He doesn't listen to us, so we have to listen to him!

Did you ever enroll him in dog obedience?  I think that would be good for him.

Why don't you put the trash where he can't get it? My can is on the washer at all times.

My opinion about this is:  You might want to try obedience classes, when you catch him at the trash say NO in a very frim voice and maybe a tap on the nose, or on the side of his leg softly of course. Maybe spray some vinigar on the side of the bin to try and stop him from going near it or something he doesn't like the smell of, or something hot that won't hurt him.
 
I think the water bottle will teach him to be affraid of water and you, I wouldn't recommend this. I taught my boy (an alaskan malamute which are very strong headed and will push you to the limits) by using strong firm voice and slight taps. I now only have to point my finger at him and say NO and he will stop whatever it is and put his head down, he knows when he is in trouble.
 
Maybe find a dog behaviourist in your area for ideas, but you need to put a stop to it before he gets older. I think a little more training with him, You need to teach him that if YOU want to take food off him you can without him being aggressive. Try putting his food down then removing it and giving it back to him, You should be able to do his without any problems especially if he gets something that he is not suppose to have or maybe posionous to him.
 
 

Here comes the broken record again....NO doesn't tell the dog what you WANT him to do.  LEAVE IT does.  I don't hit or "tap" my dogs.  I have six german shepherds and a word from me is all it takes, except when it comes to QUIET which we are working on really hard.

Obedience training and more, more, more exercise!
 
Many dogs like to have jobs, and if you don't give them one they will invent their own. Your dog has decided that his household duties include barking things into shape and organizing the garbage. How about clicker training him to pick up his toys? Or play some games, go for a run. He needs more to do.

That's one of our problems too! We take him for about a one mile run every morning and he gets at least one more walk throughout the day! He's pretty hard to tire out.
 
What kind of jobs would you reccommend?

The water spray i use! plus the shake bottle!  I find that you have to be decrete with them, other wise, he will just be scared of the bottle etc.. you aim is to train the word of command. (hold it behind you back and spray, shake the bottle and withdraw....  do this as you are saying No!  Leave it! etc)   this teaches the dog a negative reinforcment, but he can't see where the noise comes from, alternate spray and shake bottle (keeping it unexpected for him)   once he withdraws from the bad behaviour say good boy, give a treat for listening or fuss...
 
This hidden fright, will get your dog's attention! but he shouldn't assocate it coming from you (hence! keeping it behind your back) so he will listen to the command and praise for responding...
   Hope this helps, Lance...

ORIGINAL: cutepetsrus
That's one of our problems too! We take him for about a one mile run every morning and he gets at least one more walk throughout the day! He's pretty hard to tire out. What kind of jobs would you reccommend?

 
Yup, sounds like a border collie mix! LOL As for what specific jobs, I think maybe I should let someone who has herding dogs answer - agility comes to mind though. Border collies are special in that physical exercise isn't really enough - as I think someone already mentioned - they are clever and they love to work, so they really need something mentally engaging to do.

do some research into a training technique called free-shaping. Two minutes of free-shaping a few times a day is mentally exhausting for dogs. Also, fetch games. A wonderful way to exercise a dog. You may want to make him work for all of his food, either in free-shaping sessions or at least feed out of a food-dispensing toy. Keep his mind busy.

Since I am home for the summer, I try to play with him, but it seems like all he wants to do is sleep, and then all of a sudden he will get up and start barking his head off! Then he'll be up and want to chew, pull things out of the garbage, etc!
 
Oh, and we did have him in an obediance class, and he graduated, but the trainer was pretty mean to him and made him scared.

Did you personally work with him in obedience or did the instructor only work with him?  Have you continued obedience training at home?  He needs to be put in the NILF program and you need to do more training at home.    Maybe try seeking another trainer or dog behaviorist.

No, the trainer only showed us what to do and once she demonstrated something with Chico and he got mad at her. She got mad back.. He then settled down, mostly because he was afraid of her. Later, she wanted to practice something else with him and he wouldn't even take a treat from her!!

By the way, what is the NIF program?

The NILF, or NILIF program stands for Nothing In Life Is Free. As I understand it, it means making your dog work for every bite of food, every toy you give him, going out for a walk, everything he would see as being a good thing, he has to work for.  I am sure someone will be along with a more detailed explanation of it.
 
Kate