How to Train Your Dog to Not Eat Off the Ground

Hello Haley, At this point, due to the danger of this behavior and pup understanding the commands but doing it anyway, I would hire a professional trainer with experience teaching an avoidance with low level remote collar training. I would then set up an intentional trail of safe items, commanding leave it as you approach each item you have set up. When pup obeys, reward with a treat. When pup starts to fixate on the item about to grab it, you would correct with the remote training collar. The collar needs to be used very consistently though whenever pup is outside for a while, so that every time pup goes to pick something up you haven't thrown for pup, pup is corrected, making the game of grabbing things no longer fun for pup, while also rewarding attention on you instead so pup has a good alternative behavior they can do to earn rewards on walks. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Sofia, This behavior is very much because of puppy's age. Retrievers are also especially prone to it. If Leave It isn't practiced it can turn into something pup does as an adult too, but often this process will look like practicing Leave It with pup hundreds of times and it seeming like pup isn't getting better, then all of the sudden you look back and realize that pup doesn't do it that much anymore. It's a gradual process of improvement that's partially related to pup's age and stage they are in. At this age pup is at a stage where they learn about the world around them through their mouth, so they are especially prone to picking things up. You can also practice Drop It with pup at home to prepare for walks, and you can even teach especially persistent pups "Hold It" and have them carry a favorite toy on a walk to keep their mouth occupied too. Part 4 on Drop it from the article linked below. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-to-fetch/ Hold - if you find this is needed too: https://wagwalking.com/training/hold-an-object Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Serena, As women we often have to work harder to gain the respect of our dogs, compared to our male partners. The naturally deeper voices and more muscular builds guys naturally inherit tend to gain men more respect from dogs naturally. As a woman I am still able to gain the respect of all the dogs I train though. It requires teaching obedience commands and practicing them often, being very consistent with my rules and following through each time, and having my body language reflect an attitude of confidence and calmness. Check out the article I have linked below. I recommend working on at least two of those methods to gain pup's overall respect for you. I also recommend proactively practicing Leave It, from the article I have linked below as well. Respect and listening: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-doberman-to-listen-to-you Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Check out this trainer and his body language. He is generally a very good example of calm confidence while training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiKVc4ZZWo Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Carolyn, I recommend working on leave it more, but transitioning into it being an automatic command. Practice having pup leave treats and food alone that you drop on the floor - rewarding pup with a different treat (never the one dropped) when they obey, and being ready to block her from eating the dropped food if she tries via covering it with your foot, stepping in front of it, or having her on a leash. Gradually work up to being able to set a plate of food down and have her walk past it without touching. Once her Leave It skills are good, practice the same routine but don't say Leave It, simply be ready to cover the food, wait until she backs off of it, then reward when she not only isn't trying to get the food but also isn't looking at it or waiting to get it. Work up to her being able to leave human food dropped in this way, and her prevented from getting it each practice, if she tries to go for it, until she can consistently leave randomly dropped items alone. Be sure to only use safe items just in case she managed to get something. I would also create some booby traps, leaving dog safe human food items intentionally around but making them taste really bad, such as a bagel soaked in white vinegar or lemon juice if she dislikes the sour flavor - most dogs hate it but an occasional dog doesn't mind it. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Steven, Check out the article linked below. I would start with the fun method like Round Robin or Run Away method first - Those methods should help motivate pup to want to come, so that you can better gauge if she just doesn't want to come or is in pain so won't come. If you discover that pup comes really well when motivated by food, then pup may be avoiding coming because they simply don't want to. Pay attention to body language also though. Does pup look in pain? If pup doesn't appear to be in pain but simply chooses not to come because they prefer to do something else, you can also use the Reel In method linked below to practice around distractions. Keep an eye on pup's body language for signs of pain in general. It might also be worth checking with your vet. If pain is suspected your vet may be able to help with managing it. I am not a vet. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden