How to stop my dog from getting in the trash when I'm not home?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you aren't sure if she ate anything the best thing to do is to monitor her. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and not wanting to eat. Those symptoms can indicate that something is stuck or has caused an upset stomach. If this happens bring her to the Vet. I recommend making sure all trash cans have lids. Close all bathroom doors and put the trash cans up high on counters or tables. Start with basic training: "come" and "leave it" using treats. When you are not home crate her or lock her in a room that is free of things she could get in to. Hope this helps! Good luck!@

Uh-oh, naughty Cassie! This is tricky. In general, when we're trying to shape our pets' behavior, of course we want to reward behaviors we like and either ignore, punish, or redirect behaviors we don't like. We want our pets to learn that "good" behavior gets rewarded, and "bad" behavior does not. The tricky part here is that Cassie has started misbehaving - but every time she succeeds in stealing food, or playing with something she shouldn't, if it's a good experience for her, she is essentially "rewarding" herself. We need to stop her ability to reward herself - and I'll be honest with you, it's challenging! My advise is that Cassie not be unsupervised around *anything* that she might get into, until these behaviors stop. This is easier said than done! But, again, every time she does these behaviors and has a great time doing them, she is solidifying the behavior. We cannot punish animals after the fact - we have to respond to them in that moment or they do not make the association. So, she cannot be allowed to get into real food without someone there to intervene. Again, I realize this is not easy advice - but unfortunately behavior issues generally require time, energy, diligence, and patience to correct. So, if you have a room in the house where there is nothing Cassie can get into, I would place her there when you are not home or are unable to watch her. Otherwise, make sure she is in the same room as you so you can catch her "in the act" when she is getting into something she shouldn't. You could also invest in a large cat playpen such as this one: https://www.chewy.com/midwest-collapsible-cat-playpen/dp/45740?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=MidWest&utm_term=&gclid=CKHwxcaC9dQCFQONaQodFwwFog&gclsrc=aw.ds ...where Cassie can spend her time unsupervised (overnight, etc). Make sure to place safe toys, cat treats, etc where she is confined so she still has things to do. She can then "earn" more unsupervised freedom around the house as you work on these behaviors. If you're still running into trouble, I would recommend chatting with your vet. They will likely have recommendations for trainers or behaviorists in your area who could consult with you. I know this is not an easy fix - but I hope it helps!

The easiest thing to do is block Panda's access to your mother's room. Make sure the door to her bedroom is shut when your mother isn't home, and you can put up a baby gate to prevent her from going down to your mother's room. Your mother can also start putting her dirty laundry in a basket that locks so Panda can't get into it. I hope this helps!

Tesla is probably just looking for something that might be tastier - many dogs will still seek out food even if they have just had plenty to eat. Some dogs also like to play with paper or plastic that is in the trash. The best way to curb this behavior is to restrict access - make sure there is no food left unattended within her reach and put the trash can in a cabinet or purchase one with a locking lid.

Positive means of discipline are recommended. This can include rewarding only good behaviors, using distraction (such as a loud clap or "Ouch") and withholding rewards until the pup complies. "Time out" can also be used by simply leaving the room or placing the pup in another room for a short period of time.

This is a difficult situation. Oscar needs training and to be confined when your roommate isn't supervising him. He could get ill from getting into the trash and he will never be potty trained if he doesn't have a routine and confinement so he can't continue this behavior. Oscar probably needs additional exercise and perhaps additional food so he's not so interested in the trash. I recommend giving your roommate a puppy/dog training book that discusses housebreaking with the use of a crate. I would offer to purchase a crate for Oscar to use so this behavior doesn't continue. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

It sounds like Blue considers the trashcan his territory, and he is protecting it by being aggressive when people get near it. Aggression is never a behavior that I recommend owners train on their own due to safety reasons. It's something that is best left to the experts. I would speak to your vet about a referral to a professional behavioral expert who can work with you and Blue on this aggressive behavior.