My dog is developing a habit?
AbraCadaver asked:
My dog is a lab/boxer/golden retriever about 6 years old.
When he was a puppy, he would get into the food. We expected that from him an broke him from his habit. He hasnt had this problem again up until the end of 2008.
At first I thought he was doing it for attention, but I cant see why. Hes 6 years old and we give him plenty of attention. I can understand if I leave food in his reach, hes gonna get it. But he gets up on the counter (a 110 pound dog) and gets in the cabinets. I had a bag of gummy bears on top of my dresser, in my closet, and he STILL got them.
My dog is a lab/boxer/golden retriever about 6 years old.
When he was a puppy, he would get into the food. We expected that from him an broke him from his habit. He hasnt had this problem again up until the end of 2008.
At first I thought he was doing it for attention, but I cant see why. Hes 6 years old and we give him plenty of attention. I can understand if I leave food in his reach, hes gonna get it. But he gets up on the counter (a 110 pound dog) and gets in the cabinets. I had a bag of gummy bears on top of my dresser, in my closet, and he STILL got them.
I feed him a whole dog dish a day, and he cant get any more than that cause he has weight issues (I wonder why)
What can I do to stop this habit? He just got into my frosted mini wheats and this is where I draw the line lol
Oh and Ive done the firm ‘no’. Ive tried locking him out, but when I come home, he knows hes done something bad so he runs out the door when I open it and he hides.
Today, I did the worst thing Ive ever done to him. I hit him with my belt. Im just getting so sick of this acting up!
Dont worry, Ive never hit my dog before today. And I do give the recommended amount. Four scoops of the diet cup. Sorry Im shootin down your suggestions but Ive tried everything lol
Lucina
July 27th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I would constantly scream at your dog, and if he doesnt stop hit him!
July 29th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Tuyet
thats strange… I hope you can solve this problem you could maybe like punish him. Like say ” no” when he does that.. or squirt him on like the back with a squirt bottle. Soryy i am not an expert at dogs. He is okay, its not a deadly problem haha.
August 1st, 2010 at 4:36 am
Larry
dont listen to them dont hit your dog.
you have to do everything to keep food hidden and cabinets closed dogs are like children. your has an eating addiction break him of it feed him not a whole bowl but the recommended amount. walk him more too the more exercise he has the more tired he will be the less he will wanna search for food.
my dog can be fleft in a room with a plate of nachos and not touch it.anthing for that matter. cuz when he goes after my stuff i say no! then remove him from the situation. only took a few weeks and presto he doesnt want any food till i say ok!
August 1st, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Chery
One really good tool for dog training is a clicker when you see our dog getting ready to get up onto the counter, or you see him already on the counter click the clicker very loudly and assert yourself and very harshly say “DOWN’. Stay calm, because otherwise they get a reaction from you and see how they are getting under your skin. You can also get a high pitched noise trainer and hold it until she gets off the cupboard.
Your dog may be angry if you’ve recently put him on a diet. You could try giving him ‘filler’ foods with little to no caloric value, such as frozen veggies, which a lot of dogs love. If you keep these down for him, or give them to him on a schedule, maybe he’ll be less inclined to try and steal your food.
You could also try obedience classes, so that you have the opportunity to properly assert yourself, and gain your position as leader.
If your dog has a crate, when you see him doing this put him in the crate for a period of time, or outdoors if he has a pin.
goodluck!
M
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:25 am
Jacquelyn
Hitting him is not going to solve the problem.
It also has nothing to do with how much you are feeding him. Dogs are scavengers and will eat even if they do not need it.
For your cupboards you can put baby latches on them. That should keep him out. He probable already know to sneak and do it when you are not home. The only way to fix this is to somehow set him up so you can correct him in the act. Or make it impossible for him to get to it by keeping all food products out of his reach, or keeping him away from where you keep food.