Paper Thief

Radar has a bad habit of stealing little bits of paper. Not necessary the regular size, like a piece of printer paper (not that he hasn't tried, but it's more obvious, so he gets in trouble faster, so he's more inclined to leave bigger stuff alone), but he can often get way with old grocery lists and sticky note reminders. His fascination is not limited to white paper, either. He about goes apoplectic when we have to open something with cardboard packaging. I gave him a paper towel tube once, just to see what he would do. When I realized that he wasn't just shredding, he was actually eating the cardboard, I took it away. I suppose that was a bad idea anyway, since he'd just think he was allowed to eat cardboard.

Usually we notice pretty quick if he's got something he's not supposed to (like paper), because he acts guilty, like he's trying to hide something. Which he is. Fortunately, I've been able to retrieve lots of nasty bits of chewed up paper gunk from his mouth, since apparently it is really hard to swallow chewed up paper gunk. A key sign retrieval is necessary is when he makes those exaggerated facial expressions trying to get the gunk off his tongue and down his throat. Strangely, though, I recently found shredded paper on the floor, no dog in sight, with no obvious parts missing. Maybe he's getting better?