stealing stuff off the tree

**sammy101** · 12-12-2005, 05:18 PM

Lucy has been stealing stuff of our christmas tree

.She has also chewed off the plug for the lights

. I know this is her first christmas but she should know better. I dont want to have to crate her while we go out,but if she doesnt stop we'll have too. Kodie knows better to not steal stuff,lol. We cant put a gate up or anything to keep her out.One we'll need like a 20 ft babygate and she can jump over baby gates.
We've been telling her "NO!",she knows its bad but she still does it.

any advice?I really dont want to have to crate her.

**K9soul** · 12-12-2005, 05:53 PM

My advice would be to use a more positive approach. I doubt she actually "knows better" as to her they are just interesting new toys sitting out for her to grab

. If she has retriever in her, she's especially going to be driven to pick up anything new. Even Tommy brought me an ornament from the tree the other night. He used to pick up everything and go running off with it. I made the mistake of scolding and saying "Tommy no!" so he'd take off and go hide it and be sneaky about it

. Then I started using a positive approach. It took some time and practice to undo my original approach but now he's wonderful. I look up and see him with an ornament and I calmly say "Oh, what have you found? Wow can I have that?" I hold out my hand and he walks up wagging and gives to to me, and then I praise him lavishly and thank him and sometimes give him a treat or a favorite toy (I always keep some toys he doesn't have access to full time to use as rewards). Life is much easier now with this new approach. He doesn't hide things he finds anymore, he brings them proudly to me

. It is his instinct to retrieve, so I never bothered to try to change that about him. As long as he brings things to me without destroying them, I'm satisfied. (And no he's not bringing me things constantly, just here and there

)

edit to add: You may need to crate her when everyone is away from home for now. She's young yet and those new fascinating "toys" will be hard for her to resist. With no one to monitor her she could really get into some trouble and even get hurt. Could you perhaps block her in a "puppy-safe" room while you are gone? That could be another alternative. That is what we used to do with Tommy when he was younger, he was gated into the hallway with access to a couple rooms where he couldn't get into anything.

**sammy101** · 12-12-2005, 07:24 PM

thanks.Kodie was the same when he was a pup but he learned after a while.I'll try that with her!I know she is still young,just a little over a year and she is curious with new things.We can keep her in the laundry room when we go out,since there isnt anything there she can get at.
thanks for the advice!I appreciate it!

**tz1** · 12-12-2005, 09:13 PM

Lmao about the positive approach

Not laughing at it but really the reaction of the human, "Oh , thank you for bringing me that!" hahaha...

Zero likes to bite ur socks off, then go run around with it while you chase him...

**K9soul** · 12-13-2005, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by tz1

Lmao about the positive approach

Not laughing at it but really the reaction of the human, "Oh , thank you for bringing me that!" hahaha...

It is kinda funny

. But the most important thing I think is to act nonchalant about it and not have a big reaction when you see them with something, that really makes an impression on a dog and they are liable to turn it into a game or even use it as a way to get attention (usually negative attention of course). Also if I gasp and snatch something from him and make a big production out of it, the object suddenly becomes a sacred treasure to him and he will do anything to get ahold of it again

.

You are very welcome for the advice sammy and I hope it helps!

**senorita02** · 12-13-2005, 08:11 AM

Good Advice K9 Soul,
I think she sounds adorable! Although i wouldnt want her to hurt herself by chewing on ornaments etc. but i also doubt she knows better