Here's what to try if your dog keeps getting into things they shouldn’t

Is your dog a trash aficionado, keen on sampling every delicacy they can dip out of your garbage can… and splattering food scraps all over your kitchen in the process? Maybe they love nosing through your shoes and clothes or even opening the bathroom door to have at the toilet paper. Whatever "forbidden fruit” they get into, don’t worry: You’re not alone.

Thankfully, scavenging is normal. And better yet, it’s often pretty simple to address! With a few tweaks to your routine—and a healthy dose of patience for your pup who’s just doing their best—you’ll be on your way to a destruction-free house in no time.

Step one: Understand why your dog scavenges

Before managing our dogs’ environments or starting any new training plan, we should try to understand where they’re coming from. What does their behavior communicate to us? How might their actions fit their canine conception of the world?

It’s obviously frustrating when your pup gets into trash, food, or your other belongings—but it’s a myth that dogs do things out of spite. Your four-legged family member isn’t trying to drive you up the wall (or, for that matter, chew right through your wall). They’re just doing what comes naturally.

Why do dogs get into things they shouldn’t?

For one thing, domestic dogs have a natural instinct to investigate their environment. It’s normal for a canine to want to explore the world around them! Out on walks and hikes, this urge often looks like running ahead or pulling on the leash to a new smell. Inside the home, it might show up as determination to get into your pantry or past your closet’s locked door. Remember that your pup’s canine ancestors were both predators and scavengers, meaning they often rifled through their environment to find food. That instinct doesn’t just disappear because they eat out of a bowl now!

What’s more: “Dogs often behave destructively to relieve anxiety or as an outlet for excess energy,” writes the MSPCA. Which leads us into…

Step two: Make sure your pup feels fulfilled

Proper fulfillment won’t automatically fix every problem you experience with your dog, but it can make an enormous difference. This is one of the first things you should look at any time you or your pup are feeling annoyed with each other.

Many destructive dogs feel bored without enough exercise and enrichment. Think about how much stimulation we cram into our own days: work, podcasts, books, scrolling our smartphones…

Now think about how much time your dog spends on their own without entertainment. Although it’s important to teach our pups to handle boredom on occasion (you can read more about that here!) it’s also important we meet their needs so they’re actually able to relax.

We’ve put together plenty of guides to help you enrich your pup’s life:

• Find your dog’s favorite enrichment activities
• 101 easy dog enrichment ideas
• Does enrichment have to be expensive?
• How to use puzzle toys thoughtfully

And our most recent freebie is an ebook specifically about shredding enrichment! Download your copy here.

Step three: Manage your dog’s access to your home

If your dog keeps getting into things they shouldn’t, it’s time to adjust their environment. This is sometimes easier said than done—certain dogs are excellent escape artists, locksmiths, and handymen!—but a combination of the below options usually does the trick.

Crate your dog when you can’t supervise them

Proper crate training helps your pup feel comfortable in a den of their own. If your dog is in the routine of sneaking trash or other household items when you’re gone, crating them can ensure their safety and your peace of mind. Plus it prevents them from rehearsing the destructive behavior more and more, which is an important part of breaking the habit!

Most dogs can learn to be comfortable in a crate. But if your pup isn’t one of them? That’s okay! Some dogs have confinement anxiety (or simply need more room to stretch out for health reasons). You can experiment with creating a safe space for your pup in a separate room or by setting up a larger pen. The goal here isn’t to use one specific kind of kennel. It’s to create an area for your pup to relax—where they aren’t able to wreak havoc.

Use gates and locks to keep tempting things out of reach

Baby gates might be your new best friend while working through scavenging behavior with your pup. You can set them up in two main ways: to keep your dog out of certain areas (like if you cordon off the part of your kitchen that holds your garbage and recycling bins) or to keep them in their own space (like if you create a doggie pen as mentioned above).

Child locks come in handy for our pets, too. If your dog is an expert at knocking over your garbage can or pushing open doors? The right locking system can keep them from getting inside.

Consider keeping your dog on a leash in the house

I know, I know, this one might sound a little over the top at first—but hear me out! Some pet parents find great success tethering their dogs to them during the day, either via a regular handheld leash or a special waist attachment. (Fittingly, this is sometimes called “umbilical cord training.”)

Tethering like this works because it gives you a way to physically prevent your dog from reaching things they shouldn’t—unlike simply calling after them once they’re on the hunt, which might fall on distracted ears. It also prevents you from getting distracted and not knowing what your pup is getting into until it’s too late and they’ve already been rewarded for their effort.

Think about what you want to leave within reach of your dog

Some dogs are less likely to get into things they shouldn’t if you make it easy for them to get into things they should. Consider leaving safe chews or other toys for self-directed play out for your pup. These opportunities can encourage them to channel their arousal into an appropriate activity when you aren’t able to engage with them yourself.

Step four: Seek further training help

Getting in touch with a professional dog trainer is never a bad idea. They’ll help you identify the root cause of your dog’s destructive habits—whether it’s plain ol’ pent-up energy or something deeper, like separation anxiety—and devise a plan to help everyone relax.

If you don’t have the resources for in-person training right now (I’ve been there!) you can also consider virtual sessions. Trainers increasingly offer these as the world becomes more digital, and they’re often discounted from hands-on lesson prices. Some shelters host drop-in events at local shelters, too. And online dog communities are full of resources, like Juniper’s own free guides. We’re cheering for you!