1. Go out and buy and read "Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog"

2. Get down on your knees and be thankful you don't have Marley

Sounds like the other lab owners are giving you some good advice.

 Quote: Rich Pallechio

2. Get down on your knees and be thankful you don't have Marley

Yeah, I have Marley.......(but I did not name him )

We have to remember that Marley (in the book) was that way because he was allowed to be that way........plus, he was a LAB!!!! Ughh, ya gotta love 'em.

I've been using my newly discovered way of dealing with my dogs theiving issues. It feels odd because I used to repremand him for the action that I want him to stop; Stealing my stuff.

Now when he Steals something he gets rewarded with a toy? I'm having problems with this but perhaps I'll take this opportunity to blindly follow the given advice.

We Do play alot more now, on his schedule not mine. He steals when he wants to (when I miss something like leaving a the Bedroom door open or left a few dollars on the table), and we then we play. I get back the item he's stolen and he happily drops it for the toy.

Just so I got this right; When he steals something outside I have a few choices;

1. in the past I chased him and told him "no". I just always thought you had to let a dog know that this behavior is unacceptable. (he wanted me to chase him in the first place so perhaps thats a bit of a reward)

2. Bring out the toy because its way more fun. Of course if we are going to play then it becomes difficult to let him know that his previous action is unacceptable; he can't be told "no" once we start playing.
So I'll Get out the toy and play with him when he steals, right? Boy does that feel odd.

Aric,
Is he allowed run of the house out of your sight? If so, I would recommend making sure if he is in the house, he is either tethered to you or at least going with you everywhere and not allowed to be on his own. This way, if he starts doing something unacceptable, you can correct for that, as long as he knows it is that he is doing wrong.

Trading the toy out for something he has stolen does not necessarily mean you have to play with him.

Basically, you are trading out the wrong for the correct and he will learn what are acceptable things to do.

Since he is a young Lab, this may take longer since Labs are happy go lucky, "all I want to do is play" dogs. You need to incorporate a structured exercise program.
Long walks, games of fetch, obedience work daily, makes for a well exercised, tired, happy dog.

I have 6 dogs and I spend a minimum of 2 hours a day doing something with with each one of them. I rotate the work part of the program, but every one of them gets out and we do something. Each dog gets one day off about every two weeks if I am busy. But normally, no matter what time it is, we do something.

If I do not do this, they get destructive due to the fact they are all high drive and get bored easily.

My Lab is the worst one of my pack that is destructive so he actually takes a bit more time in order for him to leave things alone and not pull his chainlink apart in his kennel.
I am thankful for hunting season right now as Doug takes him bird hunting four or more times a week (I go on the weekends) and he is doing really well because he is tired out daily. This leaves me more time for the other dogs..........

Aric

I understand your confusion. To you it seems that when your dog steals something he is being rewarded with a toy.

The goal of this training is to teach the dog not that his behaviour is unacceptable (which you are trying to do) but that his choice of toy is unacceptable.

For instance, if your dog brought you your underwear to play with, would you be mad? Of course. But if your dog brought you his ball to play with, would you be mad? Likely not.

So it is not the fact that he is playing with an object that is "bad". It is the object itself. We are trying to show the dog that there are appropriate objects to play with and inappropriate objects. Being a friendly playful dog is not what we want to correct.

Hope that helps clear things up...

Now what Carol was saying about exercise. She mentions long game of fetch. Maybe you can be proactive here and while working outside, do not wait until your dog runs off with something. YOU take his ball and start a game of fetch. Lots of praise when he brings the ball back. (Of course you need to teach this game first). When I work outside, I get all my work done between ball tosses.

I have a question with regard to this topic. My GS takes my makeup brushes, my hairbrushes or anything just to be ornary. I have done the thing exchanging for a toy- the appropriate item and I think he now belies if he brings out my brush and chews or runs aroung with it trying to get me to chase him - that I will bring out a toy, a fun thing. So is he doing this now to achieve , getting the toy. He is 14 mo. by the way . He dosnt typically destroy anything , just takes it to make me give chase or give a toy. Help!

