We have an 8 year old GSP. She has recently started ransacking the garbage can and kitchen counters on a regular basis. It started about 6 months ago but has really ramped up in frequency in the last few weeks. We never had a problem with it prior. She will grab unopened bags of chips, bread, etc. not just food in the open. I have the following theories:
1. We changed to a new food last fall. We usually do as her activity level is so much different in the winter and she has trouble with weight gain when eating the high-energy food she needs in the summer, but we used a different brand this year. She tolerated it well and kept weight off, but is it possible she is desperately hungry all day?
2. My wife has been working more since last summer. Prior to that, she did not work and was at home. She is now nearly full-time so our dogs are home alone during the day a lot more. Is the dog having issues with this and acting out?
3. Some combination?
I'm going to try blending her food back to her proven foods. We also need to be more diligent about food on the counters. A hard habit to break after so long. Any other ideas why would she be doing this after all these years and/or how to fix it?
1. We changed to a new food last fall. We usually do as her activity level is so much different in the winter and she has trouble with weight gain when eating the high-energy food she needs in the summer, but we used a different brand this year. She tolerated it well and kept weight off, but is it possible she is desperately hungry all day?
2. My wife has been working more since last summer. Prior to that, she did not work and was at home. She is now nearly full-time so our dogs are home alone during the day a lot more. Is the dog having issues with this and acting out?
3. Some combination?
I'm going to try blending her food back to her proven foods. We also need to be more diligent about food on the counters. A hard habit to break after so long. Any other ideas why would she be doing this after all these years and/or how to fix it?