- 1). Speak sternly to your dog when you find it getting into a trash can. Say "No, bad dog!" and point at your dog. Command your dog to sit or go to its bed whenever you see it near a trash can.
- 2). Spray ammonia around or in your trash cans. The smell is repulsive to dogs and keeps them away. Stay diligent. Spray the cans every few days until your dog associates the smell with trash cans and stays away. Ammonia is safe for dogs to breathe in, as long as they do not consume it in large quantities. Ensure there are no puddles or pools of ammonia near or in the trash can.
- 3). Buy animal-proof trash cans that lock or cannot tip over. Indoors, you can use pedal-operated trash cans or place them where your dog cannot get to them, like in cabinets or on counters.
- 4). Place small snap mouse traps around your indoor trash cans to frighten your dog and keep it away from the trash. While this technique creates a small amount of shock, it does not harm your dog in the long term.
- 5). Consult a professional dog trainer to work with your dog if it does not abide your commands.
