Effective Tips to Stop Your Dog from Picking Up Random

Instincts at Play

As the article begins to unfold, it highlights a perfectly natural behavior in dogs: the urge to bite and chew at anything they find on the ground. This is one of their innate instincts.

However, let's consider a scenario: what if there happens to be a piece of meat on the ground, and it's unfortunately gone bad due to the heat? The smell of rotting protein can be an incredibly potent stimulus for a dog.

The combination of instinct and the allure of decaying food can be irresistible to a dog, driving them to go to great lengths to secure that morsel.

Therefore, our goal must be to manage these instincts while simultaneously reducing external stimuli, particularly from unknown food sources.

But how do we correct this behavior? Here are some strategies:

1. Place a treat on the ground that is appealing to your dog, but ensure you maintain a safe distance. Make sure you can quickly step on the treat without it being taken away.

2. As your dog approaches the treat, firmly say "NO" or "Sit" (whichever command you choose), and then step on the treat. This method reinforces the idea that food not in their bowl is at risk of being taken away, linking the command with the action, so that when they see food outside of their bowl, they associate it with your command and are less likely to eat it.

Why use your foot? This is a physical barrier to prevent the dog from consuming the food on the ground, while the command acts as a psychological stimulus to discourage the behavior.

3. Initially, the training might not yield perfect results. Be sure to combine verbal praise and treat rewards to reinforce the learning. These rewards are excellent tools for correcting mistakes.

4. Once your dog is fully accustomed to the training, you can escalate the exercises, such as conducting them before mealtime to reinforce memory. This helps in achieving our initial goal: controlling instincts while minimizing external stimuli.

But what if my dog isn't responding to the training?

Remember, for any dog, any dog trainer, and any training method, basic obedience training is nonnegotiable. It's like turning on a computer before using it; without it, all other efforts are futile.

The best time for obedience training is during the puppy stage, typically before they reach one year old. Refusal training is suitable for dogs over six months, as puppies are more energetic and handling multiple training sessions can be overwhelming for most firsttime dog owners.

Of course, refusal training can also be effective for dogs over one year old, but it may require more time and patience, as they may have been accustomed to eating ground food since puppyhood and need to learn that this behavior is incorrect.

Finally, what else should we be mindful of?

Completing the above training doesn't mean you can relax. While we can control most of a dog's behaviors, they may still act unpredictably in certain situations. So, when you're out walking your dog, put down the phone and keep a close eye on them. While training is crucial, the owner's supervision and reinforcement are equally important.