way to encourage the calm sleepiness at 5.30am if I bring him up. He does settle now when husband leaves for work which he didn't previously, but sometimes starts banging on the baby gate which is noisey - and I would love him to just come cuddle up on a morning for another hour

OP posts:
HappiestSleeping · 10/08/2024 09:19

How do you react when he steals stuff? If you go mad and try to get whatever it is back, you are fuelling the behaviour and giving him the reaction he is seeking.

You have to think about it from the dog's point of view. Is he really bothered about a shoe / toy etc? No, not really. He knows that it will get you to interact with him, which is his desired outcome.

Try not reacting, leaving him with it for a few seconds, and then calling him over for a treat. It is important to leave a gap, otherwise he will steal stuff in order to get a treat.

With settling, teach him to settle on his own bed. Do this by either luring him to his mat with a treat and then asking him to lay down rewarding when he does so. Then add duration between asking him to lay down and giving the reward. Extend gradually. 1 second, 2 seconds, 5 seconds, ten seconds etc. You could add the verbal cue of 'settle' but it isn't really necessary.

Make sure you are playing with him in between all this and giving him plenty of exercise as some of the behaviour may be driven by boredom, so you need to counter this.

Original poster
MamaBanana12 · 10/08/2024 09:30

HappiestSleeping · 10/08/2024 09:19

How do you react when he steals stuff? If you go mad and try to get whatever it is back, you are fuelling the behaviour and giving him the reaction he is seeking.

You have to think about it from the dog's point of view. Is he really bothered about a shoe / toy etc? No, not really. He knows that it will get you to interact with him, which is his desired outcome.

Try not reacting, leaving him with it for a few seconds, and then calling him over for a treat. It is important to leave a gap, otherwise he will steal stuff in order to get a treat.

With settling, teach him to settle on his own bed. Do this by either luring him to his mat with a treat and then asking him to lay down rewarding when he does so. Then add duration between asking him to lay down and giving the reward. Extend gradually. 1 second, 2 seconds, 5 seconds, ten seconds etc. You could add the verbal cue of 'settle' but it isn't really necessary.

Make sure you are playing with him in between all this and giving him plenty of exercise as some of the behaviour may be driven by boredom, so you need to counter this.

Thanks this is great advice.
Defo don't go mad but we do react quickly to take it away (worried he will choke or eat it) but yeah I can defo be more calm and draw him away rather than taking the item!

Yeah he has lots of exercise and games / toys. Think he just thinks he's one of the kids sometimes!

Really great tips thank you!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread