Does anyone have suggestions how to keep my pup from turning over my waste paper baskets?

That's a puppy for you. First of all, get trash cans with lids on them. Preferably the heavy duty cans, but those are pretty expensive. If cost is an issue, get lighter weight Rubbermaid type cans, still with lids on them. Put something in the bottom of the can to weigh it down a bit- a few large rocks, or bricks. Fill a few water bottles with tap water, something that will keep the lighter can stable so she can't tip it over. Then just put the bag on top of the weight.

Be forewarned... if she can't play with the trash, she will find something else. When mine was a pup, I would close all the bedroom/hallway doors to keep him contained in whatever room I was in. At least you can see her and this minimizes the damage. Also, try to find her a pile of toys that she can get into. Go to Michael's or Hobby Lobby when they have a clearance sale and pick up 8 or 10 small decorative pillows. Pile the pillows up and let her go. When she tears them up, just toss them in the trash and you're out like 50 cents.

First, try to keep waste paper baskets up where she can't reach them. You know, just remove the temptation. It could be an attention getting behavior that makes you stop what you are doing and interact with her. I know it's hard when you're trying to work but maybe stop every hour or 2 and give your little dog a few minutes of playtime, or work on some obedience exercises. Could you put the x-pen in the room where you work, or babygate the doorway and keep her in the room with you? Get a nice doggie mat or bed and teach her "Place" and praise her for going to her "Place". I dog sit a Bichon and they are really hard to ignore when they are trying their best to prove to you that they are much more entertaining than any old work you have to do!

Also you could try Snappy Trainers. My large mixed breed learned not to counter surf with these- they are a big red plastic paddle that you set and place (when the dog is not looking) They work like a mouse trap-don't worry- it won't hurt your dog- when the dog touches it it releases and pops into the air and startles the dog. It is usually quite effective. After a while, I didn't even set the thing, just its presence kept Charlie away from the kitchen counter. Well good luck

The trick is to make the wastebasket unattractive to her, in her mind. You can try behavior modification. One method that I have used is to take a squirt gun, and when she starts trying to get into the waste basket, direct a few squirts of the gun at her side. Unbelieveably, this really worked with my Great Dane....if she is acting up, all she has to do is see the squirt bottle, and she lays down. Another method is to put a few pennies into a soda can, tape the top, and when she goes for the basket, shake the can sharply. The noise will usually make them shy away (it is pretty loud), and before long she will associate going for the basket with the "scary" noise and avoid it. My daughter bought me a wooden garbage can holder for my birthday a few years ago, as the Dane had no compunctions about going after the garbage can in the kitchen, if no one was in the kitchen with her. It is the size of a large kitchen garbage can, and the front tilts out so that you can put stuff in/remove the can and/or bag. It is wonderful for keeping her out of the kitchen waste! And because it will only hold so much "stuff", the kids were trained as well about taking out the garbage when it was full, because they got in trouble themselves if they filled it to the point that it wouldn't close properly without removing the full bag...a double bonus!! You could try the type of wastebasket that have the lid/foot pedal combination to decrease the temptation, as well. Hope this helps.

Unfortunately you stated the problem in the question. She is only a pup and at this age they are full of energy. If you dont have the time to constantly follow her and scold her for getting into your baskets, you should just place them up high enough so she cant get into them. At this time in her life she is as any child would be. Curious!! Baby proofing is not only for babies. Unless you can set out the time to constantly get onto her for getting into them, she will never learn to leave them alone. But the saying out sight out of mind does work, and eventually the time she goes without having them there to constantly get into, she will move on to find more entertaining things and will lose the interest in the baskets.

I'd make sure you spend at least 1 hour a day playing with her outside and getting some of that energy out. If you don't want to crate her when she's unsupervised then you'll have to puppy-proof your home (put waste baskets where she can't reach, hide wires, etc.). Good luck.

i'd invest in gates but, for a little less money there's this toy i've heard of where you put some treats in a toy which should keep the pup busy all day. It'll be good for her when you're away or can't play

good luck, hope I helped

Take her out for a really long walk before you start working in the morning, at lunch & a short one maybe mid afternoon when you take your break. She's creating games because she needs the exercise to get rid of pent up energy.

My lab is 7 and she still like to eat nasty stuff out of the garbage.

What we did was just move the waste bins to a higher spot. Or just place something heavy on the lid so she cant get in.

The only way is to put the trash out of reach. I tried the red pepper thing - my dog licked it off and kept right on doing it. Trash is smelly - they love getting into it.

Dilute some hot red pepper into a spray bottle of water and mist your trash cans with it. Usually it takes only a lick or two to break that habit and the pepper will not harm her. Good luck!