[NAGDU] Seeking Advice on Behavioral Issues

[carcione at access.net]

It is odd that she would start jumping on the counter at this point in her
life.  It wouldn't hurt to check with her vet. 
Some people put a can of rocks or bolts on the counter near food, so it will
fall and make a big noise, startle the dog, and alert you.  But my Krokus
used to grab stuff off the counter, and no loud noise would have stopped
him.  What stopped him was me grabbing him and yelling at him very fiercely,
having what my friend calls a "come to Jesus moment".  
Tracy


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Diane Graves via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2024 8:55 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: rdgraves2007 at gmail.com
Subject: [NAGDU] Seeking Advice on Behavioral Issues

Good Evening all,

 

I hope you all are doing great!

 

I also hope some of the  seasoned guide dog users can give me some advice on
how to curve some behavioral issues which have recently surfaced in my Izzo.
Izzo and I have been together for almost 7 and ½ years now. She has always
been a major “sniffer,” and she couldn’t be trusted to keep away from food
that was on her level. If it falls to the floor, it is fair game. Of course,
you’re asking for trouble if you place a sandwich on a coffee table and turn
your back for a second. This is understandable.

 

Very recently though she has taken to grabbing food off the kitchen counter.
The other day I had a roll of sausage on the counter preparing to make
breakfast. The next thing I knew a family member advised that she had the
sausage and was going to town eating it. She has never done this before.

I questioned myself, as there is a very slim possibility that I knocked the
sausage roll off of the counter when I was wiping off the stove in
preparation. I don’t believe that I did; I think I would have felt the
impact. But, I thought it was a possibility. I took the remainder of the
sausage from her, brought her  back to the counter and gave her a stern
leash correction. I then put her on tiedown for a couple of hours.

 

Later that same day, after she had been released, I was advised that she had
gotten ahold of a partial loaf of bread, which I am certain was on the
kitchen counter. Luckily there were only a few slices, but I am puzzled as
to why, after all of this time, she has started doing this. 

 

Fast forward to today. She was caught eating peanut butter off of a mouse
trap. Are there any thoughts or suggestions as to how to correct this
problem? I am beside myself, and it makes me feel bad to keep being so stern
with her. But this behavior is not acceptable.

 

It’s really strange, because, other than the above behaviors, she is acting
normally. She is still eager to go to work, and travels our daily routs as
she normally would. I would really appreciate any advice.  

 

Robin (Diane) Graves

rdgraves2007 at gmail.com <mailto:rdgraves2007 at gmail.com> 

317-238-9262

 

“TGIF: TODAY GOD IS FIRST.’—OS Hillman

 

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