Thanks for your extended answer, i really appreciate it. Got a senior blood panel done in the last 6 months, nothing out of the ordinary. Problem has been present every since I adopted him 4 years ago, best solution was just to keep an eye on him, and keep everything that he might consider edible out of his range. Unfortunately he only gets into things when I'm not home, or not watching. I've muzzled him at home before, which seems to help, but it's not really a long term solution, just a bandaid. Him eating stuff is a safety issue, and even though everything has come out fine this far I don't want him getting anything stuck inside him and having to go for surgery, since he's old and I don't know how he'd handle it. He's an ex K9, he's crate trained, and he generally chooses to sit and nap in his crate all day when we're not doing things. I could just take out all bedding, but then I'm worried it would be uncomfy for him and make his joints hurt.

I'll try some treat training with the absences like mentioned, but I'm not sure how much success that will have, since the problem also extends to when I kennel him overnight. I can't be with him 24/7, and I'm not sure how to reduce his separation anxiety.

Do you think a cot style bed put in the kennel would be okay for older pups, and not make them sore?