[Mare]

My garbage can now lives on my back porch. *Sigh*
It seems that once Kiska realized that I threw the empty cat food cans into it she is raiding it at least 3 times a week and at this point I am totally fed up. She knows not to do it when I am home, and waits until I am gone at work.
I give her a kong toy full of kibble everyday before I leave for work so she can have something to do other than raid my garbage can and be harassed by the cats, but every time I find the garbage raided her kong is untouched.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to dog deterrents that will teach her stay away from the garbage can, or should I just accept that my garbage can will never be inside the house again? (She doesn't even wait for the smell of cat food cans anymore, she has raided an empty can seemingly in the hope there might be something tasty in there....)

[Nancy]

I'd get a garbage can with the locks that slide up onto the top of the lid. Or keep it in a cabinet, like under the sink, with child proof locks on the cabinet. Once she realizes she can't get in any longer, she MAY stop. But at least she can't eat anything spoiled. Dogs will go after anything left out. I have found mine on top of the table before, all it took was one leap! And I was reminded when our friend's golden retriever came to visit last week that when he stands up he can reach anything on the island or counter. We just have to protect them!

[Mare]

I have the garbage can out on the enclosed porch (so the racoons and possums can't get into either). Slightly inconvient for me but hey, it keeps her out it. Only thing is now she is on a tear, today I came home and found my dish drainer (for the wet dishes to air dry in) on the floor, 5 glasses and a plate broken. Normally I'd blame the cats but this literally has her paw prints all over it... (and the counter where the drainer sat..)
All I can say is she is lucky I love her! She's also taken to knocking over the laundry hamper and spreading my laundry around and I know she's never gotten food that way, I suspect it is because it looks similar to the trash can. Goofy beast.

[Turner]

Have you tried crate training?