klepto

Question
I have a 6 1/2 month old adorable lab puppy who is obsessed with stealing everything.  She will grab and run with at least 25 things an hour all day long. It doesn't matter what it is, from rugs, toilet paper, hair clips, things out of drain, shoes, paper, remotes, just anyting. It is driving us crazy.  She is not alone often and gets lots of attention.  HELP!

Answer
Dogs love the game of chase.  One dog grabs something and runs off with it.  The other dog chases him, and eventually they have tug of war.  Avoid this game as much as possible.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  Be careful about using come and give or drop.  You will undo both commands if obeying is completely negative.  Try to distract him with one of his toys.  All the better if you do it while he is heading for the wastebasket.  

Remove everything you can from his reach.  Use closed door or gates to restrict him to the room you are in.  I even have a short chain fastened to our one computer desk.  

A mousetrap is very effective in making a dog leave something alone.  Most
dogs will stay away from anywhere they were surprised by a snap.  The best
part is that it is not you that is correcting the dog.  It works whether you
are around or not.  The mousetrap is very patient and is always on task as
long as you reset it.

Better than mousetraps when you aren't around is the crate.  Other dogs may
not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with.  Still your house and dog
will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away.  The dog may be
happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its
den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic
ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  They are harder for
dogs to open too.    Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any
bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding
time for more than one dog.

Accidents and damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy.  When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys.  In a quiet, but firm voice ''Bad dog, its name drop!''.  Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of his toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.

There is also Bitter Apple spray.  Puppies will leave things alone sprayed with it. Sometimes you can nail a thief with a spray bottle or squirt gun.  Put a little vinegar or lemon juice in the water to make it more effective.  It works.  I once accidentally grabbed the flea spray off the refrigerator and gave Prince a blast in the face.  After that, all I had to do was go to the refrigerator, and he would drop whatever he had.  

Finally, give him more attention.  That is the whole object.  Find time to play fetch or whatever, walks, etc.