Cocker Spaniel stealing stuff

Question
Hi, Our 6 month old cocker spaniel steals things from the garden and house then usually runs off to her favourite place in the garden and happily sits and chews them. item range from underwear to blocks of wood. Is this something we should ignore and she will grow out of. i am conscious that i do not want to make a game out of it and start chasing her around the house.
Many Thanks


Answer
Hi Robert;
This is funny, and no matter how frustrating it is, admit it, it is funny and kinda cute.
BUT! you don't want her to have a criminal record, so it is smething that needs to be stopped.
Pupp[ies naturally chew, but you have to redirect what she chews on.
The blocks of wood are deffinately NOt good for her.
The splinters can stick in her gums and cause tooth and gum infections, and she can swallow them, and choke, o=r they can perforate something on the way down, or get lodged, and then she would need surgery.
When she has something she shouldn't have, don't chase her. first, say "NO! DROP IT!" in a loudish voice, and let your voice show displeasure.
If she doesn't drop it, chase after and catch her, and scold her good. "SHAME on you, bad puppy !" things like that. If you have to chase her to get it, make sure she learns the scolding will be angrier and longer.
Nag a little bit even.
She will get the hint that it is not a game.
Next, get her sopme things she CAN chew, and give it to her.
Best thing is a Kong toy.
You can get them at pet stores. these are hard rubber that is hard enough they can't bite off chips, and they satisfy the gnawing impulse ( sometimes they are cutting teeth and their gums hurt, and they need to cheew, just like human babies do).
You can also put cheese or peanut butter inside the kong toy, and it keeps them busy for quite a while, digging out the treat with their tongue, and teeth.
Most people say don't give them stuffed toys and things they can tear up, because they can swallow the pieces and choke.
I am not saying this can't happen, but i am saying I have always given my dogs toys, and they have chewed them up and torn them up, and in over 65 years of raising dogs, I have never had one choke yet.
I buy mine those braided pull toys.
I play tug of war with them.
On another board i answer on, I have been criticized for advising this, buy some of the other experts.
Their thoery is, it makes them vicious, and makes them become biters.
Well, I have raised many, many dogs, and have never had one that was a biter yet.
I play tug of war, I play keep away, I lay on the floor( or did when I was younger and spryer) and bury my head on my arms, and they try to get at my fae to lick it, some of them have pulled hair a bit. I rough house with them.
I would sit on the floor and wrestle, and they would jump up on me, and I would fall over. they would end up on top of me, especially when I was on my stomach with my head burried. they would stand on my back.
This business of "it will teach them they are superior and make them feel they can dominate", I think is a lot of bull.
I wrestled with my kids too, and until I just got too old to do it, with my grandchildren.
My authority has never suffered or been diminished , either with the children or anmials.
They always have known the difference. Playing is playing, and serious is serious.
I have a thief, actually, i have two.
they are both Australian shepherd mixes, and if you tke your eye off your food, it will be gone.
the grandkids like to have a snack in the den while they watch their movies, and if they take an eye off their snack, either rowdy or Big Boy are going to filch it and take off with it.
We went through chewed shoes and anything that was left down.
It helped teach the kids and grandkids to put things where they were safe. LOl
Try to keep what she is not supposed to have out of her reach, get her some toys that are hers, and get a Kong toy. They make them in different sizes, so you can get one to fit her little mouth.
Play tug of war and keep away with her. Teach her to chase a ball and bring it back so it can be thrown again, and the problems of her theiving will be taken care of.
Enjoy her, and have fun with her, but teach her to follow the rules, just like all the children have to, whether they have 2 legs or 4.
Charlotte