I need any and all suggestions on these two problems

    • Gold Top Dog

    I need any and all suggestions on these two problems

    OK so Abby my almost 2 year old golden retriever that I've had for like 9 months which is almost as long as her previous owner had her but anyways she has 2 problems that are driving me nuts and I'm not sure how to stop them. 1 is her favorite thing to chew on even though she'll have a chew toy right next to her she will find and chew up my socks and underwear and it's driving me nuts I've tried everything to keep her out of them including putting my clothes basket ontop of my dresser but that doesnt seem to do any good either I swear sometimes its like she's pulling them out of nowhere and of course shes got the strongest bite of anydog I've ever knowen so I fight with her to pry her mouth open just to get them out of her mouth which really sucks for multiple reason especially if I dont get my hand out of her mouth before she closes it I have to fight with her more to get my hand out. 2 She constantly sneaks on my bed and she does it in such a way that I don't know she's on my bed until I wake up and either reach for my cat or accidently kick her and she never does it until I'm compleatly asleep any ideas on how to fix either of these two problems.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I keep my laundry hamper in the closet, behind a closed door.  And by tugging with her, trying to pull things away from her, you are reinforcing that you are willing to play the game she started.  You need to teach a good, solid "drop it", and to do that you may need to start off with trading the socks for a VERY high value treat.  Spiritdogs can offer tried and true suggestions for that.

    If she "sneaks" once you are asleep, then the best suggestion I have is to crate her at night or close her out of your bedroom.  I don't mind my dogs getting on the bed and mine rotate all night long.  Never more than ONE on the bed at any given time.

    • Gold Top Dog

    glenmar

    I keep my laundry hamper in the closet, behind a closed door.

    If she "sneaks" once you are asleep, then the best suggestion I have is to crate her at night.

    Ditto on both counts.

    Our puppy would chew our clothes if given the chance.  We just don't give her the chance.  We make sure that everything is picked up, & she doesn't have access to bedrooms, the laundry room, or the dirty clothes hamper unless someone is right there with her supervising.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Exactly  what I was going to respond with.  I have to keep all underwear and socks picked up and when they are out of sight they are out of mind.  Little Finn will take anything if I forget and don't put it in the hamper.

    We have crated Finn since we've had him (almost a year) and are just now letting him have free roam at night.  DH didn't want him sleeping on the bed since Benny does.  We only have a full size bed so there isn't much room.  He does come up in the morning though for a snuggle before we get up and he's allowed on the furniture during the day anyway.  So, crating is a great suggestion; it will keep him safe and off the bed.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I agree with all of the above advice.  Teach "leave it" and if you accidentally mess up and she has something she shouldn't, you can easily get her to relinquish it without a struggle. 

    • Gold Top Dog

     If you are prying her mouth open to get these objects back, you are inadvertently teaching her that they are very valuable, and so she is even more likely to want to keep them.  As the others have said, time to train the dog to do polite object exchange and "leave it".  These might help:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNAOe1djDyc

    http://dogtrainer.quickanddirtytips.com/puppy-or-dog-steals-things.aspx

    • Gold Top Dog

     Something I didn't see (but it might be there, so forgive me if I'm repeating!) is that your dog has a very, very sensitive nose. Your underwear and socks are the articles of clothing closest to your body. They smell VERY much like you, and that is why she loves them. I have a dog who goes for reading glasses, too, and cell phones.


    • Gold Top Dog

    spiritdogs

     If you are prying her mouth open to get these objects back, you are inadvertently teaching her that they are very valuable, and so she is even more likely to want to keep them.  As the others have said, time to train the dog to do polite object exchange and "leave it".  These might help:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNAOe1djDyc

    http://dogtrainer.quickanddirtytips.com/puppy-or-dog-steals-things.aspx

     

    I was actually thinking along with this it's probably a really fun 'game' to her now by going about it that way ( prying the mouth open).

    • Gold Top Dog

    jennie_c_d

    I have a dog who goes for reading glasses, too, and cell phones.

     

    I feel your pain. Kobi was exactly the same. Much easier to buy new undies. LOL!