I am at my wit's end here - I feel like everything I worked on has gone down the drain, I really need some perspective on what happened. This is entirely my fault, and I'm aware I didn't take the precautions I needed to take, and I just hope it hasn't entirely ruined what work I have done.

RECAP: 2.5-3 year old husky/Aussie. Is obedient when I'm at home, but has recently (within last 6-12 months, have owned her 2 years now) begun getting into EVERY trash can (or food wrapper in specific) when I'm not home & nobody is looking. Is crated when I'm not home, almost every time unless someone watching her. Since it began, it's happened maybe 3 or 4 times, but that's 3 or 4 times too many.

I just received a call from my roommate - there's a huge problem.
The dog emptied every trash can and bag in the kitchen (2 big bags, one box) and dumped trash all over the apartment. This is not new. We have had this problem in the past with her sneaking into the kitchen and getting into the trash, or getting into trash left in the living room. * What makes this an even bigger problem is that a friend has a custom-built computer on the floor next to the kitchen and left the case side off of it. According to my roommate, she dragged and chewed all the trash directly next to the case and got trash inside of it, all over the CPU and may have destroyed his hard drive. My roommate cleaned it and is waiting for our friend to get back to turn it on and check it.
So there went any $ saved for a dog trainer/DVDs down the toilet if I have to buy a new HD.

Why did this happen? This weekend our apartment complex said they would be using a highly toxic pesticide in ALL the buildings and all animals must be out for 48 hours. They botched what date they told us it was, and I disassembled her crate and had it stored outside for the weekend. Well, we spent the weekend cleaning and bagging, boxing, and containing things to keep all our animals safe and packed it all away. Come this morning, we find out they AREN'T spraying our apartment because of the animals and they gave us the wrong date. I was late for work and could not put her crate together, and with the temps in the mid-90ºs, I didn't put her on the porch. I -thought- I cleaned enough to be "safe" leaving her inside with all bedroom/bathroom doors closed (she couldn't be put in my bedroom because we have sugar gliders in there - small animals + unattended dog = disaster).
I was wrong.

What can I do? We tried a long line on her in the house for a few weeks, but whenever we reached for it or when she thought we were going to correct her, she BOLTED - and almost ruined over $5k worth of electronics and nearly knocked over a 61" TV. It was too dangerous even with a 4' line on her because of it catching on video game consoles, electronics, and people's feet (despite trying, you just can't organize 5 roommates to accommidate for your dog..). I had her tethered to me for a week and it became another problem - she was fine, but got in everyone's way - she would try to lay as far from me as the line allowed and tripped my roommates, got underfoot, tried to go under tables and wrap me around people. I did get her to stay closer to me and stop going the opposite away around obstacles, but.. It worked for keeping her under watch, but was a hassle and my roommates complained that it was causing too much trouble. I did it again a few months ago because she began to beg HORRIBLY -- lay in her crate away from everyone ALL day unless food was out. Then she stared at whomever had food until it was long gone and would then leave the room. Even when told to go to her crate, she would sit at the farthest angle so we could ONLY see one eye staring at food. Finally we crated her when we had food out because she refused to stop staring/begging or sneaking up halfway during a meal to beg. Now we have the problem where she still only wants to be around us if food is present, and because she was corrected so often for begging she doesn't want to be around ANYONE at ANY time. We obviously did something wrong, but can't pinpoint - when we invite her to play, pet her, and be social with her but she "tolerates" it for 5 or 10 minutes and tries to go back to another room, unless of course food is around. Then she can't look at ANYTHING else except the food. I wonder why- she is free-fed and I try to give variety by adding cooked chicken or slices of beef treats to her food, but she still just.. anything else she wants like she hasn't eaten in weeks.

Our biggest problem is she DOES NOT do this when I am at home. How do you correct a problem that you never see? My roommate notices that even before we see a mess we know she has created one because she exhibits "the guilty behavior" -- she either hides in her crate and won't come out or sits in the middle of the room and shakes (which is strange, because nobody has ever yelled & nobody corrects her if we don't catch her).

