Our lab Hector is now 15 months and is lovely in most ways. But, he will still, if left unsupervised even for literally a few seconds, steal anything 'papery' he can reach (newspapers, magazines, books etc) and tear it up. This isn't getting any better. Not a huge issue as we would normally not leave him unsupervised but it would be nice to be able to relax our state of watchfulness occasionally! Any ideas anyone?

Hi Chris

I was delighted to read your post!  My girl is 13 motnhs old and is exactly the same.  Loo roll, kitchen roll, Barclaycard bills - you name it she takes it.  I have just had to make sure doors are closed and that stuff is in boxes.  The kids can now genuinely tell their teachers that the dog ate their homework!!

Everyone tells me she will grow out of it (we thought that with the skirting boards too but are still waiting!)

Good luck

Sara

Snap! Luke is 15 months and passionate about tissues, loo rolls, kitchen paper....also gloves, scarves, hats....he usually finds things he shoudn't have when I'm having a shower...it is annoying at times but really I love his puppyish behaviour & I'll be really sad when it stops! :) :) :)

What happens when he steals stuff?  What happens when he doesn't steal stuff??........

When he steals stuff we have to trap him to get it back (as otherwise he will tear it up or run round with it) and when he is cornered he will 'drop' on command, but not until then! I know you'll say it's a game for him (and you can see in his face that he enjoys it!) but what else could we do? If we're in the room and he examines something lying around he will leave it if we say 'no'.

I think you already realise what your dog has trained you to do.......  He steals paper, you run after him - it's a great game to him ;)   I would tackle this on two fronts - 1) When he steals a piece of paper you don't want him to have - call him to YOU, offering a potential reward (much more rewarding than the piece of paper), then ask him to sit/down/whatever - maybe even string two movements together, and offer him the reward - taking the piece of paper from him as he takes the reward.  The piece of paper has ceased to be an issue and will eventually be forgotten.  2) When he leaves a piece of paper when told to, this also should be rewarded, and an even bigger reward if he ignores it without being told to leave.

Andrex has a lot to answer for! Giving these dogs all sorts of ideas!!!! ;)

Hi John
I do believe the original Andrex dog lived on the Isle of Man for a while!!!!

Well, I not only have labs who love paper, I have cats as well who shread loo roll when it is still in the holder and you are left with a spaghetti like situation!!!!

Patricia

Thanks Digger - good advice. The only thing I'd say is that he still steals paper if we're not there to chase him (and eats/shreds it) so I don't think it's just for the chasing game...

our staff Giorgia is 10 months old and she loves all things that you have said, we removed the toilet roll from the holder in the bathroom as she kept doing an Andrex puppy on us, she loves all underwear and gloves as well.
I hope she doesnt grow out of it because even though sometimes it is mildly annoying, its mostly the best fun watching. Anyway if you say 'leave' she drops whatever is in her mouth so its not so bad

LOL John