Help with training suggestions

[june'smom]

We have a 2 yo mixed breed dog from the shelter. We have had her for about 2 years. Our best guess for breed is border collie, poodle, and maybe something else.

As background, we walk her 2x per day for 45-60 minutes per walk. We have a huge, fenced backyard. We also own a lab mix and they get along great.

BUT she is the devil. For example, she jumped the gate to the upstairs and stole a diaper out of the garbage in the bathroom and ate it. The gate was about 3.5 ft tall and we put laundry baskets on the stairs to make it more difficult to get over. She also opened the door to our bedroom (I am absolutely certain that it was closed) and tore up a book, a stuffed toy, a diaper, and something unidentified. This all happened in about an hour this morning. She also sneaks downstairs to steal treats out of the litter box whenever she gets a chance. She gets into the garbage and will steal food off the table, counters, etc. whenever we are not looking.

She is a really nice dog most of the time, but this has to stop. Dh and I have gone to great lengths to try to work on her issues, but I am so sick of it. I am willing to put in a lot of time training her, but I don't know what I am doing. I would like to have some suggestions for books or DVDs of training tips. and I don't want just basic sit and stay stuff. She can do all that. I need agility training and games and other difficult things to do with her.

Thanks for your help.

[Oubliette8]

Try Dogwise for trick books. I think we have "Fun and Games with Dogs" and "More Fun and Games with Dogs", which really impressed me at the time with lots of great trick ideas. Here's the Dogwise link- http://www.dogwise.com/Browse/SubCat...?SubCat=Tricks

Also, check your local library. Mine has a ton of training books, which sometimes include a trick section, as well as straight Trick training books, books about stimulating high-energy, high intelligence dogs, books about agility training etc etc.

when are these things happening? Are you home? If not, I would seriously consider crating her when you are not home, or confining her to a safe room (which might be tricky if she can open doors- but you could probably install a slide bolt up high pretty easily) Eating things is a serious risk to her health.

I would also work on the "leave it" command. It is used to make them ignore something they want- like food on the ground, the garbage, etc. You can obviously only count on it if you are in the same room, but in my experience, most dogs, if told to leave something enough times eventually lose interest even when unattended.

Are there classes available in your area? Something like agility or flyball might be great at being both mentally and physically stimulating. It tends to be easiest to sign up for a class- most people don't have the money or space for a giant teeter totter and A Frame for instance, and classes can really help with handling. I home trained my dog, but took some classes before our first trial and was surprised by the things I didn't know or hadn't thought of!

Also, what about doggy day care? It would tire her out, keep her socially stimulated, and help with destructive issues related to boredom or separation anxiety. It seems a lot of people don't do it daily, but just a few days a week.