ASK THE DOG EXPERT

Q My dog is constantly raiding the bin. How can I stop him?

A Labradors are excellent at spotting an opportunity – it’s one of their main personality traits. The first time a Lab raids a bin, they make the association that their action is rewarded with something exciting (the bin contents), so, in their minds, it makes sense to check it daily for new goodies. If you don’t provide a Labrador with environmental enrichment, they will create their own entertainment, which is often misinterpreted by owners as ‘naughty’ or ‘bad’ behaviour. To prevent rubbish raids, firstly take steps to avoid the temptation by keeping bins locked and secure. Secondly, try to redirect the behaviour. Labradors love sniffing, tearing things up, chewing and exploring. By purposefully refocusing their attention away from the bin and onto something you’re happy for them to root through, like a treat dispenser such as a stuffed Kong, you’ll suddenly have made the bin seem a lot less exciting.

Q How can I stop my Labrador barking when I leave the house?

A Labradors love nothing more than attention and praise from their owners, and excessive barking is very often an attempt to seek just that. Our reaction, perhaps understandably, is usually to vocalise back something along the lines of ‘Be quiet’. Unfortunately, this inadvertently reinforces the barking. This is because any noise from us

– even a ticking-off – will be seen as praise by our dogs. So never be tempted to ‘shout back’ at a barking dog because you’ll only make it worse. Try to be patient and then reward them once they’re calm.

Q My Lab responds well to me but won’t listen to my husband. What can we do?

A It can take a little diplomacy to resolve this one. Quite often, the various humans within a household approach dog training in different ways, which can send mixed messages. My advice would be to bring the whole family in on every aspect, so everyone is in sync with the approach.