Hi, wonder if anyone can help with this one? my lab puppy like most labs I gather loves stealing things he shouldn't have last one was a knife he took of the kitchen worktop!Thing is he runs out into the garden with them and then a game of chase ensues as he doesn't want to give up his prize and the game of chase is good. Any advice on how to get him to give up his prize? I've tried the obvious treats , his toys etc but hes getting wise to all of these and ignoring them.
Homer still does this to get attention, problem is he get attention every time! This ends up with him having the object in his mouth sitting very nicely by his treat box in the kitchen. Only one given a treat will he drop what he has. Very bad training from is on this.
I left Albie asleep the other day and ran up stairs for 30 seconds, came back down and he ran away with my brand new iPhone 6s! He thought it was game! Although I didn't see it that way
I tended to ignore Harley when she pinched the odd thing (usually shoes or socks,). She quickly realised I wasn't going to chase her and dropped the item. I then rewarded her for dropping.
Agree with Naya, reward for the drop, don't chase! They soon get bored of the game. Mine still picks things up but brings them to me now for a treat!
To some degree you're battling with their natural behaviours bred into them for generations! Labradors are retrievers as are most gundog breeds and they like to carry things round in their mouths Teaching a drop or delivery to hand is, I think, the best way round it. Good luck!
Saba is also a thief, and will sometimes trade his loot, and other times, just bring it back when he sees I'm really not bothered! He has lifted knives and scissors, which does worry me, and it's so hard not to 'knee-jerk' on these occasionsand panic him into running off with his prize. I do love that he greets me with a gift whenever we've been apart for more than 30 seconds!
I taught all this to Rory and hes' so silly that now he grabs all sorts of things to show me. I know he's got something hidden in the depths of that slobbery mouth just by how he looks at me. Look what I've got is one of his funny little things, but training to drop stuff has really helped. Just don't panic or get excited, you might need to get something off em in a hurry. I've developed a real swan like calm on the surface while internally i'm flapping like a bucket of eels
My dog was a nightmare as a puppy for this, and he still is. The only reason it's less of a nightmare now is because he'll hand over everything on cue. He will usually bring and offer whatever he has nicked unless it's very, very exciting. The best way is to train a really good 'give' cue, a good 'leave it' cue, and keep the house very, very tidy and/or restrict access to untidy rooms.
Millie steals things once in a while, I don't know if she just don't get that when I tell her to sit I will take it from her. She sits every time I tell her to even when she's all bouncy and wants me to chase her. Then I go up to her and say let go and she do.. I consider myself very lucky with this puppy lol
Jesse is 12 weeks tomorrow and he loves to steal shoes mostly. Yesterday he stole the remote control from my husbands end table. I know it wasn't funny to him lol, but I had to laugh because he was so proud that he got away with it even just for a minute. I traded the remote for his Possum toy and all was good.
I do two things. I make all stealable things inaccessible and I teach a strong 'leave it'. They do grow out of the worst stealing, It's a puppyish thing - but they can all have their moments! I have to be very careful with Tatze as stolen usually = eaten! ...
