How do I stop my puppy stealing things?
Why does my puppy keep stealing things?
Puppies investigate their environment through movement, attention and interaction with objects. A puppy may pick up household items because they are accessible, interesting or because the puppy has been given more freedom than it can currently manage. The first step is to observe what the puppy is doing and assess the environment before deciding how to respond.
The objective is not simply to remove an item every time the puppy picks something up. The puppy needs to develop appropriate boundaries while the owner manages access to the environment and gradually increases freedom as the puppy becomes capable of managing it.
More freedom requires more behavioural responsibility. If a puppy repeatedly steals household objects when allowed greater access to the home, this provides useful information about the level of freedom currently being provided.
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How do I stop my puppy stealing household objects?
Start by considering the environment in which the stealing occurs. If the puppy has unrestricted access to a large area of the home, there may be many opportunities to pick up inappropriate objects.
Appropriate management can reduce these opportunities while the puppy develops better behavioural responsibility. The crate, placemat and playpen can all be used as part of the home environment, depending on what the puppy currently needs.
The crate can provide a safe space for rest, routine and resetting. The placemat can provide a defined area for stationing, settling and controlled freedom. The playpen can provide freedom within a defined boundary.
These forms of management are not necessarily a fixed sequence. If the puppy struggles when given additional freedom, it may be appropriate to reduce the level of freedom and return to an environment that the puppy can manage successfully.
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What should I do when my puppy steals something?
Observe the puppy and assess the situation before acting. Consider what the puppy has picked up, why it may have attracted the puppy’s attention and whether the current environment is providing too much freedom or unnecessary distraction.
Manage the situation calmly and prevent the puppy from continuing to practise inappropriate behaviour. Remove unnecessary access to objects that are repeatedly attracting the puppy and return the puppy to an environment where appropriate behaviour can be developed.
Positive reinforcement, food and patience can be used where appropriate to encourage the puppy towards suitable behaviour. The aim is to develop understanding through consistent management and appropriate motivation rather than creating unnecessary conflict.
The puppy’s individual drive should also be considered. Some puppies may have a low food drive while others may have a high food drive. Prey drive can also influence how strongly a puppy responds to movement or particular objects. Understanding the individual puppy helps determine the appropriate motivation and management.
How can I stop my puppy taking things around the house?
The amount of freedom available to the puppy should reflect its current behavioural responsibility.
A puppy that can remain settled and behave appropriately within a controlled area may gradually be given additional freedom. A puppy that immediately begins picking up household objects when given more space may need the environment or level of freedom reassessed.
The placemat can help establish a defined area for settling and controlled freedom within the home. The playpen can provide additional space while maintaining a clear boundary. The crate can be used when the puppy needs rest, routine or an appropriate reset.
The important point is to observe how the puppy responds to each increase in freedom rather than assuming that more space is automatically appropriate.
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What if my puppy runs away with things?
If the puppy repeatedly runs away with objects, avoid allowing the situation to become an uncontrolled pattern. Observe what is happening and assess whether the puppy is becoming more distracted or whether the current environment is too difficult.
Reduce unnecessary distractions and manage the puppy within an environment where it can return to a calmer and more appropriate state.
If the puppy is unable to continue appropriately, an appropriate reset may be necessary. Once the puppy has returned to a suitable state, return to the relevant training process and continue gradually.
The response should always be followed by reassessment. If the puppy continues to steal objects, consider whether the level of freedom needs to be reduced or whether the environment needs to be changed.
How do I teach my puppy better boundaries?
Boundaries develop through consistent management, observation and progression.
Instead of waiting until the puppy has access to everything in the home, establish an environment where appropriate behaviour can be observed and reinforced. Gradually increase the puppy’s freedom as its behaviour demonstrates that it can manage the additional responsibility.
If the puppy begins repeatedly stealing objects after freedom is increased, this should be treated as information about the current level of difficulty. Reduce the difficulty, allow the puppy to settle and reassess before progressing again.
Food motivation may be appropriate where relevant, but the puppy’s individual food drive should always be considered. Patience and consistent management are important because behavioural responsibility develops progressively.
How can I prevent stealing from becoming a habit?
Consistency throughout the living environment is important. The puppy should not regularly be given unrestricted access to situations it cannot yet manage.
Observe the puppy’s behaviour, assess changes and adjust the environment where necessary. Remove unnecessary distractions, provide appropriate management and allow the puppy to calm before continuing when the current situation is no longer productive.
The goal is to develop a puppy that can increasingly manage its environment rather than simply preventing individual incidents.
As the puppy demonstrates appropriate behaviour, freedom can gradually increase. If behaviour deteriorates when freedom increases, reassess the situation and return to a more manageable level before progressing again.
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Developing freedom and responsibility
Stopping a puppy from stealing things is part of teaching the puppy how to behave appropriately within its living environment. Management should prevent unnecessary opportunities to practise unwanted behaviour while allowing the puppy to develop greater responsibility over time.
Observe the puppy, assess the situation, take appropriate action and reassess the response. If the puppy is able to behave appropriately, progression can continue gradually. If the puppy struggles, reduce the difficulty, allow the puppy to calm and reset where appropriate before returning to training.
With appropriate boundaries, positive reinforcement, patience, management and gradual progression, the puppy can develop greater control over its behaviour and become increasingly capable of managing additional freedom within the home.
