Teaching Proper Feeding Routines - One Key to An Obedient Dog

Few people realize how much the routines at feeding time effect a dog's overall obedience training. Food is the greatest of all resources to a dog, and good leaders control resources. If your dog is controlling YOU around meal time - begging obnoxiously for tidbits, barking during your dinner, jumping up on you as you put the food bowl down - your effectiveness as his/her leader is probably diminished in other areas. Here are four easy, motivational training ideas to implement with your pet around a mealtime:

- Show a little leadership when you feed - before you put down food for your pet, ask your dog to remain quiet while you eat something first. Choose something simple, like a cracker or piece of gum... just a symbolic gesture will do the trick. Dogs get it. Leaders have privileges!

- Do a little training when you feed - ask your pet to sit and wait - nicely - while you put the bowl down and until you say it's okay to begin. If he/she does not wait - simply pick up the food bowl and let your pet try again. If you are consistent, most hungry dogs pick this up darn fast.

- Solidify your relationship when you feed - use your two-treat recall game, by taking several kibbles from the bowl and tossing them out away from you for your pet to chase. Practice your "Come Here!" command to get him/her to come back, then start the game over. You can practice about 20 perfect "Come" commands in oh, thirty seconds or so. Niftiest way to perfect your recall.

- Finally, ask for some respect when YOU eat - have your pet lie on a rug or rest in a crate - quietly - while you enjoy your own dinner. If your pet can't wait or stay in one place, consider leashing him or her up temporarily to a nearby doorknob or piece of heavy furniture. Don't punt and put the dog outside - the whole idea is that you are getting respect from your dog INSIDE. Always praise and let your pet off the tether.... when he or she is quiet.

Although it seem convenient for you at first...resist the temptation to free feed! You'll miss all these valuable, high-motivation training times, not to mention several chances during the day to strengthen your relationship with your dog and show off your kind, benevolent leadership.