How do I train my dog not to eat from others?

During the time spent with their furry children, every owner hopes that they can grow up healthily and safely. However, the habit of dogs to approach other people's food when they see it may not only cause them to ingest harmful food, but also cause trouble in social situations. When we walk with our dogs on the park trails or visit friends' homes, the pair of wet eyes staring at the dinner plates hide their instincts and needs that have not yet been understood. Understanding the logic behind this behavior is the first step to guide them to establish good habits. ​

The strong interest of dogs in food is essentially a survival instinct engraved in their genes. In the wild, the ability to forage for food is directly related to survival, and this instinct has never completely disappeared even in pet dogs. Especially with their keen sense of smell, they can often catch the aroma of food from dozens of meters away. At that moment, the primitive driving force begins to stir. At the same time, dogs that lack proper guidance may equate food in human hands with rewards - when their inadvertent begging behavior is exchanged for the owner's smile and feeding, they will mistakenly think that this is a permitted behavior. This cognitive bias requires us to correct it with patience and scientific methods. ​

Preparation before training is like building a cornerstone of a solid house. First of all, we must establish a deep bond of trust with the dog. Fixed interaction time every day, such as gentle combing and interesting fetching games, are opportunities to enhance feelings. When the dog is willing to pay more attention to us, it lays an emotional foundation for subsequent training. Secondly, it is necessary to prepare special training snacks, and choose those snacks with unique smells but small size, such as chicken breast jerky cut into small pieces, which can attract the dog's attention without making them lose motivation due to fullness. More importantly, the whole family must reach a consensus and firmly refuse the dog's begging behavior during training to avoid someone disrupting the training rhythm because of softness. ​

Formal training can start with indoor simulation scenes. When we eat at the table, let the dog lie quietly on the designated mat. If it starts to get up and approach, don't yell at it, but say "no" in a gentle but firm tone, and gently guide it back to its original position. Once it stays quiet, give it a training snack as a reward. This process may need to be repeated dozens of times, but every persistence is to help the dog establish a new behavior pattern. Remember, dogs have a short attention span, and each training should not exceed 15 minutes to avoid them getting bored. ​

As indoor training begins to show results, we can extend the scene to the outdoors. Take the dog to a street with less traffic, and ask a friend to help play the "stranger" in advance, holding the packaged food in his hand. When the dog finds the food in the "stranger's" hand and tries to approach, we should issue a "stop" command in time, and gently pull the leash to guide it to look at you. Once the dog shifts its attention to the owner, give it a reward immediately. At this stage, it is important to be careful not to let the "strangers" actively lure the dog with food, so as not to deepen their obsession with other people's food. After each training session, remember to give your dog a warm hug and tell them "you did a great job" with body language. ​

During the training process, it is inevitable to encounter various episodes. Some dogs are stubborn and may repeatedly test the bottom line of their owners during the first training. At this time, we need to keep our emotions stable, neither compromise because of heartache nor punish the dog because of frustration. Corporal punishment will only make them fearful and may even destroy the trust between each other. If you encounter a stubborn situation, you can temporarily interrupt the training, take the dog to do some activities they like, relieve tension, and start again after a while. Some dogs may be particularly obsessed with certain specific foods, such as sweets or meat, which requires us to observe more in daily life and take precautions in advance to prevent them from contacting such foods. ​

When dogs gradually learn to refuse other people's food, we need to consolidate this good habit through daily details. When taking them out, try to choose a route with moderate traffic and avoid passing through areas with strong food smells such as snack stands. When we meet enthusiastic passers-by who want to feed us, we can politely explain: "It is learning to refuse food. Reward it when it behaves better." This will not only avoid embarrassing passers-by, but also strengthen the training results of the dog. At home, when visitors come, put away the dog's food bowl in advance to prevent them from mistakenly thinking that the food brought by the guests can be enjoyed at will. ​

Looking at the furry children who used to light up their eyes when they saw food, now they can remain calm in front of delicious food and wait for the owner's instructions, the sense of accomplishment is indescribable. This is not only the growth of the dog, but also the testimony of our attentive companionship as owners. Every patient guidance in training and every joyful hug when successful are deepening the emotional connection between us and the dog. When we walk in the sun with well-trained dogs, the calmness and peace of mind are the best gift for this time of joint efforts. Let us use love and science to build a safe line of defense for dogs, protect them in a world full of temptations, and always listen to the correct guidance of their hearts.