Dear Miss Behavin’:

My dog is constantly getting into the trash can. Our household is busy with people coming and going and we can’t seem to get on the same page about putting the trash out of reach before leaving. Any tips?

Whether it be the trash, the litter box, or a bin of kids toys, there are certain things we just don’t want our dogs getting in to while we’re away. We all know that getting into the trash makes a big mess, and might result in a belly ache for your dog, but it can also be dangerous. There are certain foods and items that we dispose of that can cause serious problems – like corn on the cob.

This type of behavior or habit is hard to break, especially if your dog is getting into the garbage on a regular basis. Since you’re away when it happens, there isn’t much training that can be done around the behavior. Instead, you’ll primarily need to manage it appropriately to stop it from happening.

If your garbage is in a cabinet or under the sink, you can install a child cabinet latch or lock to prevent your dog from opening the cabinet. This will solve the problem for many households as most dogs can bump a door open with their nose or pull a sliding garbage drawer open. Additionally, make an effort to take the trash out as much as possible, especially after you’ve discarded food or items that are enticing for your dog.

If the garbage is in a bin that sits outside of a cabinet (without secondary containment), you might need to move the bin to a different area when you leave or utilize a gate to keep your dog out of the kitchen when you’re away. If your dog was once crate trained, it might be a good idea to dust off the crate and start using it again, especially if his health and well-being are at stake.