Do some nose work with your dog.
Teach them to use their nose in games. Two of the easiest are âFind It,â where you ask your dog to stay and then hide a treat (or treats) they have to find, and âWhich Hand,â which allows them to choose the hand that holds a treat by nudging it gently. If they choose correctly, they receive the treat.
Reward your dog for paying attention.
When youâre out on walks, in the yard, or anywhere your dog may be distracted by things to eat, make it worth their while to check in with you. When your dog looks at you, give them something amazing, such as a chunk of real chicken, a small piece of steak, or a bone to chew. In a world filled with interesting things to smell and eat, you have to offer items good enough to compete.Â
If your dog learns that you have special treats that only appear when you are in the great outdoors, theyâll be more likely to pay attention to you. They will also be more likely to respond when you say their name or ask them to âwatch.â When you can reliably ask for and get your dogâs attention, you can do so preventively when you see something that may tempt them, thereby avoiding the problem altogether.Related article
How to get your pet to stop chewing on inedibles from clothes to couches.
How to stop a dog from stealing food off the table?
Our pups just have learned that kitchen counters are an easy source of yummy snacks. Every time your dog steals food, it is rewarded, which strengthens the behavior. If youre tired of losing your dinner to a sneaky pooch every time you turn your back, here are some tips on keeping dogs off counters and tables.
The best way to deal with dog counter surfing is by preventing it in the first place. Make sure nothing is on the counter and stash snacks in closed cabinets or the refrigerator. Remember to pick up food items after cooking. If you are a first-time dog owner, you may need to change some of your habits, not leaving food around or removing dirty dishes.
If you must keep food on the counter (a pie cooling down or a spread for a party), push it further back from counter edges to prevent your dog from snatching the food. Alternatively, keep the dog out of the kitchen using a baby gate, or put them in a crate or shut the door.
Review what youre feeding your dog and make sure they are getting enough to eat. Also, make sure the problem is not medical. Dozens of factors can change your pups appetite, including hormonal imbalances, stress, or central nervous system damage. Its your task to keep that your dog is well-fed and doesnt require an extra snack, which might occasionally be on your dinner table.
How To Teach Your Dog to Ignore Food! (With Cesar Millan)
Dogs are born scavengers, and it’s one of the reasons they’re so easy to train; they’ll do anything for food. This behaviour to find sustenance is hardwired into your dog’s DNA, but in most cases, your dog will scavenge out of boredom. But why does your dog eat everything they find, even if it’s not food?
Dogs have a natural urge to sample things, and this doesn’t just apply to food. They will sniff out anything that smells interesting or looks appetising – even if it’s gross! They’ll constantly scavenge for food (and many items that should not be eaten) and scoff it down with wild abandon. Often before you’ve even noticed.
To us, eating old food wrappers and horse poop is revolting. But to dogs? It’s like walking into a shop filled with free chocolates and pastries! Just like us, your dog can’t help but sample one or two…even if they just ate dinner.
If your dog is young, you may find that they simply grow out of the stage where they want to try everything. But as a dog parent, you want your pup to have the best life possible and not leave things to chance. That means teaching your dog from an early age which things can and cannot go into their mouth – even if they look tasty!
With an increase in the number of dog poisonings, it’s more important than ever to have control over your dog’s scavenging behaviour.
So, here are my top 8 ways to stop a dog from scavenging while you are out on your walks.