Stealing: Is Your Dog a Thief?
What is a thief? In the human sense, is a dog capable of
stealing? When something of yours is in jaws of a dog, you want it back! How to
get it?
Actions you take when your dog runs off with something of
yours can create grave behavior problems in the dog-or improve the dog’s
training and your relationship. For either result you’ll put in the same amount
of time. Knowing what to do lets you shape the outcome.
Why Do Dogs Carry Things Off?
A dog’s reasons for carrying something are fairly simple,
but not always obvious to humans. Dogs have no way of knowing the value things
have for us. Money means nothing to a dog.
Wild dogs often need to carry food from where they find it
to where they will eat it. They bury some to eat later. They carry food to pups
and sometimes to other members of the pack. In some cases they eat the food,
travel to the pups, and regurgitate the food for the pups to eat.
Domesticated dogs -at least some of them--have the ability
to regurgitate voluntarily in order to transfer food in this way.
Some domesticated dogs bury bones, toys or other items, and
some hide the objects in other ways. A dog worried about having a steady food
supply may hide food. Sometimes a dog who does it at first in a home will stop
after settling in. A dog with pups may do it when she’s never done it before.
Whenever you see a dog hiding food, keep in mind that the
dog may be feeling insecure or may feel a need to think about providing for the
future. To rebuke the dog would likely make the dog feel even more insecure.
Dogs use objects to soothe their mouths by chewing. The jaws
apparently are uncomfortable, possibly painful, in the process of setting new
teeth. We should be glad that puppy chewing reduces the needle-sharpness of
their first teeth!
The permanent teeth need to be set in the jaws by chewing,
and if this starts the dog on a lifelong habit of chewing appropriate objects,
better dental health for life can be the welcome benefit. For you that means a
dog with better-smelling breath, sounder teeth, and less frequent need for
anesthetized dental cleaning.
Remember that dogs need to chew. When your dog has something
inappropriate as a chew item, make a quick switch that ends in your dog chewing
something appropriate and getting praised for it.
Realize you’ll likely have to do this many times and
supervise until your young dog forms good chewing habits. Punishment will not
help solve this problem, and will result in problems much more serious than
chewed possessions.
Besides lifelong dental health, a dog with good chewing
habits can use a chew toy to relax. This ability helps dogs control their own
emotions in some rather remarkable ways. Instead of bugging you when you’re
sleeping or reading, your dog may pick up a toy and chew it until the dog falls
asleep.
To help develop this ability, be sure to place one or more
favorite chew toys in the crate with a young pup. With nothing else to do, the
stage is set for the pup to discover that chewing helps bring sleep, and at the
same time makes the jaws feel better.
Some people recommend providing only one toy so the dog will
focus on that one object for chewing. Others suggest that you rotate toys,
making old toys new again when they come back out of storage. Whatever you do,
try to provide your dog with a variety of textures in toys to chew, especially
textures similar to the human possessions that have interested the dog.
Dogs often “steal” something they notice interests you
because they want to play. They’ll do this with other dogs, too. Chasing your
dog is not a good idea, because dogs who learn to run from humans have played
this game in traffic.
Cornering the dog and angrily forcing the object out of the
dog’s mouth triggers fight-or-flight survival instincts-but gives the dog no
flight option. People get bitten this way and damage their dogs’ temperaments
in the process. The dog has a new reason for running off with the object and
for defensive behavior: fear of you.
The dog’s playful mood in initiating this game is a perfect
training opportunity if you know what to do, and we’ll discuss that in a
minute. Meanwhile, realize that it’s vital not to turn this into a
confrontation. Good work with your dog will make these situations easy to
handle. In the meantime, trade the dog for something better, and act happy
about the deal.
Dogs do sometimes “want” things. Some dogs have favorite
toys. Sometimes this behavior may be related to maternal instinct. A heritage
from the wild is food guarding, which will be made worse if you force the
issue.
The trick to handling food guarding is to convince the dog
there’s no NEED to guard food. Instead of taking food away, you keep
approaching the dog as you bring small amounts of food. Meanwhile, though, feed
the dog in a private place.
What Not to Do When
Your Dog “Steals”
Things that don’t work and that cause complications when
handling the dog who has your stuff include:
1. Chasing the dog. Running away from people is
life-threatening for a dog. Pattern your dog to always come toward you, unless
it’s a retrieve that involves going out and then coming back.
2. Yelling or punishing the dog for damage. The dog won’t
learn anything from this except fear. When people return home to find a dog
left loose in the house has damaged things, and then freak out at the dog, they
may soon find their dog has developed separation anxiety. The damage done
before will pale by comparison with damage from a dog suffering separation
anxiety.
3. Punishing the dog when you get the object back or when
the dog comes to you. Teach your dog to bring things to you and to come to you
when called.
This learning does not occur when the dog experiences you
being nasty when the dog comes to you or you take something from the dog’s
mouth. Anytime you remove something from your dog’s mouth, make the dog happy
about giving it to you. Give the dog something nice in return such as praise,
games and treats-leave the dog happy about the transaction!
The same is true whenever the dog comes to you. A dog who
comes to you should be “home free,” no matter WHAT the dog has done just prior
to coming. Dogs are not going to come to people who penalize them for coming!
4. Corner and punish a dog. Just as you don’t want to
pattern a dog to run from you, it’s dangerous to pattern a dog that being
caught by a person can mean being in big trouble. You need to be a “safe place”
for your dog, someone your dog can always trust.
This will happen only if you behave in a trustworthy way.
Lying to a dog doesn’t work, because the dog only believes what you do, not
what you say.
How to Use “Stealing”
as a Training Bonanza
The brain – dog as well as human – is most receptive to
learning when in a playful mood. When your dog grabs an object and prances
away, enticing you with body language to come and play, you’ve just been handed
a solid gold opportunity to teach your dog one of the most important advanced
behaviors: the retrieve.
What’s your first move? Instead of getting mad, join the
game! Instead of chasing the dog, run from the dog. Make it the dog’s challenge
to chase you and persuade you to take the object.
Have something handy to give the dog in exchange or to throw
for the dog to pick up, carry, and hopefully bring to you. Get happy! Have fun!
This is part of the great joy of having a dog. Don’t miss it!
All of this fun gives you the opportunity to develop a
language of retrieving with your dog. As you play together, associate words
with the dog’s actions of “pick it up,” “get it,” “go get it,” “hold it,” “bring
it,” “put it in my hand,” etc.
Retrieving is the best game to play with a dog. It builds
cooperation, brings the dog to you, enhances communication between you and the
dog, conditions the dog to give things to you, and provides the dog with
exercise.
It’s Your Choice
It’s no exaggeration to say that people have ruined the
temperaments of their dogs by responding harshly when dogs “steal.” Don’t make
this mistake. Recognize the golden opportunity presented to you when your
clever dog picks up an object and runs around with it.
The dog is ready to learn. Be ready to teach! In the
process, you’ll learn, too, and you and your dog will both be the winners.