My roommates crate her when they go out or are not watching her. I have tried so many ways of deterring her from the trash -- bitter spray, coating trash with hot sauce, using a shake can (which works wonders for us) every time she shows interest in it, corrections with prong when she goes for trash, dropping food and correcting her when she tries to eat it... the works. I'm almost thinking of an e-collar or one of those collars that uses sound/shock when she comes within 3' of the trash!
The only TRUE solution we have is to, well, crate her when we cannot watch her. But in situations where something comes up that we may not have a crate or way of containing her... can anything be done short of putting all trash on top of the counter or in the oven? I'm so upset that I allowed this to happen, it was a situation out of my hands that we couldn't prepare for and I wish I had just been late for work to put her crate together! I feel like a failure, and of course worse that she may have ruined someone else's computer hard drive because of my negligence. I never saw it coming--wish I had looked harder!

I feel like I have to start at step one again and this really shocked my day - we haven't had this problem in so long and suddenly she's back to trash-digging at every opportunity. We rotate toys constantly, she's stopped chewing inappropriate things (like game controllers, remotes, shoes, etc) and although she still begs, we've even gotten to where if we drop a piece of food she looks straight at me to see if she's allowed to have it and doesn't just bumrush the thing.

* I think this problem stems from a VERY severe begging/food stealing problem that came about sometime last year when my old roommates began feeding her straight from their plates without my knowing.
ALL of my roommates now, and have been consistent with for the past 3-4 months, do NOT feed her ANY left over no matter what.
Despite this, she STILL only comes into the living room when people have food, will STILL try to steal food directly from someone's lap, and when she comes inside she runs full-force past anyone to get to her food bowl to see if someone put scraps in it.

 Quote:

I'm sorry this was long, I tried to cover everything -- what suggestions does everyone have? Should I just continue to be stricter about crating her when I'm away, or is there a way to actually begin SOLVING this problem? I feel like I'm accomplishing nothing towards fixing the problem of trash-digging by merely taking it away as an option. There will always be situations that come up where the option is just NOT there and I want to be prepared - moreso than shrugging and going "oh well if we don't have a crate then there's absolutely no way to stop it!"

I just feel that I failed big-time and have been doing something seriously wrong when I can't see it. I have Ed's beginning obedience DVD, and I try to follow the advice and rules set within that DVD as well as reading articles and posts here, but obviously I missed something huge if my dog still continues to beg and look for food when

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Wow, Jinn, that post was amazing.....

Bottom line....the dog is obviously not being watched by your room mates when you are not home.

Crate the dog, and only ask your roommates to give her a potty break if she needs one.

A computer tower on the floor with the cover off is just asking for all kinds of issues IMHO, whether it be the dog, a spilled pop or whatever. Not going to venture on who needs to do what in that aspect.

You can alway place mousetraps (covered with newpaper so they do not get the dog actually) and they will make a loud snap if she tries to get into the garbage. But this goes back to, if the dog is in the garbage, she is not being watched.

If your dog is bolting and acting scared when you reach for the line, something has been done to that dog, IMO. Are you sure your roommates did not do something to the dog while you were not home?

I do not think you have failed, but I do think you need to go back to basics and also limit the amount of time your roommates spend with the dog.

i have used the mousetraps in the trashcan trick to great sucess with my stubborn girl (i didn't want to say, in case it sounded horrible . so thanks, carol) ... just make sure your roomies are aware of the setup if you decide to try this route!

 Quote: carol boche

Wow, Jinn, that post was amazing.....

****************

A computer tower on the floor with the cover off is just asking for all kinds of issues IMHO, whether it be the dog, a spilled pop or whatever. Not going to venture on who needs to do what in that aspect.

I'm with you on that - I was unaware the tower's case had been taken apart until the phone call, and my first question was "why was the case open?"

 Quote: carol boche

You can alway place mousetraps (covered with newpaper so they do not get the dog actually) and they will make a loud snap if she tries to get into the garbage. But this goes back to, if the dog is in the garbage, she is not being watched.

