Someone told him I have to catch him in the act

[JeanT]

The first was the sweatshirt crumpled up on the bedroom chair. I looked at it while he looked at me. I decided I must have just tossed it there instead of folding it. I shook it, folded it and put it in the closet.

The second was a turtleneck crumpled on the bed. I looked at it suspiciously while he looked at me. I shook it out to fold it and found tooth holes. I looked at him and he looked back expectantly. I told him sternly, "Not for Cody", and carried it out to the rag pile (which has gotten larger since I've had him).

Mindful of JudiW's advice to be a better housekeeper, I'm making sure I put everything away.

This morning I get up and put toothpaste on the brush and start brushing. It feels funny. I put my glasses on. There are tooth marks on the handle and the head is bent. He is watching. I frown at him and his nub wiggles. He had put it back right where he found it. (Yes, I finished brushing before I threw it away. I didn't have a spare.)

Are you guys certain that I have to catch him in the act ? Cody mut be reading rott.net over my shoulder and thinks he's got this one aced..

[Rott-Wiley]

Sad but TRUE.

I'm afraid that's true. Sometimes it helps to have eyes in the back of your head. Sounds like Cody is in that age. They do outgrow this, not that it any help for you now. Sorry . . .

[Judi W]

I stand by my recommendations regarding laundry and shoes. As far as the toothbrush is concerned, if you don't buy him his own, and you put your's in the cabinet, he'll start using the toilet brush - so it's your choice!

[tugger5000]

Absolutely have to catch him in the act. The way our trainer puts it (as referenced to potty training), "A dog's world is black & white, there are no shades of gray. If he just finished eliminating and is starting to get up, you missed your chance. It has to be during the act."

[Judi W]

Well, I was once seen waving a toilet bowl brush in the air and making exclamations to the effect of "this is not your toothbrush"!!!!!!!!!

Of course just to be on the safe side, I then got busy and made a door for the center shelf opening under the bathroom sink.

[laurlitt]

In our house, a dog that has these kind of incidents is not allowed freedom. How old is Cody and why is he allowed to get away with these things when you are not looking (i.e. why is he not supervised at all times? You can't catch him if you're not watching him). Sorry if I missed earlier threads where this was explained...

[RottieGirl86]

hehe, people think I'm nuts the way I close doors behind me in my house. lol. Otherwise, it's a free for all for a certain female rott I own.

Dogs played and I had made the mistake of thinking a certain item was safe on a desk. I forgot how top heavy it was.

It broke. I walked back into room after going to bathroom, Athena put herself in her crate when I looked at her. hehee. My fault. I know better now, stuff like that only goes on dining room table - center of table. Meanwhile, I was only out of the room 2 minutes tops. :) lol.

I put tissues in my bra ( not as padding, just no pockets) , an old lady habit I picked up from my Nana and my late mother. I always forget when I change and bam! dog grabs it. She does respond to the drop it command, but I have to be more dilligent; as with a second rott, she resource guards - she tries to eat it now ( behavior learned from her new brother) rather than leave on floor.


Keeps me on my toes!

[JeanT]

Judi W, one of the first thing he found was the toilet brush :D It has since been stored along with all cleaning poisons inside the shower with a hinged glass door. (The other bath has a sliding glass door which he can and does open to get into the bath tub.)

Laurlitt, he's probably about a year. He's been very good in the house for a long time. There are "chompables" all around (not my clothes or shoes) . Recently he has been going around looking at things on shelves, etc, and I give him a "leave it" and he does. I think these "slient escapades" were to see my reaction. He put everything back where he found it. He probably did not refold the sweatshirt and turtleneck because then I wouldn't have noticed. That's why I was wondering if he had gotten the word that I had to catch him in the act...

Many months ago we had a thing about the shoes. I'd open the closet door to get them out and he'd bully into the closet and grab a shoe and start tossing it and trying to tear it up. I was trying to do the "sit stay" so I could get into the closet - then of course "drop it" because he bullied in. Very frustrating. One morning I wasn't too happy, he got a shoe before I could get my foot into it. Because I was angry, I started to count to 10 silently to calm myself down. So he wasn't getting any reaction from me immediately. He dropped the shoe in front of me, I gave him a "good boy" and put it on. I started for the other shoe, and we did the same. Now he waits for me to open the closet and watches where my foot is going. He does grab the shoe, but he gives it one toss and lets it drop in front of me. After I put it on, he does the same with the mate. Probably a lot here think I shouldn't have compromised, but he hasn't tried to chew a shoe since we established our routine, even if I take them off and leave them by the door when I've come in muddy.

I just wanted to know whether (besides being a better housekeeper) I should have reacted differently. I swear he was waiting to see what I'd do, even though he committed the misdemeanors out of my presence.