When Nell the clever Cockerpoo refused to give things back
What do you do when your dog becomes a masterful sock thief?
True stories from the life of professional dog behaviourist Theo Stewart. She lives in a pretty town in South West England and has helped thousand of dogs and their owners to live happier lives together over the last 20 years.
đ Happy Motherâs Day to Theo, from Sarah the editor (Theoâs daughter). Your case stories are wonderful, thank you for sharing this project with me đ.
Is your dog a master sock thief with a growl to match?
Meet Nell. A beautiful, mostly loving Cockerpoo with a knack for stealing thingsâand keeping them.
Her humans were at their witsâ end.
Every time Nell ran off with somethingâa sock, a slipper, even a random cushionâit turned into a battle.
Sheâd growl. Sheâd snap. Sometimes, sheâd even bite.
And it wasnât just about the stolen stuff.
Nell didnât like being touched when she wasnât in the mood.
A sudden pat? Snap.
Trying to remove a thorn from her fur? Snap.
Her humans were told nothing could fix this.
But thatâs where they were wrong.
It all started with a stolen sock.
Nell darted through the living room, a bright red sock dangling from her mouth like a trophy.
Her humans chased after her, calling, coaxing, pleading. But Nell wasnât giving it up.
When they cornered her, she growled. When they reached for the sock, she snapped.
Then came the shoe. The cushion. Even the TV remote.
Each time, Nellâs growl got fiercer. Her humansâ frustration grew.
The more they tried, the worse it got.
And then came the biting.
One evening, her owner gently tried to brush a tangle from Nellâs fur.
She snappedâhard.
It wasnât just about objects anymore.
Even a simple touch could set her off.
Her humans felt helpless. They loved Nell.
But they didnât know how to live with her unpredictable moods.
They were told, âThis canât be fixed. Itâs just who she is.â
But that didnât sit right.
Because dogs donât just do things for no reason.
Nell wasnât being difficult just to be difficult.
Every time she snapped or guarded something, it worked.
The humans backed off. She got her space.
It was less about the sock or the brush.
More about feeling in control.
And hereâs the twist:
Nell might even have been getting a little thrill from it.
A mini adrenaline rush every time she âwonâ the standoff.
Add in the fact that Nellâs a Cocker Spaniel-Poodle mixâboth clever, working breeds.
Itâs clear she wasnât getting the mental stimulation she craved.
So, she created her own excitement.
But what if her humans could change the game?
They stopped playing Nellâs game.
No more chasing when she stole something. No drama. No fuss.
If Nell grabbed a sock, they just walked away.
Suddenly, the game wasnât fun anymore.
They gave Nell activities that tapped into her natural instincts.
She got the mental workout she needed.
And when it came to touching Nell?
They gave her space.
No more surprise pats.
No sudden invasions of her bubble.
If they wanted to interact, theyâd sit nearby and let her come to them.
Slowly, things began to change.
Nell started to relax.
She stopped snapping when touched.
She didnât guard things as fiercely.
Bit by bit, she began to trust her humans more.
The stealing?
Well, it wasnât as fun when no one chased after her.
Her humans couldnât believe it.
The behaviour they were told could ânever be fixedâ was fading away.
All it took was a new approach.
One that gave Nell the stimulation she needed and the space she craved.
Does your dog need Theoâs help?
Click here if you would like to get Theoâs expert help tailored to you and your dog.
đŹ
âI recommend Theo to anyone who is wondering whether to take the plunge! We had an online consultation via Zoom. The session opened with an in-depth Q&A. She broke every individual aspect of life with our dog down for us, forming a âjigsawâ which when combined, made up the behaviours our boy is displaying. It suddenly made so much sense! A complete light bulb moment. We then discussed a range of activities and behaviours we can use to work with our dog. Theo has the most astute âdog brainâ of anyone Iâve ever spoken to.â
Next time
Now that Nell and her human family are feeling calmer, itâs time to meet a new friend whoâs stirring up a different kind of mischief.
Next time, youâll meet Bella, the Wire Hair Fox Terrier who thinks leads are traps.
You wonât want to miss how her owners navigate walks that feel more like stand-offs!
About the author
Theo Stewart is a dog behaviourist who lives in a pretty town in South West England. She has been a regular dog behaviour expert on local BBC Radio.
This is a true story. For privacy, names and details have been changed.
Remember, every dog is unique. Always consult a professional for advice tailored to your dogâs needs. Click here to get help that will be tailored to you and your dog.
Author: Theo Stewart
Editor: Sarah Hyndman (Theoâs daughter)
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