Doggone Etiquette —

Catch A Thief

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

Lots of you dogs are what amounts to “sneaky petes.” You make off with something that doesn’t belong to you and think you are very clever. Simply because it fits in your mouth, and no one saw you take it doesn’t give you the right to destroy whatever it is (or was). Watch it, because if you pull this trick too often, you’ll find yourself looking for a new home! People can be very weird about their possessions. Some things are more valuable than others to them and you poor dogs have no way to know which is which until the law comes down on you. So whatever it is you’ve swiped, give it back quickly when you’re caught.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

All dogs are thieves at some point in their lives, either because they are bored with the toys they already have and go looking for an interesting replacement or something simply catches their eye – and fits in their mouth! It’s the canine law that says, (to the dog that is) “What’s mine is mine and if it’s in my mouth, it’s definitely not yours.”

The owner’s job is to catch the thief in the act, either as Rufus is about to grab the object, or AS he latches onto it. Once it is in his jaws, you can only be thankful that you taught him from day one to “Drop it!” on command and that he’ll obey you whether it’s a harmless tissue or your steak dinner. Just always be sure the stolen item is not actually dangerous to the dog. That includes all medications as well as any object that could cause blockage from the throat to intestines if swallowed.

Here’s a problem we’ve all come up against – how to handle it when you didn’t see the thief in action and only later discover the missing shoe (or whatever) in a corner of the yard, chewed to pieces. Pick up the stolen object; show it to the dog and, with a big scowl, say, “No! Bad dog!” Keep your rants, raves and tears to yourself. The chances are Rufus will have no recollection of having stolen it, chewed it or hidden it. To the dog, it’s probably history, but just in case he remembers, you might want to keep an eye on similar objects he goes near.

One thing to avoid at all costs is to have Rufus himself put a value on the stolen object and then growl when you attempt to retrieve it. If he gets away with this once, the next time the growls will escalate and even extend to a snap, snarl, or bite. This is often caused by the way the incident is handled. Show your anxiety, raise your voice a few notches, and Rufus will quickly try testing you via a noisy tug-o-war. You give up when the growling sounds serious, and the thief has won the game!

That is one reason teaching “drop it” is so very important. It can save an object you value, and it can also save the dog’s life. When Rufus has something in his mouth (stolen or not) offer a temptation such as a piece of hot dog. Let him sniff it and AS he is about to drop what’s in his mouth you say, “Drop it – good drop it” and hand over the treat. It’s a lesson that you can teach at any odd time, and numerous times when you’ll be very glad you did.

The other side of this issue is not really a problem. It’s when something the dog has stolen is just plain funny. We’ve all seen it – a tiny dog or small puppy makes off with an unwinding roll of paper towels, or with a long scarf flowing behind him like a banner as he tries to look very important. Keep a straight face and try not to laugh as you give the “drop it” signal.

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.