The Case of the Light-fingered Collie
Karen writes: We adopted our rescue Border Collie about 5 months ago and she is now a little over a year old. We have had great success in solving a lot of the problems she came with but are left with one on-going problem and would like some advice.
She constantly steals things off the kitchen table. We are careful not to leave anything that might encourage this, like food, but she still takes anything that is within reach – anything - the wash up brush or cloth or spoons or plastic bags. We are not so worried about these actual items but are very concerned about
the
hygiene aspect of her having her paws on the table and probably licking the table.
We have tried using sticky tape along the edge of the table and it makes no difference. We are not able to catch her in the act as she always waits for everyone to leave the room or even goes back to the kitchen when we are all seated just to check if there is anything worth stealing!
We would be very grateful for your advice.
Kingdom of Pets Replies:
The fact that she is not just stealing food items signals that this behavior is most likely either driven by boredom, or by a desire to attract your attention. It could even be a bit of both so it is best to work on both.
Boredom
If this is a boredom issue, ensure that your dog is getting plenty of exercise. Border Collies are very active animals, and require a lot of physical and mental stimulation. Supply her with lots of toys, and rotate them for added interest. Chew toys with food treats in the centre are great, because they are self rewarding, and can keep your dog occupied for hours at a time. Similarly food balls and Kongs are great boredom busters. Take her for long daily walks, play games of fetch and if possible, take her swimming. Keep up daily obedience as well as this is excellent mental stimulation.
Attention Seeking
The best way to deal with attention seeking behaviors is to completely ignore them. She is obviously very intelligent, because she has learned that if you stop playing with her, all she has to do is destroy or steal something to get your attention! Try purposefully putting things on the table that she cannot destroy and that are not fun to play with. That way when she steals them you and the rest of your family can completely ignore her. When she is playing with her own toys praise her and join in sometimes so that she can see she gets attention for this rather than for stealing.
If ignoring your dog does not have the desired effect, try putting her in a timeout when she misbehaves.
Pull Rank
You need to teach her that you are the Alpha, and that she is at the bottom of the pack. When she knows that you are in charge she will be generally more obedient and will not question your leadership by stealing things she knows are not hers. To make this happen, read the bonus book “Secrets to Becoming the Alpha Dog” and put these principles into action.
Next, start making her work for any attention that she gets. For example, if she comes to you wanting a scratch or pat, have her obey some commands first. If she does not obey, ignore her. Even if you initiate the attention, still have her obey some commands first.
When she behaves well, be sure that you praise her. If she acts badly, go to her (don't call her to you), attach her leash and take her to a separate room for a time out.
Traps and Tricks
Some dog owners have success putting cardboard on their bench or table surface so that it sits over the edge, and then balancing a can of coins or pebbles on the overhang. When the dog jumps up the can falls to the floor. The loud noise acts as a deterrent to repeating the behavior. It is also an excellent way to deter her without giving her any attention.
You could also try sneaking up on her. When you see her head for the Kitchen, quietly follow her, and if you catch her stealing something, or even showing an interest in an object on the table, rush in shaking a can of pebbles and growling a guttural growl. Then give your dog a time out in a room where there is little to keep her occupied.
As a last resort, try coating some items in a harsh-tasting substance such as Bitter Apple spray, Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper, and leaving them on the table for her to find. Just hope she doesn’t develop a taste for them.
All the best,
Daniel Stevens and the Secrets to Dog Training Team
"Secrets to Dog Training - STOP Dog Behavior Problems!"
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/
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