Our dog hides our belongings-HELP!

The easiest way to do this is to close him in a crate when you go out.  Keeping things picked up and out of reach is a huge help also.  You might want to get a small blankey and have each family member snuggle with it for a bit and then present it to him as HIS security blanket.  Should you find your things missing, gently remind him that the item in question is YOURS and give him HIS blanket, emphasizing that THIS is yours.

Honestly, I'm going to also encourage you to crate this boy while you are gone.

It's not cruel -- dogs are den animals and it actually encourages them to *sleep*.  But particularly with this dog -- he's **worrying** while you are gone.  He's not having fun enjoying his "freedom" (which is a human concept, not a dog one) - he's really unhappy ... hence his attempts to 'find' a substitute.

Place his crate in a bedroom with someone he's particularly fond of -- then he's surrounded by "sleep smell" (another dog concept -- the smell of someone asleep is a relaxed and comforting smell to them.)

Before you leave, put him in his crate and let him know when you'll return.  You don't need huge long explanations -- typically you can boil down activities into one of 3-4 phrases that they learn.  I tell mine "I love Billy, I love Luna and I love Tinkerbell (looking at each in turn).  Mom's gotta go to work.  See  ya later!"

And I/we substitute "Mom's gotta go shopping" or Mom's gotta go do an errand" -- see "work" is all day but home before dark.  "shopping" can be pretty much any length of time but I'll come home with BAGS (groceries, or whatever).  But it helps them identify the length of time with something concrete for them.  It takes the mystery out of it.

You have a very smart dog there -- just give him some phrases to identify what's going on and alleviate his concern. 

While you're gone he'll simply sleep and then be ready to play with whomever returns first.

See the problem is -- he may not only hoard things -- he may chew or ingest them -- which is dangerous.  You may periodically want to give him a different item.  Just pass it around amongst yourselves so it gets each human's scent on it.

Thank you so much!!!

I really appreciate it! Thanks for all the advice. I have a crate for him, just never used it. He's always been a "free" dog since he's been with us. I know he's not ingesting anything.. yet.. he doesn't chew anything.. not even bones. But I don't want him to start.

I will be using both of your ideas. Thanks again!

Resource guarding is when a dog "protects" things that it considers high value. People, food, and toys are common things they'll guard. I do NOT think this is what your dog is doing. This sounds like much more of a management issue than a training issue.

Rocky used to do this when we first got him.  He didnt chew on things he just took him to his rug in the kitchen.  I was able to give him a job.  I taught him to take the things he found to the laundry.  He loves this.  He helps me gather the laundry, when hubby removes his socks or t-shirt he give it to him and says take it to Mommy.  He comes to me and we go to the laundry room and "put it up"  The phrase "put it up" means go to the laundry room :)  He cant quite put it in the laundry hamper (its too tall) like my Rottie used to do but he will wait til I take it from his mouth and put in in the hamper or washer.  He loves his job and he gets lots of praise from both of us when he does it.

 I highly doubt its resource guarding. To me, it sounds like the dog wants to be "scented" with his family.

tiffy

  I highly doubt its resource guarding. To me, it sounds like the dog wants to be "scented" with his family.

I'm not so sure it's resource guarding, either.  I was thinking the same way  Glenda and Callie were.

 If this were resource guarding, the dog would be defensive about you taking the possessions back.  If that isn't the case, then it just seems like he is gathering things with your scent on them to comfort himself.   If you do decide to crate him, and he's never been crated before, be sure to acclimate him to the crate gradually and make it a fun place to be.  A stuffed Kong toy, with goodies inside, and your scent on it, is a good idea for a once-in-a-while treat when you will be away.  http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/crate-train.pdf