Tips On How to Stop a Dog From Getting Into Your Garbage

If dogs were in charge, the world would be a very different place. Dogs live by different rules than humans, and, as a dog owner, it's your responsibility to teach your dog the rules of human society. Those rules include not leaving the garbage strewn all over the floor or ground. What your dog doesn't realize is that eating the garbage can be toxic and harmful for it. Train your dog to stay out of the garbage can.

  1. Catch It in the Act

    • You don't have the opportunity to correct your dog if you don't see it getting in the garbage. You can't scold a dog for something it did wrong a half hour ago and expect it to know what you are upset about. It will associate your anger with something else. For example, if you come home to find the garbage on the floor, yelling at your dog will cause it to think it is getting in trouble because you came home. You may see it start to act guilty every time you come home, whether it did anything wrong. You must catch it in the act.

    Interrupt the Behavior

    • If you do catch your dog in the act of getting into the garbage, interrupt it with a "no," a clap or a snap. Use any sound you know will get your dog's attention. The instant it turns toward you, praise it and reward it with a treat. This may seem counter-intuitive, but you are actually rewarding your dog for leaving the garbage. You will gradually start rewarding it only after it is farther and farther away from the garbage. You will eventually stop using treats, but you should never stop praising. This technique allows you to teach your dog that you want it to leave the garbage alone. It makes you happy when it does, and it will be less likely to get into the garbage in the future if you work consistently to teach it not to mess with it.

    Use a Can with a Lid

    • Buy garbage cans with lids for your kitchen and bathrooms. If you can, store the can inside a cabinet or closet. This will limit your dog's access to the garbage. For outdoor garbage cans, try storing them in an area your dog has no access to, such as the other side of the fence. Secure the lids on your outdoor cans if your dog or neighborhood dogs continue to get into your garbage. The less accessible the garbage is, the less of a temptation it will be to dogs.

    For Stray Dogs

    • If stray dogs or other neighborhood dogs are getting into your outdoor garbage cans, you won't have the opportunity to train them to stay away. Try to deter them by securing the lids. You can also spray the cans with bitter sprays that repel dogs. These sprays are available at most pet stores. Dogs dislike the taste and smell and will be less likely to get into your garbage if it doesn't taste appealing to them. You can also booby trap the cans to scare them away. Place metal lids on top of the cans. When the dogs try to get into the cans, the lids will fall and make noise. This won't hurt the dog but will scare it. The dog will be less likely to get into your garbage again if it associates your garbage cans with negative experiences.