PICKING UP SMALL OBJECTS
He picks up any small object (usually the baby's shoe or toy) and carries it around the sitting room until we take it from him. (It was suggested this might be due to the breed being used to retrieve game etc.) He has his own toys. He's 18 mths, very good natured but can be stubborn i.e. if he doesn't want to obey a command ... he won't!
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Thank you. Al (Scotlland)
Re Picking up objects from the floor
I presume that your dog is a Springer. Therefore I completely understand about him being stubborn - they also have selective hearing ! It sounds to me that this behaviour stems from his puppyhood. Was he allowed to take anything that was on the floor regardless of whether it was his or not ? It is cute behaviour from a pup but not from a dog. Puppies naturally want to explore their surroundings and do this by using their teeth and mouths. But your dog needs to learn that some things are forbidden. So you need to think ahead – make sure that when he is in the room there is nothing on the floor that he is not allowed to take; when he has got something, don’t chase him. He’ll think it’s a game. Instead, approach him calmly, in a matter of fact way, and offer him something he is allowed to have. Reward him for this – immediately so that he relates the reward to the action. Make sure he has a variety of his own toys to play with / chew. Make sure he also has plenty of exercise so that he is not bored. Also make sure he gets lots of attention when your baby is not around. He may be initiating negative attention by taking things that don’t belong to him so he at least gets some attention from you. It’s a bit like with child behaviour – praise the good, ignore the bad ! Don’t issue him with too many ‘commands’ either. Only what is necessary. He is also still a young dog who is still learning the rules.(we had a saying when our dogs were pups if somthing was on the floor "does it belong to them" ) Hope this helps.
Liz
ps you never mentioned your dog by name ?