Hi everyone I am new here and I am at the end of my rope. I have a one year old beautiful gordon/english setter cross who up until a couple of weeks ago was a very well behaved dog. She had the run of my house and seemed to know her boundaries within it. Lately however, she has taken to stealing food from the kitchen counter (her latest treat a whole loaf of bread), stealing socks and underwear, and chewing on the rug. The last two things she did when she was a puppy but hasn't for a really long time. The food stealing thing is new and totally unacceptable. Its like she is annoyed about something and is trying to tell me about it.
Any thoughts?

JMO but she's not annoyed about anything. Most dogs are opportunists by nature...'see food, eat food' ;) If you are not around to correct the behaviour when you see it happening, then even the best behaved will steal. While I'm around my dogs wouldn't dream of taking anything not belonging to them, food or anything else. If I'm gone however and whatever it is is tempting enough, sure they're going to seize the moment...my fault for leaving things out! :p

To be honest, I have never seen her take the food. She does wait for her opportunities. It just seems so strange that she started doing it all of a sudden.

Could she be coming into season?

Fiona
x x x

Provided she is in good health and hasn't had any major upsets, you've probably just discovered adolescence :-(.

I set 'traps' for food stealers. Get a big empty coffee tin or something similar and fill it with nuts, bolts, coins, anything that isn't heavy but will make a loud noise. Set it on the kitchen table and use fishing line to attach it to some tempting, food, then leave the room. When the dog steals the food, she will bring down the tin with a loud crash, get a nasty shock and - hopefully - decide that she will be 'punished' for stealing food even when you are not there. I wouldn't use this method on a very shy or sensitive dog, and it doesn't work for a very confident one who thinks the crash-bang is worth it for the food reward, but its worth a try with most.

<<<< and it doesn't work for a very confident one who thinks the crash-bang is worth it for the food reward, but its worth a try with most.>>>>

<rolling eyes and remembering> the "she thinks that's gonna stop me?" look on Gus's face! :rolleyes: :D

My lovely Lucy is about as sensitive as a brick. The loud noise idea is worth trying. Thanks everyone. She is our first dog and we are totally in love with her. I just feel sometimes that I have no idea what I am doing. How long does this adolescence thing last?

If your Lucy is anything like me she will never grow up ! :D

Moose is the same . She is 16 months old and does have her days ! She gets a certain look on her face and you know she is going to be trouble ! She knows now though that we are not stupid so has to be extra clever ! Which most of the time she fails miserably !!

Lucy

Welcome to the teens. I have had these kind of setbacks with all of my dogs around 14 to 18 months. All the things that they had been good about, and suddenly I would find things piunched, like the little wicker baskets that hold soaps, shredded around the kitchen. thes had been sitting on top of the counter for ages!

Also several went through a dsigging stage, even though they hadn't done it since tiny.

They seem to be grown up one minute, and infants the next.

Just be consistent, extra careful not to give her opportunities to be nauty. Put things away, don't leave things, especialy food in reach.

When was her season. Mine only seem to really get into theft mode if they are having a phantom or have pups.

Christine

Is she in welp?

Lucy was spayed about a year ago. I have been making a point not to leave food on the counter in the kitchen, but she still manages to find something to get into. Yesterday she found the cupboard where I keep the potatoes. I arrived home to find potatoes and dirt all over the living room floor and sofa. I now confine her to the front hall when I am out of the house. It seems to be the only thing to do as she can't be trusted at this point. She is getting by on her good looks these days, thats for sure.

Confused again if she is a year old and was spayed a year ago at what age was she spayed, may have no bearing on her behaviour except she may well take longer to grow up, will get to the teenage stage and no further. Let us know it may well matter.
Ja:)kie

She is thirteen months old and was spayed at six months of age. Sorry. My math isn't too good this morning.

Had she had a season before she way spayed? Jackie

No, we got her done as soon as she was old enough due to the presence of an overly amorous border collie up the road.

It sounds as if she's a bit bored and is in the mood for entertaining herself :)
Seriously, mine go through patterns like this too. It is definitely motivational to keep things picked up and doors closed :rolleyes: :P

Oh the house is getting tidy. Make no mistake. Apart from my son having no socks left and needing to buy some more potatoes this hasn't been a big deal. I just worry that perhaps she is bored or irritated. Although the snow yesterday has given her something new to play with.

Snow??? Where are you at..if you don't mind my asking??? :)
Curious Toodles

St. John's, Newfoundland, a Canadian rock in the middle of the North Atlantic.

Something I've always wanted to know and FINALLY someone can answer :D :D :D
Is it pronounced "Sinjin" or "Saint John"?

Newfoundland and on an island.... Hmm, you and Snorri might have a lot in common. He's in the Orkney Islands.

Welcome to the forum, if you haven't been already. :) :D :)
I'm an American who lives in Germany ...for the moment.
regards,
toodles

The correct pronounciation is Saint John's, ( the 's' at the end is very important to distinguish us from St. John which is a city in New Brunswick)
The pronounciation changes if you are from St. John's and drunk. At this point it is pronounced "SinJahns".
Where in the States are you from?

Others may not agree with me but because of her early spay, before she had fully matured, you may well be in for a prolonged puppyhood and adolescents, continue with the sort of training you have used so far and she will grow up in the end. Most dogs become even more of a problem as the reach adolescents and it looks as if yours is no exception. Ja:)kie

Thanks Jackie. As I hope I mentioned earlier, Lucy is a wonderful dog who has become an important part of our family. This recent behaviour has been more worrying to me than annoying. I guess we will go back to the basics and start from there.

You'll be OK treat her like a wayward teenager, won't stop her but may make you feel better. Ja:)kie

Good practice for when my boy becomes a teenager I guess. Although I can't put him in a crate. ;)

You mean they don't allow that in Canada ;)

I hope you don't mind me suggesting, and i agree that the problems are veru possible due to her adolescence but does she have enough to "do"? I don't mean just in the house, with say, stuffed Kongs, but do you "do" anything with her?

It's just that Gordons especially are very active dogs and do need mental stimulation; if you aren't already doing something with her, how about some sort of training offered by a local club?

Best wishes
Lindsay

I wondered about that myself. She gets a lot of exercise, in the garden, walks and trips to the dog park. We play a lot of catch as well and she gets a lot of attention from all members of the family. She did basic obedience when she was a puppy, but perhaps she would do well with some more advanced training. Thanks!