I often have discussions with people about teaching with choice versus just controlling the dog…

I know that its easier to be able to tell the dog not to – but what if you are not present? Dogs will learn the environmental cues that if you are present they will stay away from stealing from the table, but if you are absent then its game on. After all, when you are a dog, if you can eat it and its in reach then you should eat it. That’s normal for a dog.

Yes it takes time to teach but in the long term its much more successful as it doesn’t need you to be present for your dog to make that choice. They will choose to not investigate the bin, steal a ball from another dog, steal something from the table/bbq, ignore people sitting on the grass eating a picnic (whilst off lead).

Consider – where do you start with the learning and what do you start with?

• Low distraction environment (likely at home with no one else around)
• With a clean item (clean plate, bow, cup etc) – no food smells to make it harder
• With the item out of reach to reduce the likelihood of the dog trying to investigate

Now consider – what will ‘success’ look like?

• Looking away, walking away, looking at it and then looking away, laying down etc

If the dog continues to stare at it, the item may be too close, or try tapping the floor lightly with your foot to get them to look down.

Now consider – how will you identify to the dog that the ‘not engaging’ is the right answer?

• You MUST use a marker – a clicker or your marker word – such as yes

You will mark the exact moment the dog looks away, walks away, lays down and then reach for a treat and feed it. If you try to only use a treat (or other reinforcer) the moment can have passed by and the learning becomes more muddled for your dog.