Member

Posts: 86
From:Canfield, Ohio 44406
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-09-2004 10:14 AM         

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Anybody have any suggestions on how to teach a dog to not take food (when Offered) from my kids. They keep using Zeus as their "Look mommy, I ate it all gone" excuse. I don't want to have to crate him at every meal for the rest of his life. It isn't his fault. And the kids are kinda young, so they don't undestand why they can't feed him since he seems to enjoy it SOOOOOOOOOO much!!! I am not looking for rude or mean answers. I am not worried about the dog eating anything he shouldn't have, but I'd like to know how much the kids are actually eating. You know what I mean??? I can't gate off the eating area to train him not to come in there cause it is the only place his crate will fit.

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Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-09-2004 10:25 AM         

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he he he he he...try setting a bowl of cany in front of your kids and convince them not to eat it!! LOL....

Really, I have absolutely no idea. Its kind of a funny question ( not to be rude or offend you in any way).

I would maybe put him in the back yard, or in another room while your eating???

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Posts: 275
From:My IQ is higher than yours, I guarantee it.
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-09-2004 10:45 AM         

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Sounds like the kids are the ones that need to hear the word no rather than the dog.

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Posts: 228
From:Grand Rapids, MI
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-09-2004 11:21 AM         

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We have taught our dog not to take doggie treats until we say "take it," but people food? Oh gosh that would be impossible, at least for her. I'm afraid that I must agree that if you want to be able to have your dog in the same room with you while eating, you need to teach your children not to feed the dog, because there's no way that any normal dog will refuse yummy people food when it is being freely offered!

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Posts: 240
From:Campton, NH USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-09-2004 11:24 AM         

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I would confine the dog to another room when your kids are eating...and make them understand how unhealthy it is for their beloved dog to be eating their food. Maybe if you appeal to them to help keep their dog healthy they'll stop feeding the dog.

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Posts: 277
From:Nellis AFB, Nevada
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 01-09-2004 12:32 PM         

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I think your only option for the time being is to crate your dog during meals and snacks until your kids can understand that they are not to feed the dog. Your kids are just at that age where it is fun to feed the dog. They will get over it(grow out of it) and then you can start letting your dog out again. Don't worry about the kenneling. Maybe give Zeus a chewy bone or some doggy snacks while he is in the kennel to occupy him during the kids meals.

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Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-09-2004 12:59 PM         

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How about if you keep the dog with you. Teach him to down/stay next to you while eating. Witt does this, it was easy to train because he was originally begging at my feet. I taught him "no beg" and if he does it's down and stay. If he tries to raom to someone else and their plate...I put him on a down stay at my feet. We do not eat at a table..generally in the family room. (remodelling)

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Posts: 156
From:
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-09-2004 04:16 PM         

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Ok dont know how much help this will be, but my in laws had a dog that would not touch the first bit of people food until she was told she could have it. If they set food right in front of her she would just wait. I know alot of this was the dog, but they would start her out by putting in down, telling her no, of course she would take it, but after a while she caught on and they would reward her when she did not touch it. Their main reason for doing this was they also had young children who would leave plates on the floor while eating in the living room. I dont know how long this took, this was before we started dating, but when I asked how they taught her that thats what they told me they did. I just remember being amazed they were able to teach her that, she would sit in front of a plate for a long time and just stare at it.

[This message has been edited by 3Dogsihave (edited 01-09-2004).]

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Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-09-2004 04:32 PM         

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I know the trainer who did our puppy class could tell her dogs to "Leave It" and then walk out of the room and they would not touch her food.

Maisey - I have tried that with Nala, and I end up spending about 2 hours putting her back in down/stay over and over and over again and I never get to eat. Does it get easier?

Jamiya

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