Interesting idea - we DO have mousetraps, although I'm not sure if newspaper would sufficiently cover them enough to prevent an accident. I thought about balloons as well -- if she jumps or tries to reach for the trash, it would pop the balloons and scare her. Or cans with pennies like I use for corrections - stack them precariously and if she nudges the trash can they'll tumble down.

 Quote: carol boche

If your dog is bolting and acting scared when you reach for the line, something has been done to that dog, IMO. Are you sure your roommates did not do something to the dog while you were not home?

I can't guarantee it, but as far as I know nothing has been done, but she is a rescue as well. I know I avoid yelling and harsh corrections - she's yelped once because she once ran after a squirrel and corrected herself. She does it when we have "the can" out - a can of pennies. Never once been hit, threatened with, or otherwise "abused" with it but even reaching for the can she will slink off to another room to get away, or if you shake it she darts off. I'm not sure of her past but I hope my roommates would not do that. They like the dog and I've never witnessed or even overheard any trouble, the worst they've done is told her to go to her crate if she's begging.

 Quote: carol boche

I do not think you have failed, but I do think you need to go back to basics and also limit the amount of time your roommates spend with the dog.

I hope not. I'm just so disappointed.. I feel like the whole time I thought there was progress was really us just successfully AVOIDING a situation. I already made clear on the phone that they are not allowed under any circumstance to let her in the kitchen or take her out of the crate unless to go out, or to sneak food into her bowl that isn't dog food. I'm so frustrated. This is not what I expected or wanted, and I'm angry with myself for letting what might be an obvious problem slip by for so long!

Jinn,

My advice is to go back to square one like she is a new addition to your home. Put that crate back together and start using it NOW. She has freedoms she has not earned. There is no reason for her to be out of her crate just because somebody is home, that includes you. If you choose to tether her give her only enough line to lay down comfortably. GROUNDWORK!!

I feel bad you are so stressed over this but relax, the solution is easy. She must be managed 100pct of the time and that is easy, there is not much work or reason to worry if she is in her crate. Of course you need to see to her exercise, play and training requirements, that is part of the responsibility of dog ownership.

Jinn you need to put the two of you on a strict regimen. I would remove the roomates completely from the equation with the exception of taking her outside to relieve herself if you are not home. She is your dog not theirs, thus consider her alone if you are not home.

Make up a schedule you can live with, get up an hour earlier than you do now to avoid rushing in the morning and make sure she has been exercised. I would go for something intense and aerobic for a minimum of 30 minutes (her physical condition being up for it) and if not at least a one hour walk. Ignore her when you first get home, then let her out of the crate and let her burn off some energy outside playing with you and then practice her obedience. Other than these activities I would keep her crated. GROUNDWORK!!

I could be wrong but I am picking up two things from your post which I believe are detrimental to improving your situation. The first thing is, you are correcting her behavior but I don't believe she has a clue to what it is you want. You must begin to mark and praise all appropriate behavior and PREVENT all negative behavior. IMO there is no place for punishment in the learning phase.
And in reading your post I have not seen anything that has indicated she has been taught appropriate household behavior yet she is allowed to get into trouble and then corrected. I want you to understand this; so I hope I describe it clearly. When you shake the can, or give her a leash correction or any other methods of punishment which have stopped her in her tracks. She has not learned anything. She knows to stop but not what is good behavior. Like obedience work, you don't introduce distractions or corrections until the dog understands what it is you want. GROUNDWORK!!

The second thing I am picking up, is that you and the roommates feel bad for her and give in to what she wants. Her shaking in the middle of the room when nothing traumatic has ever happened to her is IMO a learned behavior. She gets attention, she gets to continue what she was doing, she is not made to follow the rules. Not bad, I think I'll go shake in the middle of the room it sounds very effective GROUNDWORK!!

Handle her very matter of factly. Use a no nonsense but Fair approach and in case you missed it GROUNDWORK!!!

BTW not much of an HD if it can't handle a little trash and crumbs....my fingers are crossed for you on that one.

