Train your dog to refuse food.

This may sound like an odd thing to train your dog but, in actuality it is an essential training perquisite. This training method will help you train a dog to take food only on command. The reasons for this discipline are intended to protect the dog and those around him by preventing a dog from snatching food i.e. from a child's hand and to stop the dog from stealing food for example of tables etc.

Always try to end the session on a successfully. Remember to spend at least 5 minutes at the end of the session playing with your puppy. This will help re-enforce positive association to the training.

Equipment

Treats such as Barker & Barker Liver Treats

Perquisites Understand his name

Step One

Have lots of treats available and your dog close by, you can do this activity by either sitting or standing. If you hold a treat near to your dog they should move to take the treat. If the puppy goes to snatch pull the treat away and use a keyword like No! or Ah, Ah, Ah!. Offer the food if the dog gently touches your hand with its nose. Re-enforce the good behavior with a positive word i.e. Good! Never be negative or punish the dog.

* Have lots of treats available for the activity * Sit or stand near your puppy * Use a keyword for inappropriate snatching * Use a treat and re-enforce with a positive word for good behavior * Never be negative and punish the dog

Step Two

As the behavior begins to shape in step one start to delay the interval of treat giving. As in step one a gentle touch on your hand with the dogs nose is rewarded with a treat and the positive word. Snatching is not encouraged, the treat is refused and the corrective keyword is used i.e. No! or Ah, Ah, Ah is used to suppress the inappropriate behavior.

* Delay the interval of giving treats * Wait until the puppy touches your hand with its nose * Use a keyword for inappropriate snatching * Use a treat and re-enforce with a positive word for good behavior * Never be negative and punish the dog

Step Three

Once the dog has developed behavior of not snatching try the open hand method. Fill the palm of your hand with treats and sit or stand with the treats available for your puppy to take the treats. If the puppy lunges, jumps or snatches at the treats close your palm and move your hand back. Use the keyword you have chosen to correct behavior i.e. No! If the puppy begins to offer behavior i.e. sitting, laying down etc. give the puppy a treat and praise the dog. If there are problems with the puppy consistently lunging or snatching return to step one.

* Fill your hand with treats and present you open palm to the puppy * Close hand for lunging or snatching, remember to use your corrective keyword i.e. No! * If the puppy offers behavior i.e. sitting or lying down, give a treat and plenty of praise * If the puppy is consistently snatching and lunging return to step 1

Step Four

Present food to the puppy with the hand pointed as if giving a treat. Only give a treat if the dog offers behavior like sitting or going into a down.

Step Five

The next stage of the plan is to teach the puppy to refuse food while on a lead. Place some treats on the floor, do not let the dog eat the treat. When the dog goes for the treat use the command word. Only use the command word when the dog actually tries to go for the food. When the puppy starts offering behavior instead of going for the food give the dog a treat and plenty of praise re-enforce the behavior with your positive command word.

Step Six

Follow the same procedure for step 5 except this time walk past the food with the puppy on a lead. Make sure the dog is kept under control, the puppy must not eat the treat if an attempt to pull towards the food is made. When an attempt is made use the corrective command word.

Step Seven

The next step is to attempt food refusal with the puppy off the lead. Put some treats on the floor but, be prepared to cover the treats quickly with your hand or a tumbler. If the dog attempts to go for the treats offer the corrective command word and quickly cover the food. When the dog begins to offer behavior reward with a treat and give lots of praise.

Step Eight

Get a third party to offer the puppy food. If necessary refer to steps one and two. Stay close to the puppy and have a third party offer food. If the puppy tries to take food be prepared to use the corrective command word.

Step Nine

Continue to practice with the puppy to make sure the behavior is being shaped. As the puppy grows up introduce different foods and people to offer the puppy food. Refer back to step eight if you are experiencing problems.

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I am a member of the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers. She has over 25 years worth of dog training experience. She is the owner of www.dogtraininginfo.co.uk a company dedicated to promoting positive dog training methods.