My rottweiler has been doing something strange the last couple of weeks.

When I get home from work all I find is at least 3 different of my shoes taken to the front door.

I close the closet door (it's the kind that slides shut) so I know he is "pawing" the door open. The funny thing is, the shoes are not chewed in the least, no teeth marks at all to speak of. I started verbally correcting when it first started but that did not help. Now I don't even correct him but as soon as I get home and pick up the shoes he hangs his low and slinks away.

What is causing this behavior? I think it is some sort of separation anxiety, what about you guys????

Joe,

That's pretty funny. My dog has a similar habit. Has to grab a sock out of my hamper. I find them by the door when I come home. At night, when I go to bed, he walks over to the hamper, grabs a sock brings it over, lays down next to my bed and just drops the sock next to him. Just like you mentioned, he dosen't chew them, just brings them over. Could be a seperation anxiety thing even though I'm not big on these artsy fartsy terms. I think in my case, in the beginning I would get mad at him and he actually liked the negative attention. Now, I don't make a big deal about it. I just pick them up and put them back. He dosen't do it as much when I leave now, but the bed time thing is a nightly ritual.

The dog is keying on your body language. You mentioned you verbally corrected when you got home. This is what the dog is being corrected for...you getting home. He can't possibly know what he did was wrong. So now you come home, see the shoes give the same body language w/o verbal the dog goes oh Sh*t, I am in trouble and hangs his head. He doesn't know what he did was wrong.

If you want to test this theory, grab a toy you know he loves...play with him while playing verbally correct him. My guess is he will give you the same behavior as when 'he knows what he did was wrong'

Quick and easy answer...CRATE!

Indeed funny! My pup does the same thing with shoes and socks, he will bring in my shoes, drop them at my feet then go get his walking collar and act like a fool, doing circles barking and growling acting all tough showing off with the collar in his mouth... it's quite a treat to watch. When we get home he will go get a shoe and do the same show off routine for us, "Mom Dad, look what I can do!" hahah it's a blast..

I think he has learned we love this so he does it with pleasure to make us happy. Plus he just loves the faramones in the shoes and socks, reminds him of us I imagine.

Chuck,

My feeling is it is a dominance thing. It definetly has your sent on it. It is definetly yours, to bad I can get it if I want to.

Originally posted by Todd E. Gaster:
The dog is keying on your body language. You mentioned you verbally corrected when you got home. This is what the dog is being corrected for...you getting home. He can't possibly know what he did was wrong. So now you come home, see the shoes give the same body language w/o verbal the dog goes oh Sh*t, I am in trouble and hangs his head. He doesn't know what he did was wrong.
I somewhat agree. In the beginning yes, he can't possibly know what he did was wrong. The only thing I'll say is that I think adult dogs are smarter than sometimes we give them credit for. I think that it's definately possible for the dog to pick up on the fact that you don't want him taking those shoes out. When I think of this, I think of people making the mistake of scolding a puppy after the fact for eliminating in the house. This is totally wrong and pointless. But in the case of an adult dog, you don't think that the dog can understand that he is not supposed to take the shoes? After a few times of holding them in front of his face, reprimanding him and him watching you put them away? I just think dogs are smarter than we give them credit for. Look at all the things we can train them to do. That being said, I think that I wouldn't make that big of a deal about it....as long as its not a destructive chewing issue. I think dogs sometimes enjoy mild negative attention as well, especially if they have been alone for a while.

I am curious, what would happen to these dogs if in the wild they went and took something they knew was the pack leaders and played with it? For some reason I don't think it happens.

My clothes, my shoes, are MINE! The dog doesn't touch. He has his things to play with.(Which incedentally are mine also) Can you tell I was an only child!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Exactly. That's what I mean. The dog can learn that he is not supposed to do this.

Todd,

That's pretty funny! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I think you would change your mind pretty quick if you saw my dog.

I will use a story I tell in my class.

When is the best time to correct a dog? The typical answer catch him in the act. WRONG!

If you have a steak on the counter, the dog jumps up and takes the steak, you catch him in the act. Is there any correction going to override the fact he just got that steak. Or as Bernhard says, he learns to take success for hiimself.

Now, if you happen to be there(this is key) the dog looks at the counter chances are all you will have to do is say no. (before it happens) If the dog is moving to the counter it better be a FUI!!!. If the dog jumps on the counter you better tackle him. If he gets the steak go in the corner and kick the cat because there is nothing you can do.

Correct before it happens.

I don't believe showing an adult dog the item and scolding will work. My feeling is the dog is getting scolded for allowing you near him with the item. I think avoidance is probably next. Then most people call their dog to them to take the dogs toy away. Later they wonder why the dog never comes when called.