Introduction
You run a tight ship at home. Things are neat and tidy and everyone has been brought up with good manners. When it comes to dinner time, everyone sits down for meals together. Rather than simply digging in, everyone knows to bow their heads for a quick moment of quiet and words of thanks.
So why should the newest addition to your household, your puppy, behave any differently? Teaching your puppy to stop and "say grace" before a meal will not only force him to stop and consider his food before chowing down, but will also show your friends and family what an angel he really is!
Defining Tasks
Of course, your puppy might not understand the true meaning of grace or prayer, but that doesn't mean you can't teach him to go through the motions. Saying "grace" can be as simple as asking your puppy to pause in front of their dinner, or can be as complicated (and as cute!) as asking your pup to "bow his head" on a chair.
Getting Started
Because these training methods involve meals, remember to be patient with your pup. Asking him to wait and "pray" before digging in is a pretty big task! As always, training is best achieved when practiced in a quiet, calm environment with minimal distractions.
You will need:
- Treats
- A clicker (if your puppy has been trained to respond to clicker training)
- Your dog's dinner
- A chair