Morkie Rage Syndrome

[gemy]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

Re: bolding above - I do the same exact thing! Why controversial? I use this as a way to promote impulse control amongst other reasons.



Also, Teddy has a bad habit of eating the mail and he is very possessive of it and takes it with him to his crate (den) and will growl and snap if someone puts their hand in there to retrieve the mail.

Well, this used to be a problem until I gave him the mail one day and then had a treat to hand. I gave the command GIVE and took the mail from him in exchange for a treat. Now, IF he gets the mail he drops it immediately for a treat after hearing 'GIVE' instead of leaving me little pieces of mail strewn around the house...ha.


I see lots of instances where people unknowingly perpetuate the problem and I think this (OP post) is definitely one of those times.

Many trainers say put your hand in their food while they are eating, or take the bowl away while they are eating. I don't do this, but then again I don't have toddlers running around the house either. I do train my dogs not to take a treat from my hand if I am just carrying around food in my fist like a young child will. I also will place a food bowl (my food on my knee) and expect no nose inquiries into my food!


I leave food out on a side table - and re-affirm the no touch rule every so often.


For my pack these are always tough lessons as they just adore food! Which is why it has to be re-inforced frequently.


Magic waited until he was three years old to disobey - the helping himself to food on the counter. It was Christmas big dinner consumed - large turkey now waiting for the carving up after the meal to place into freezer bags etc. All company gone home - I was relaxing in the den - and all of a sudden I realized it was too too quiet upstairs - and my pack was not with me! And I just knew - Oh gosh - I bounded up the stairs as fast as my sore feet could carry me - and there was the Grande Homme - the turkey on the floor = top down so Magic could slurp up all that loverly fat. THe rest of the crew was waiting patiently until he was done presumably. Well I rescued the turkey - the crew cleared out when they saw me fly into the kitchen. Magic was crated immediately - and scolded severely. But my heart was thudding - what if he had gotten into the turkey bones! Disaster. And it could only have been him who snaked his big head up onto the counter to take that turkey - the others were way too young and short.


Anyhoo just another food story and training.