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Is your dog unspooling the toilet paper from its roll on a regular basis?
Recently, my dog Destin (who is part Black Lab, part Golden Retriever) started unrolling the toilet paper in one of our bathrooms.
I’m not sure what started this behavior (he’s 3 years old), but as cute as it is, I was determined to find a way to stop it.
Fortunately, I discovered a quick trick that will most likely stop your four-legged friend from playing with the toilet paper roll in the future too!
Chances are… you’ll find yourself asking, “Now why didn’t I think of that?!”
How to stop your dog from unspooling the toilet paper roll…
It’s simple!… Just turn the roll around so that it pulls from BEHIND rather than in front.
From my experience, switching up the toilet paper direction appears to make it less fun for mischievous dogs (and cats) to play with.
It kind of makes sense… because it takes more effort for your pet to freely dispense the toilet paper this way.
But when the paper rolls FORWARD, all it takes is a couple of swipes with the paw to create a glorious pile of white softly-scented fluff.
…I don’t know, but it worked for us! Destin hasn’t done it since.
A handy tip from the book, Teach Your Dog To Behave:
If your dog enjoys grabbing the toilet paper and dragging it around the house (toilet paper unrolling), you can either leave the bathroom door closed or set up a nasty surprise to teach him to keep his paws off.
Oh, and don’t leave a roll of toilet paper on the edge of the counter or something either.
According to my dog Tenor, toilet paper rolls are just as much fun to play with this way:
Other dogs that like to play with toilet paper…
Listen to Bud Light’s Real Men of Genius “Mr. Restroom Toilet Paper Refiller”:
I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about "outside the box" Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I've written over 500 articles for dog owners on this site!