 Quote: Angela Burrell

Now what Carol was saying about exercise. She mentions long game of fetch. Maybe you can be proactive here and while working outside, do not wait until your dog runs off with something. YOU take his ball and start a game of fetch. Lots of praise when he brings the ball back. (Of course you need to teach this game first). When I work outside, I get all my work done between ball tosses.

Yes, yes, yes.....we (the human) initiate the game AND we end the game by putting the toys away when WE are done.
If you allow your dog to start and stop the game or the training session, we are allowing the dog that much more pack leadership.

Carol,

He is not generaly allowed free access between inside or out. I've made that mistake allready. When He's inside He's easily catchable and I'm sticking with the "No' repremand and then I've been directing him to one of his many nyla bones. I already understand that we are showng him which items are acceptable. He still gets into trouble but, I feel pretty good about the inside of the house. I don't really want to tether him as I always have an ear open to bad behaviors. Right now he's laying on my kitchen floor being a good boy and I don't need to have visual confirmation on that. He's being supervised right now even in the other room. I'm sure you understand; You know exactly what it sounds like when your dog is getting into trouble and the good thing is I am close enough to catch him in time (in the act) to give a timley correction. He stays in certain areas and he's never out of earshot.

Its mainly when we are both outside this happens. He's supervised in the yard 100% of the time as well, but again He'll find something to steal. Then I need to go get a toy, and get him to drop the item. Its what happens next that I'm not so sure about; Play or walk away?

I can't get much work done between ball tosses; He's back too quickly. You must have a very large yard! He does get lots of attention and exercise every day, including Walks, Fetch (which he down had naturaly as a puppy), Chase the water stream (as I'm watering differen't areas of the yard, he loves that one; he gets an incredible workout back and forth for 30 to 45 mins almost every evening and I get some needed work done and I'm LMAO the whole time). I never really timed how much we do but walks are in the morning (most of the time), fetch is usualy at all diferent times at least 2 to 5 times a day, and the watering game at night, as well as other activities that just come up during the day.

If I just show him a toy, get him to drop the Item, take it, and walk away without play, what effects will that have? I'm still planning to play with him then on MY schedule to keep his toy drive going.

OK So, "Trade and Go" it is. Sounds simple as he ALWAYS drops the item for the toy.

I hear him getting out of the kennel now (sleeps in there on his own)

BTW. I hope I'm wrong but I have the feeling that If I just trade and not play that he'll get wise to that in about 2 days and decide not to drop.
He'll always drop for a treat because he always gets to have the treat when he does as comanded. I've never shown the treat and then not given it to him.


Play (toys) and treats are both rewards. You say "If you allow your dog to start and stop the game or the training session, we are allowing the dog that much more pack leadership.

If I Show the toy to get him to drop should I give the toy to him? Then Not Play? Then Take it away later?

Or Should I show, Get him to drop the bad item and then not give him the toy?

Or Should I get him to Drop and also Play? But then, we are back where we stared with him initiating play and gaining Pack status in his mind. right?

 Quote: aric_stack

If I Show the toy to get him to drop should I give the toy to him? Then Not Play? Then Take it away later?

Or Should I show, Get him to drop the bad item and then not give him the toy?

Or Should I get him to Drop and also Play? But then, we are back where we stared with him initiating play and gaining Pack status in his mind. right?

I think.. and I'm sure someone has a much more well-defined answer, but you should show him the toy, and when he drops the stolen item, you give him the toy. I don't believe you should have to start a play-session, but it sounds like when you give him the toy he doesn't want it unless you play with him..? Am I right?
I would try using a stuffed kong toy as the trade-off. He gives you the stolen item, and in return for "giving back" the object he isn't allowed to have, you give him the kong. Then he doesn't need you so much to play as the kong will keep him busy.

I do see what you mean by seeing this method as just rewarding the dog for having the stolen object by giving him something else. It's worked for my dog. I've also corrected if I catch my dog in the act of grabbing a "bad" object - I have a can of pennies that I will shake at her when I see her go for (not act interested in, but actually try to snatch) something she can't have and she's associated the can with taking those objects. I've been chewed-sock-free for over 14 months! LOL. ;3