DOGS GETTING IN TRASH

Dogs getting into the trash or getting into other places that you don’t want are behaviors that can really develop and manifest into major behavior problems. The main reason these unwanted behaviors occur is that the owner simply never corrected the dog for them in the first place. Sometimes you want to put yourself in your dog’s place. Why does the dog go into the trash in the first place? He goes in there to eat. Because he has found out that over time that this has become a very reinforcing thing, he will continue to repeat it over and over. Remember that the completion of the bad behavior is what is reinforcing to an animal. This makes him feel good because he got what he wanted which was the trash in the garbage can. It doesn’t matter whether it was to eat the trash or just tear it apart either. Just getting to do it is rewarding enough to him.

There are three things you want to remember in attacking this problem, and these things are common in dealing with many behavioral issues regarding an animal getting into an area you don’t want him in.

  • The third thing involves PREVENTATIVE TRAINING. You do not want to give the animal the opportunity to get into the trash when you are not home. This involves making sure the dog is never in the area to get into the trash when you are not there.

In all situations where you are attacking a problem, you need to be consistent.

FOR SOME GREAT TIPS ON DEALING WITH OTHER PROBLEM SOLVING ISSUES, CLICK ON THE DESIRED LINK BELOW:

HOUSEBREAKING

JUMPING

SEPARATION ANXIETY

RUNNING OUT THE DOOR

 

 

 

joel silvemans companions for life