Quote:
Originally Posted by concretegurl  Now I'm not trying to open the door to down anyone who answers yes.
We are a unique community where for the most part we all do some things that get us picked on or made fun of by some of or non-Yorkie or non-dog loving friends & family: dog strollers, cloths, sun glasses carriers etc.
A friend was over she dropped some carrot bits on the floor and noticed my dogs patiently looking at it and not waggin their nubbins like crazy.
She went over and tried to provoke them to get it off the floor like magic (I wish they always did this but they don't so don't get impressed)
they all turned and looked at me like really!>can we.
I gave a stern NO NO.
She inquired why I wouldn't let them eat carrot she sees me give it to them all the time.
I said my dogs are trained not to eat off the floor or take anything from anyone but our immediate family (like they refuse treats at stores or at the vets until I take it and give it to them).
She noted having a living vacuum was one of the benefits of having dog what was my issue.
I said well with three dogs and three kids I can't hover all the time and make sure that when I'm making dinner chopping an onion I won't drop a dice of it and I can't risk one of my furkids eating it and gettting sick.
An onion dice is all it takes to possibly kill a dog the size of mine, or give hem stomach upset in the least.
Well sorry for making this long but my friend thinks I'm neurotic and that I over train my dogs into push button dogs overly concerned about silly precautions.
I think not, I think I'm prepared and trained them with certain ideals in mind for their and our safety.
So I was wondering if I'm alone here>? |
I can't even tell you how many horror stories I have heard and read that have surfaced *because* the dog wasn't trained not to take things off the floor or from strangers.
You're doing the right thing in not letting your dogs eat things from the floor.
Sprout was trained in this since he was little and never takes things from the floor...nor does he take treats from store clerks or vet techs. As another stated above, he only takes them if I take them first and offer them to him. The only exception to this is in our home. He takes whatever is given to him in his bowl. That's why we make darned sure that our guests and visitors know exactly what he can and cannot have.
Bella is still a puppy, but she IS learning very well in regard to many things, including but not limited to...eating things off the floor. It takes a while (took us ages with Sprout) to train a puppy that this isn't acceptable behavior, but wow...you sure can save yourself a lot of heartache if you take the time to do it.
No...you're
not "neurotic", you're a responsible pet owner.
PS - I shouldn't say "Never"....regarding Sprout. He does take his own treats off the floor if he doesn't catch them during the 'toss'. Sprout is getting older and doesn't quite have the 'get up and grab it' that he used to. However...he hates getting treats without the toss, and will pitch a fit if we do not toss it. So we toss it and quite frequently it DOES land on the floor...or bounces off his nose and onto the floor...in which case he grabs it and eats it. However, he knows it's okay to do that with his treats and nothing else.