How to Stop a Dog From Tearing Up Garbage

When a dog gets into garbage in search of food and leaves you with a mess of strewn food scraps and household waste, it's time to take preventive measures and employ behavior modification techniques. Many dogs tear up garbage repeatedly once it becomes a known food source, which is dangerous, because garbage usually contains items that can harm or poison dogs, such as glass, onions and chicken bones. Keep dogs out of trash to protect their health and safety and to maintain cleanliness in or around your home.

Things You'll Need

• Lidded trash container
• Taste deterrent
• Metal coffee can
• Pennies
• Snappy Trainers (optional)
• Aluminum cans
• Child-proof locks
• Baby gates (optional)
• Bungee cords

Instructions

1. Place garbage bags in a lidded trash container. Stainless steel cans with foot pedals or locking lids can help stop dogs from getting in garbage and from chewing the garbage container, too.

2. Correct the dog when you see it sniffing or getting into the trash. Say "No" and redirect it to another activity.

3. Create a negative association with the trash through taste or sound. Spray the can with deterrent products, such as Bitter Apple, or shake a metal coffee can of pennies when the dog approaches the can.

4. Create "environmental punishers," as suggested by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to stop the dog from getting in garbage when you are not around to monitor behaviors. Place Snappy Trainers, which safely snap like mouse traps, under a layer of newspaper in the garbage, or build a pyramid of empty aluminum cans on the trash can lid. The noise of snapping traps or falling cans will surprise the dog and discourage trash raiding.

5. Set smaller wastebaskets inside of cabinets with child-proof locks, or place cans in an area the dog cannot access. Use baby gates to stop dogs from entering rooms with trash cans.

6. Secure trash can lids with bungee cords, if needed. Lay a bungee cord over the lid and loop each end through the can's handles, or wrap a bungee cord around the entire can to hold the lid closed.

7. Provide ample exercise to your dog each day to curb boredom, and feed smaller meals throughout the day to discourage food-seeking behaviors.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not punish the dog if you come home to torn trash---the dog will not associate the punishment with trash raiding.

• Do not use scare tactics, such as Snappy Trainers, with anxious dogs---this can increase their anxiety.

References

• ASPCA: Counter Surfing and Garbage Raiding
• Veterinary Partner: Trash Hounds and How to Live with Them