Snatching snacks

[Storm&Apollo's mum]

Hi All,

Wondering if anyone has any new training ideas for this....

Storm, is a bit of a foodie - to say the least! From the way that she was with food when we first brought her to her forever home it was clear that she had to fight for her food at some time in the past. I often find that when other people (not me) give her treats she will snatch them rather thank taking them gently. Its not aggression and she wouldnt bite or anything as extreme as that, its more that she is overeager to get the snack before anyone else gets it or it get taken away. I can, and do "own" any food i give her, and can take anything off of her if i choose to, its just other people giving her things.

Im thinking of putting her forward as a PAT dog and one of the essential criteria for this is that the dogs must be able to take a treat off of anyone very gently. I think she has the potential to be a really good PAT dog and it would be such a shame if this was the only thing holding her back so would appreciate any suggestions you might have.

thanks

[Ian]

This maybe one for doggy training classes, but I'll see if I can find out how the mother in law got her Springer (who is a doggy dustbin) to be good at taking treats from the hand. She has managed to get her to respond well to the sit command and giving of her paw before she is given a treat. We've never had the problem with Sean, infact it's almost the opposite, he is sometimes over gentle and you think he's got that Bonio and when you let go it falls on the floor and he has to pick it up.

[Storm&Apollo's mum]

yeah you might be right Mark, and if thats whats needed then i'll take her, but ive taught her to walk to heal - she was terrible on the lead when we first got her, sit, give paw, down, & stay (a bit ;d this is a new thing so still working on it) so if its possible, then id like to do it myself if i can (sad i know! call me a glutton for punishment, never do things the easy way)

Thanks for asking for me really appreciate it

[mary]

The only thing I would try is to teach her the command "leave" and tell any body who is giving out snacks to wait until she is calm enought to take it. It might work

[Ian]

This link may help?

www.ehow.com/how_2166678_dog-not-snatch-food-hands.html

Here's another...

uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081001092720AAhKmPB

[Ian]

My mother in law used techniques much like those in the links I posted above to stop her Springer from snatching treats. It took time and patience, she used the word 'nicely' for the dog to associate with taking a treat the way she wanted her to take it.

[andyips]

Our Ruthie, seriously must have been the piece de resistance when it came to snatching snacks ;D And her brother, Sonny, is no better

I'll never forget it. If the ground could have opened and swallowed me up, i would have welcomed it. Walking in the local woods. Two women sitting on one of the benches in the wood, and having a picnic. Miss Piggy (Ruthie) set off at a rate of nots, and just as the poor woman was putting her slice of Victorica sandwich to her mouth, Miss Ruthie ran past, snatched it, and ran off to scoff it. The poor woman sat there with hand still poised at mouth, but minus the Victoria sandwich as it has happened that quick ;D

[funwaydaisy]

Mark so true about sean he is a gentleman he even lets the girls drink first.
Abbey is a snatcher and i always tell her nicely and she gets it, it does work.

[Storm&Apollo's mum]

thanks again everyone. am going to give a couple of these ideas a go & see what happens ;d ;d