How to get things out of his mouth?
Risa, 12 weeks now, hoovers the ground when on a walk with me. He's trying to taste nearly everything. The most annoying are cigarette-ends and chewing-gums (yes, we're a very dirty country). He spits out the uneatable things mostly, but I'm really worried about the gums and what they can do with his stomach. I'm always saying "Leave it", but sometimes I'm just not quick enough. In that case I'm trying to get the awful thing out of his mouth and there the problem comes. He learned that I want to steal the yummy things and now he wants to run away with it. I have him on the leash, so I draw him up, lift him up and try to get into his mouth and get the thing away. Yesterday he made a big thing out of it, growled and sort of barked at me. I think it was sort of fear agression, I was quite rough because of that dangerous thing in his mouth. I didn't back off the situation, I looked straight in his eyes and he stopped immediately.
He hasn't any food or toy agression, I can take his toys or a carrot he's chewing from him and it's OK. I can put finger into his mouth and he just sort of chews it and plays with me. But when there's a chewing-gum in his mouth, he's different.
I have two qestions:
1. How to teach him to drop the yummy thing? I found a game here on the forum, something like treat for dropping a toy to teach him that dropping is fun. Will this do with dropping food, too?
2. Is there any way to teach him that chewing-gums are bad? I was thinking about putting on a "bait" - chewing gum with something abhorrent to him, like pepper or chilli. Will this do?
Thanks guys. This web is a miracle.
He hasn't any food or toy agression, I can take his toys or a carrot he's chewing from him and it's OK. I can put finger into his mouth and he just sort of chews it and plays with me. But when there's a chewing-gum in his mouth, he's different.
I have two qestions:
1. How to teach him to drop the yummy thing? I found a game here on the forum, something like treat for dropping a toy to teach him that dropping is fun. Will this do with dropping food, too?
2. Is there any way to teach him that chewing-gums are bad? I was thinking about putting on a "bait" - chewing gum with something abhorrent to him, like pepper or chilli. Will this do?
Thanks guys. This web is a miracle.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by mikonami on
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I used a spray collar on Mei and I'd just bait her with human food. I wasn't sure what was safe, so I figured salami was good enough. She learned after five minutes what leave it meant because she really hated the citronella spray. Spray collars can be costly, so you can try using a spray bottle with water. It's just a little harder because you have to be near them. Once you teach them leave it, they usually will drop anything that's in their mouth.
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Permalink Reply by Sam on
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Practice, practice. The leave it command works wonders but understand it takes time for a dog to learn. He is such a youngster and it is quite normal for him to explore his world through his mouth. Your awareness of the "junk" around him will be half the battle.
His response to your removal is quite typical of a puppy. Do know as pups interact with other pups this would be the exact response that would be displayed. Part of your training is to make him understand that YOU call the shots. You will be challenged several times as he grows up. I think your admitted rough handling also added to this response. Dogs are very in tune to our emotions.
As to the citronella collars there may be a place for them in extreme situations but this is not one of them. For proper training to occur repetition and timing are of the utmost importance. Know too that dogs do not generalize. You may train him not to touch the "bait" that you are using to practice with but this does not let him know that he shouldnt touch that same piece of "bait" in a different environment. Practicing all commands in many environments is what makes a well trained dog.
Keep in mind too that there are many training devices on the market. While I think many have a place in training they are not what trains dogs, it is their people. To be a good trainer takes time, patience, repetition and dedication. You wont be sorry.
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Permalink Reply by Cindi on
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First, get into a good, positive-reward based training program. Focus on the "leave it" and "drop it" commands. I start with two treats; one in each hand. I hide one hand behind my back and show the other to my dogs with the command "leave it." Don't move your hand. Leave it there for Risa to sniff. Once Risa turns away from the treat hand, praise and give the "take" hand and the treat. Once Risa gets the idea, start training with things you don't want him to have. Socks and old shoes are good for this. Same idea...hold the sock and say "leave it." When Risa turns away, he gets the treat in the other hand with the "take it" command. For "drop it", when Risa gets ahold of something he's not supposed to have, use "drop it" with a treat at his nose. Chances are the treat's better than the yucky thing he has. Soon, he will begin to associate leaving things alone with getting great rewards! The idea is to get him to look to you for direction when you tell him to "leave it" or "drop it."
If you need further help, feel free to email me off forum.
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Permalink Reply by Sam on
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they have a spry called sour apple and that is safe for dogs and they DO NOT like it
so you could always try that?
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Permalink Reply by cr4zym4n on
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Without repeating too much of what others have already written quite well, I'd go w/ the "Leave It" and "Drop It" training. I'd give positive training and reinforcement a try first before any sort of negative reinforcement. Save the negative reinforcement for truly bad actions (such as chronic aggression towards other dogs, etc). Even then, only as a last resort. Also, positive reinforcement and training is just healthier and happier for the dog, and you'll build a stronger bond w/ him.
Now, that being said, first of all, he's really young still, so you have to expect the mouth/tasting exploratory phase. This will pass in time (though the sniffing of everything never really will).
Second, half the battle is just being aware of your surroundings as you walk. In fact, while you will do some training in the house (I ended up training him via play time w/ toys - the reward being more play time or treats), it's easy to also actively train while walking. Whenever you see a cigarette butt or gum on the ground, tell him sternly "leave it". Now, don't let him get close enough to it to eat it, but close enough to feel his impulse via the leash (give some slack). That is, you want to see if he still goes for it when you say 'leave it'. If he does, just give a gentle tug away to let him know how you want him to behave. Eventually he will get the idea.
If he does get something in his mouth, give him the "Drop It" command, and have a treat immediately available for him. A dog can only hold one thing in his mouth at a time, so a choice between his favorite treat and some garbage should be an easy choice for him. It's a quasi-bribe, but make sure you give him the "Drop It" command prior to giving him the treat. He'll eventually make the association.
Hope this helps! Good Luck.
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Permalink Reply by Lauren + Winston on
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Cigarette butts are really dangerous for dogs because nicotine is really bad for them! Winston has a bad habit of this and I try to get him to drop whatever he has by saying "Drop it!" which works in some cases but in others I actually have to get whatever it is out of his mouth. If it's becoming a big problem, I would say get a muzzle (a soft one) for when you take him on walks.
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The downside of a muzzle, even the mesh ones, is that they are meant to be worn for no longer than about 20 minutes. It can be stressful for the dog.
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Permalink Reply by wendulik on
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I agree with that. I don't want to use the muzzle, I think it's a bit oppressive. We are working on "Leave it" with Risa and he's beginning to get the idea. Yesterday he even spitted some kleenex he found and tasted after my command and got a big treat for that. I think we're making progress!
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