MANNERS, please! Part TWO

Make sure your dog is on his best behaviour around food, advises Toni Shelbourne.

“...dogs can display great ingenuity and an amazing reach!”

You need to teach your dog that food on tables is out of bounds.

Image: Beth Lorch.

Your dog can learn to settle on a mat.

Food is an important resource to most dogs, and apart from main meals and tasty training treats, there are often many edible temptations that are hard for them to resist. Teaching food manners makes life easier at home and ensures your dog is a welcome visitor at dog-friendly cafes and in other people’s homes.

COUNTER SURFING

When there’s something really desirable on a work surface, dogs can display great ingenuity and an amazing reach! Teach your dog that food on tables or counters is out of bounds.

1Have some yummy treats in your treat bag and pop your dog on a lead. Place a plate with some low-value food on the floor and prevent your dog from getting to it. Mark (by saying a short, happy word like ‘YES!’) and treat your dog for looking away from the food and paying more attention to you. Don’t give a ‘Leave’ cue as you won’t always be around to reinforce it.