Hi everyone, I have a beautiful 12 month old black labrador girl called Tess. Shes a real gem,a pure softy and a very clever girl. Shes going through a pinch and run off stage with my 3 sons toys, clothes or whatever she can get her paws or mouth to. She does this in the house (with the tv remote) but she gets worse with this behaviour when the boys are playing in the garden. She takes my youngest sandpit toys, steals table tennis bats etc. When she has them she wont let go unless i give her a treat to eat. I dont know if this is the right thing to do, but if i dont she breaks them. I think its an attention seaking action but my boys wont play in the garden now as they know Tess will take their toys away. The boys are in the garden with me at all times with Tess as i try and stop her taking things. Please if anyone can offer any advice, i love my girl but its hard work when my 3 sons cant play out in the garden. She gets good exercise, and we take her places with us walking on weekends. She hasnt done any damage in the house, she sits on command, stays until i tell her to goto her food. She comes to me when i recall her, but none of these commands work when she takes something, she looks at us when she has it and then runs off down the garden or behind the dining table. Please please any advice. Many thanks
I'd suggest a combination of management and training. Obviously your sons need to be able to play in the garden, so during that time could you either keep Tess inside or, if you have room, make a fenced enclosure for her? (You could give her some kibble in a plastic bottle to keep her busy.) Training - does Tess play with her own toys with you? Teach Tess lots of games, while your sons are elsewhere; games that are exciting (like tug) but that also involve a release cue. Then take to carrying a dog toy around with you and when she grabs a child's toy, offer a swap. I had a cocker spaniel pup when my son was little and I invented all sorts of games the three of us could play ( e.g. a version of rugby, where I was only allowed to kick the ball but dog and child could pick it up, but I was allowed to scoop either of them up and tickle them.) So getting your sons involved in playing with Tess might help. And it won't last. At one point, with Molly my current dog, I thought I'd never be able to hang tea cloths on hooks again, but at about 18months old she grew up and doesn't steal any more.
That sounds a little like our Pup, Cooper. She plays keep away with things she steals. Check out the "Stealing Everything" thread in Behavior.
Hi Joy, Tess has her own kong toys, and will play fetch with the ball and tug with her rope. I tried to keep Tess inside yesterday so the boys could play but she stands at the patio doors and constantly barks to go out to them. I think i may have to ignore the barking to go out to the boys and try and distract her with her own toys. My tea towels are now safe, but she has a fondness for the tv remote and shoes! Wouldnt swap her for the world though. She is our first family pet, and she is part of the family now. Thanks for the advice X
shoes....OMG tell me about it! It now takes me five minutes to find a pair of shoes now - One is where it should be and others are "hidden" in Bailey's favourite places around the house, I actually found one in the garden on his outside bed yesterday!!
Our 11week old Yellow Lab Jesse, started stealing things a few weeks ago. It seems it gets worse when he is tired. He loves shoes too, sock or anything on he can find on a table. I cleared our Living room table for now and placed all items like remotes and charge cable from my iPad and Phone in Plastic container out of his reach. We play a lot of games to distract him, but sometimes shoes are just so much more fun. We know he is still a Baby and keep working with him .
Zeus takes the boys stuffed animals. He will nose through their beds and snag himself one. I think he thinks it is a game.
