How to Train Your Dog to Wait for Food
Introduction
Hungry dogs are eager dogs. An eager dog can knock down a food bowl and an owner in one exciting swoop. If you’re tired of this happening at your house, put an end to your dog controlling how quickly you get his meals down and teach him to wait for his bowl. Even if your dog isn’t jumping to get to his food bowl but instead patiently waiting instead for his bowl before trying to devour your hand as you set it down, he can also be taught some mealtime manners. Train your dog there is a better, less stressful way to wait for his food as you prepare it and as you set it down. He can also use these new manners to control excitement over toys and treats too. Mealtime manners just may be your favorite training because it could mean no more jumping all over you as you make your dog’s dinner, no more tripping on a dog under your feet as your walk the bowl to his dinner table, and no more wet nibbles on your hands as you set the bowl down.
Defining Tasks
Training meal time manners teaches your dog patience. When dogs are excited, they show it in many ways. And meals are exciting indeed. Training your dog to control those impulses is not terribly difficult to do but will just take a little bit of time. You will be training your dog to put himself in a position such as sitting and using his manners until you give him permission to eat. ‘Wait’ can be a command for lots of different situations where your dog basically exerts his energy and excitement because of an activity about to happen. Teaching your dog to be patient opens doors for manners training across the board. Waiting for food doesn't necessarily mean your dog shows excitement later, but rather controls his excitement. Any dog in any household at any age can be taught to wait for his food, whether it's a treat or a meal.
Getting Started
You won't need much to train your dog to wait for food. Have some patience and a little extra time set aside before your dog’s meals to work on this training. It's best if you can train your dog in real life situations, so with his food bowl in place where he normally eats each meal. You will need his bowl and treats and some kibble for training. And for success, take the time to work together.
The Mealtime Bowl Method
The From Empty Bowl Method
The Quick Treats Method
Written by Stephanie Plummer
Published: 11/29/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
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Success Stories and Training Questions
Training Questions and Answers
Toby
Toby here pees alot, i dont take him out much, only when i walk him at 10am and 4pm for his walk sometimes when someone takes him out he pees and then we go inside and he pees again, it never ends, should i take him out more everyday and how many hours apart if so, his eating is also a problem, i put the bowl down and he eats it in like less than 10 seconds, is there a way to make him eat slower?
1106 Dog owners recommended
Hello Emily, Check out the Crate Training method from the article I have linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside At this age pup physically can't hold it for longer than 3-4 hours. Pup should be taken potty twice as often as that maximum amount to potty train. As pup ages, you can add one hour to those times every month. Never exceeding eight hours even as an adult. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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Very impatient /rude when feeding time comes. Grabbing, rushing, gulping food or treats. Feels like I’ll never get him to take something politely or gently from me.
1106 Dog owners recommended
Hello Peggie, I would practice teaching Wait. To teach Wait, start with the steps for teaching Leave It, but instead of rewarding pup with a different treat than what's in your hand, give pup the treat in your hand once pup backs off and is being patient. Instead of staying Leave It you will say Wait also. Leave It method - modified the way I have mentioned above: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite I would also use something like a kong wobble toy to feed pup, use part of puppy's meal ration kibble as treats throughout the day as you train, or place something like tennis balls into pup's food bowl to slow pup down while eating. When you give pup a treat, tuck your fingers in when you hold the treat, or hold it out in the palm of your hand with a flat hand. When pup is grabbing too roughly, pull the treat back while calmly saying "Ah Ah", then offer the treat again. Repeat this each time pup is too rough, then when pup is a little gentler (don't expect perfect at first, but better than before), then open your hand to let pup eat the treat out. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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While my dog is waiting for his meal, if I put my hand out to praise him for waiting with a pet, he will start to pee. Sometimes he will crawl and pee, sometimes he jumps onto the couch and lift his leg more. It's rare for me to go to pet him while waiting so I forget, but why and how can we fix this?
1106 Dog owners recommended
Hello Jack, I would desensitize pup to touch around food. To work on getting pup used to touch and handling use pup's daily meal kibble to do this. Measure pup's meal into a baggie (don't just reach into pup's bowl of food), and practice giving pup their meal once piece of kibble at a time as many times a week as you can, up to two times per day. Gently touch an area of pup's body while feeding a piece of food. Touch an ear and give a treat. Touch a paw and give a treat. Hold their collar and give a treat. Touch their tail gently and give a treat. Touch their belly, their other paws, their chest, shoulder, muzzle and every other area very gently and give a treat each time. Keep these times calm and fun for pup. Best if luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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My puppy is very hyper, she understands the sit command but will only sit for a few seconds. When i bring her food to her she jumps on me and as soon as i put it down she begins to eat. I want her to be able to wait until i tell her to eat and become calmer and attentive to the commands i use.
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Hello Jay, Check out the following articles I have linked below. How to build on Sit to also teach pup to Stay: https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-training/train-to-stay-until-released/ When you work on Sit, if pup gets up before its been a couple seconds where you can reward again, simply restart the Sit, something like a calm "Ah Ah" then luring them back into the Sit position again. Reward again very soon, like after pup has sat for just one or two seconds. You will increase the duration very slowly as pup improves, rewarding every couple of seconds at first. Step Toward method for jumping: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-australian-shepherds-to-not-jump When you give pup their food, tell pup Wait calmly, then start to put the bowl down but don't take your hand off. If they dive in quickly lift the bowl up again to where they can't reach. Repeat Wait calmly, then lower the bowl. Do this a few times until pup pauses for a second when you put the bowl down, at that point, while pup is paused and not eating yet, tell pup "Okay!" and release your hand. Start with just that second pause before releasing, as you practice this count higher in your head before telling pup Okay and releasing, until pup will eventually wait an until minute. This is done by adding just one or two seconds at a time very gradually. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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We’re working on her waiting until she hears the cue word, “yes” before she starts to eat her food. So far she waits, but when we say “yes” & even point to her food saying the cue, she just stares at it & cries... help!!!!
Also, how do we keep her from jumping on the couch without permission??
1106 Dog owners recommended
Hello Kortney, It sounds like she understands Wait but doesn't understand Yes - which is also technically a command that has to be taught. Outside of eating times I would practice tossing or handing pup a treat while saying "Yes!" happily. Each time she eat the treat when you say that praise her softly and genuinely. When she is completely relaxed and happy about taking the food when she hears yes, start using it with the meal practice too. When you say yes at the meal time she will likely still hesitate so pick up her bowl and bring it to her while sounding happy and excited saying Yes!. When she moves toward it to eat it, softly praise her to encourage her that she is doing the right thing. Focus more on her learning Yes right now then Wait, praising the Yes and keeping the Wait short and easier at first. Once she has learned Yes, go back to your normal practice. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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