Flipping out over garbage bag! Help!

C

ChampLucy

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Our 2 Shelties are almost 14 months old and we have had a problem since they were very young with them flipping out whenever we change the bag in our kitchen trash can. As soon as we take the lid off of the can they start to bark like crazy and run around. They get even worse when we get the new bag out of the cabinet and put it into the can. Our female Lucy will lunge at the bag and try to bite it. Our male seems to be disturbed by the whole bag changing also but now it seems more like he is trying to correct Lucy when she starts flipping out. We have tried doing it really slowly....taking the bag over and letting them sniff it to get used to it....have also tried shaking coins in a can to get them to stop barking and calm down, which used to work but they have become desensitized now and don't seem to care much a out the loud sound. Any suggestions about what we can do so that we can peacefully change the garbage bag? Also interestingly....the other day I changed a bag in a garbage can upstairs when they were with me and they barely even noticed!

While I'm posting I thought I would mention another problem we have had since they were really young which is flipping out whenever we vacuum or sweep which of course is almost daily with all their hair! Lol! They used to both bark like crazy and run around whenever I would vacuum or sweep. Champ, our male has been much better lately and will usually just go sit on the sofa and watch me until I'm finished, but Lucy continues to bark and run around until I'm finished most days. I'm guessing that they are trying to herd the vacuum or broom??? Has anyone else dealt with this problem?? Is there anything we can do to eliminate this behavior?
 
Welcome to the wonderful world of Shelties....trash bags, vacuums, brooms, whistling kettles, ringing phones, hairdryers, you name it, they bark at it. This is really typical Sheltie behavior. You can try some distraction techniques but once they've got the triggers, I haven't had any success with distraction. My Barkley (the instigator) will also try to attack the trash bag as it goes into the can and once it's in, he'll grab the edge and try to pull it out.

He's the one who barks at everything and anything and his sister will bark with him when he does. If he's not around, she's quiet! My third could care less and only barks when she wants something. I wish I had better advice for you but I've failed miserably in stopping the hissy fits. :rolleyes2:
 
Thanks Ann! At least I know I'm not alone!

These Shelties are just so different than our black lab that we had before them....he barked at NOTHING! Takes some getting used to, but they are worth it, they are so much fun!

Barkley! What a perfect name for a Sheltie! I love it! Lucy is usually our instigator.....she's usually the first to bark at something and then Champ has to join in of course!:lol:

I guess I should consider myself lucky that they don't bark at the phone! But the doorbell? Now that's a whole other story! :smile2:
 
Yep, you mentioned my dogs' two worst enemies. The kitchen trash bag, and the vacuum cleaner.

I haven't been able to train out this behavior...but I've been able to manage it. I do one of three things:

1--Crate them in another room when I do any of those things
2--Put them in a stay and have my husband reward them for staying and not reacting (weird that the trash bag doesn't phase them when they're "working")
3--Give them a very tasty treat (kong or bone) that keeps them busy
 
Dreaded garbage bags

Yup, been there. Had a boy who would loose his sheltie mind whenever I changed the bag. He would spin and bark. But not everytime!

As was stated, it is just a thing that our shelties have. They choose their time, and their battles. I think they just have to puff themselves up from time to time and feel important.:yes:

Now vacuuming was an on again off again monster of huge proportions. Unless you want to loose your voice telling them 'no' or 'sit' I would put them in another room.

Really though, it's all good!

Best,
Kate
 
How about a salad spinner? Our old tri girl goes crazy when she sees it come out. Now, I ask her to go into the pantry (it's walk in size) I shut the door, and then spin the lettuce. Not a peep out of her. When I am done, I open the door and she just walks out, like she can't remember why she was in there.
Very funny:lol:
 
missjenneygirl said:
How about a salad spinner? Our old tri girl goes crazy when she sees it come out. Now, I ask her to go into the pantry (it's walk in size) I shut the door, and then spin the lettuce. Not a peep out of her. When I am done, I open the door and she just walks out, like she can't remember why she was in there.
Very funny:lol:
Click to expand...
im rolling laughing..I can picture it soo well...I need a walk in pantry to lock Molly in! Shes the salad spinner nut too...and ohhh Tinfoil is the arch enemy here....I actually have resorted to just leaving the roll on the back porch and I go out side and leave them in to tear it...I went out the other night to tear a piece and my mom looked quizzically at me and said what are you doing?!?! I told her she said ohhh they have you trained ohh soo well:lol: I just explained its much easier to modify me rather than them :lol:

If I use the vacuum they are all locked outside...otherwise its 6 shelties trying to herd and attack it!!

and ps...it only takes one to have a bad habit before the rest of the group picks up on it and decides its a fun game!:rolleyes2:
 
Yes! Aluminum foil ~ What IS it about aluminum foil that does them in?? Mine too! I don't have a salad spinner (that is too funny about the pantry -- I forget why I'm in there too, :lol:...) but fuggetaboutit if I so much as approach the food processor or mixer, and I have one of those "as seen on TV" manual choppers that drives Barkley beserk just seeing the box.

See, you have all this to look forward to, ChampLucy...there is nothing like a Sheltie. Never a dull moment! :yes:
 
This is so funny! I'm glad I'm not the only one that has problems vacuuming and sweeping w/ Shelties around! I usually give my Shelties a Kong or rawhide type chew while I vacuum. Sometimes I put them in the backyard. One time I was able to hold a treat in 1 hand and the vacuum w/ the other. It worked but, it was pretty hard to do. I was thinking of just tossing treats on the floor while I sweep or vacuum. Maybe they will eventually associate sweeping/vacuuming w/ good things. My little rescue doesn't have a problem with any of these things. I'm pretty sure he spent his first years as an outside dog. But, I've had 2 Shelties before these and they had the same problems w/ brooms and vacuums.
 
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