My neighbor said his dog never gets into the trash

I was walking my dog Baxter this morning and ran into my neighbor, Steve. He was bragging about how his golden retriever, Duke, is so well-behaved he never even sniffs the kitchen trash can. Meanwhile, I spent twenty minutes yesterday cleaning up a shredded potato peel and coffee ground mess because Baxter figured out how to nudge the pedal bin with his nose. Steve made it sound like a moral failing on my part. I know every dog is different, but it got me thinking maybe I'm not setting clear enough rules. Baxter is a rescue and we've had him for about eight months, so we're still learning. Has anyone else had a dog that's a total trash goblin, and did you find a trick that actually worked to stop it?

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3 Comments

hugomurray6mo ago

Oh, the moral high ground of a neighbor with a perfect dog. My last dog was a trash connoisseur who could defeat any latch system known to man. The only thing that finally worked was getting a can with a locking lid and keeping it inside a pantry cabinet, because my willpower was no match for her dedication.

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the_sage6mo ago

Ever have a friend whose dog was basically a furry Houdini? My buddy's lab once chewed through a metal trash can corner to get at some old chicken bones, like @hugomurray said, their willpower is just next level. He ended up having to buy a heavy duty can and bungee cord it to a basement pipe.

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robinson.hannah6mo ago

Locking lid inside a pantry cabinet, did that actually work long term?

1