Rosie is driving me mad!! She is developing the most frustrating habit of picking up stuff that has my scent on it. Now I know that this is not uncommon with dogs, but it is becoming something of a problem! Last night she got hold of my mobile (new-ish) and as a result it now displays the most impressive array of teeth marks. My OH is desparing of her, and me .... :rolleyes: I understand why she's doing it, but it is becoming quite hard to live with !!! I can't keep the house behind cupboard doors!! It's almost as though she needs a comfort blanket! She's not short of toys by the way.

How old is she, and how long has she been doing this?

"It's almost as though she needs a comfort blanket!"

Then you could try giving her just that :) Have you got something of yours with your scent on it that she can have such as an old jumper or something (make sure its not freshly washed)?

She's 14 months old and has done it for a long time - although it's getting worse of late! She's an English Setter by the way. She's always been a bit needy, if you understand ..... It seems to be something that I have recently touched or used. I'll try giving her something of mine, but I can understand it's difficult for her to differentiate between what's allowed and what's not. Poor, confused thing!:rolleyes: My OH is really getting fed up Someone help!!

Apart from making sure that you do move things out of her reach. (I know it is a pain but as with a toddler it has to be done, so get into the habit of doing this, she may never grow out of it!)When you go to bed at night, pop some appropriate things that you do not mind her having in bed with you to collect your scent, in the morning leave them in a certain place for her to take, that way you are in control of what she takes and where she takes it from, give her a treat if she takes from your pile to re-affirm it is ok, if she takes from somewhere else, immediately take it from her with a No!  Lead her back to her pile of specially selected items.

You will need to keep putting your fresh scent on these items daily, I would wash them (to get rid of doggie odour) and then pop them back in bed with you for morning.

Does she suffer from seperation anxiety at all, or is this her only bad habit?

If she also can not bear to be away from you, and cries all the time, then come back to the site and we may get rid of that problem and in doing so it will rid her of this one too. :-)

What things do you do with her.  My dog that has worked previously does this sort of thing and boy you should see his little choppers go when I take something off him, he's so funny but he just wants to be out there doing something.

Just had a look at your web site .... aren't your dogs great!! They look such fun   I don't tell Rosie off when she takes things because I feel its my fault for leaving stuff within her reach. She's not short of attention from me and isn't left alone that often. (other than having to do the necessities of living!!) I can't even say she shows signs of separation anxiety, either.

Hi there - I have an English Setter around the same age as Rosie (and a few Gordons plus an Irish too!!)  Does Rosie get's lots of mental stimulation as well as a good run each day?  The setter breeds do like to be stimulated - which I'm sure you are doing but maybe she needs a bit more mental exercise to keep her busy?

I'm no expert in training but Carrington 's advice sounds perfect and the sort of thing I would do to feed her need for your items as such - praise her lavishly when she has one of these items she is allowed.  Charlie too will steal things he is not to supposed too even things considered 'out of reach' and well back.  So everything now goes away out of sight out of mind!

Do you leave her kongs when you are out to chew - even when you are in too can help (maybe put one of her meals in?)

I'm sure you can help her to channel this behavious to how you want with lots of praise.

What colour is your girl?  Charlie is an orange belton!

All the best,

Hi - I saw your reply earlier, but happened to be so angry at the time, I couldn't reply. Angry with myself for leaving my bag open, and with my daughter for letting Rosie in the study ...... she had hold of my mobile AGAIN and its totally chewed I use kongs with her regularly, and she is not short of walks, she's quite fit the vet tells me. I do need to find some way of channeling her behaviour in some way, I accept that, but it's just so frustrating at the moment. I saw a thread somewhere titled, "I liked this" ......... I think it applies to me at the moment.

Rachelsetters, Rosie is an orange belton too. Don't they just have a habit of doing things to you with their soppy expressions!!

Onward, in an attempt to maintain my tenuous thread to sanity, I struggle ......
Karen,

Karen - oh dear! not a good start to the day for you then!  They do melt you though don't they and yes soppy is a word I would use with an English!

Hope sanity will be restored v. v. soon - if not have a large glass of wine tonight!

It sounds like she may just need some mental stimulation and Carrningtons suggestion of things of yours she can have may work too.

Take care and smile! (well try too!) :)