Praise for bringing me forbidden items?

[MicheleMarie]

I'd like to get some opinions about a disagreement between my husband and myself...we've agreed to ask our trainer, but we don't go to obedience class again until Sunday. Duchess (six mo old) has a fondness for my shoes and anything else she might be able to grab when I'm not looking. I have become a much better housekeeper since she joined us, nevertheless, she sometimes gets ahold of something she shouldn't have. I've started calling her over to me saying "bring it here" or "bring it to me" and most of the time, she does exactly that - walks over to me and lets it go. When she does that, I praise her and maybe give her a treat. My husband is of the opinion that I'm reinforcing bad behavior and encouraging her to pick up things that aren't hers. I feel torn - most of the time she responds positively to my command by bringing me whatever it is that she has, but sometimes she prances around and ignores the command. I think she's doing this out of boredom and on the occassions when she doesn't "bring it to me", I think she wants me to get up and play chase with her. I wouldn't really say she's running with the item, but she's certainly not responding to my command. I get up and remove the item from her mouth - no praise and no treats. Also, when she doesn't respond to my command, I put her back on her leash and don't let her off for a little while. (We have cats and she's still chases them sometimes, so we put her on her leash when she's eyeing them a little too longingly.) So what do you think?

[Rott-Wiley]

I'm going to agree with you on how you're handling this. I've done very much the same with all our dogs. I never discourage them from carrying anything around in the house. I don't let them chew anything but if they pick it up and carry it, I will make a big fuss over how great it is for her to bring it to me.

We also have cats and a new dog added to the family, usually spends about 3 months on lead in the house unless they adapt quicker. Kinda play that one by ear.

[moondog]

I think you're doing it right. :) She's being rewarded for bringing you the item, not for picking it up in the first place. My dog would do this because she was guaranteed to get my attention if the item was forbidden, whereas if she picked up her own toy, I might not pay as much attention.

If you'd like her to do this with her toys instead of your things, make a point to make a fuss and engage in the chase game when she picks up her toys, to encourage that activity. If she picks up your things, the only thing that happens is she gets to bring it to you for a pat, which can be a very useful thing for her to know, too! :D

Dogs will go with the activity that reaps the greatest reward, so heap the greatest rewards on the activity you'd like to see more of! :)

[Judi W]

Perhaps your husband prefers to chase a dog around the house or yard and have a fight with it.:D

I always praise my dogs and they bring me everything. If she shows reluctance about bringing it, walk to the cookie jar while speaking happily and do a "thank you" and "here is your reward for helping me tidy up the house" This will be your basis for retrieving. As the dog matures she will learn more and more what is hers but in the meantime you will save many objects from loss or destruction. The only rule I have is that you may not lie down with the forbidden object. That conotates ownership and is the prelude to chewing on it.