I do not think I could have said it better than Sheila's post....

Actually, I have to disagree about the dog shaking and the "guilty behavior". Jinn you said,

"Our biggest problem is she DOES NOT do this when I am at home. How do you correct a problem that you never see? My roommate notices that even before we see a mess we know she has created one because she exhibits "the guilty behavior" -- she either hides in her crate and won't come out or sits in the middle of the room and shakes (which is strange, because nobody has ever yelled & nobody corrects her if we don't catch her).

Dogs cannot and do not display guilty behavior. What many people mistake for "guilty behavior" is actually a dog cowering. Dogs cower because they know that the presence of certain people mean punishment, displeasure, and fear.

This is most often seen when inexperienced people try old unfounded methods of potty training. Example, the dog is left loose and alone in the house while the owner is at work. The owner comes home, finds the dog has eliminated on the carpet, then punishes the dog by rubbing his nose in it or by hurting it. The dog has no idea why his owner keeps being mean to him when he comes home( he does not associate it with peeing 2 hours ago). After a few days, the dog has not learned to stop peeing in the house but has learned that his master is always angry when he come home. Thus, the dog cowers and LOOKS "guilty".

With all of this being said, I would be willing to bet that the room mate who continually sees the dog displaying "guilty behavior" probably is the cause of it. I wiouldn't come out and accuse them, but I would look for any small difference in behavior when that room mate is around.

I disagree about guilty behavior...when I catch Brenna doing something she knows is wrong and give her my vocal "aahhhnn" or "no" and "leave it" she immediately does the lowered head and turn around to look at me thing. She absolutely knows she's been caught and her behavior changes in many ways, body language being one of them...I agree with you if you're talking about a dog being punished for something hours or minutes after the event--they clearly don't understand what they're being punished for in that case and are just submitting because of a "tone" of voice or human body language, but Brenna definitely acts guilty when she's caught doing something red-handed...

 Quote: mike morrison

I disagree about guilty behavior...when I catch Brenna doing something she knows is wrong and give her my vocal "aahhhnn" or "no" and "leave it" she immediately does the lowered head and turn around to look at me thing. She absolutely knows she's been caught and her behavior changes in many ways, body language being one of them...I agree with you if you're talking about a dog being punished for something hours or minutes after the event--they clearly don't understand what they're being punished for in that case and are just submitting because of a "tone" of voice or human body language, but Brenna definitely acts guilty when she's caught doing something red-handed...

Dogs do not feel guilt, though. That is one of our humanizing things. :>

Fear of punishment or your anger.... sure.

 Quote: trevor morris

Actually, I have to disagree about the dog shaking and the "guilty behavior". Jinn you said,

"Our biggest problem is she DOES NOT do this when I am at home. How do you correct a problem that you never see? My roommate notices that even before we see a mess we know she has created one because she exhibits "the guilty behavior" -- she either hides in her crate and won't come out or sits in the middle of the room and shakes (which is strange, because nobody has ever yelled & nobody corrects her if we don't catch her).

Dogs cannot and do not display guilty behavior. What many people mistake for "guilty behavior" is actually a dog cowering. Dogs cower because they know that the presence of certain people mean punishment, displeasure, and fear.

This is most often seen when inexperienced people try old unfounded methods of potty training. Example, the dog is left loose and alone in the house while the owner is at work. The owner comes home, finds the dog has eliminated on the carpet, then punishes the dog by rubbing his nose in it or by hurting it. The dog has no idea why his owner keeps being mean to him when he comes home( he does not associate it with peeing 2 hours ago). After a few days, the dog has not learned to stop peeing in the house but has learned that his master is always angry when he come home. Thus, the dog cowers and LOOKS "guilty".

With all of this being said, I would be willing to bet that the room mate who continually sees the dog displaying "guilty behavior" probably is the cause of it. I wiouldn't come out and accuse them, but I would look for any small difference in behavior when that room mate is around.

I agree 100%.

And the point about getting the roommates 100% OUT of the dog's training and daily routine is probaby the most crucial point made here.