How do I get my dog to stop eating out of the garbage and begging for food?

Question

We feed her a bowl of food in the morning and it sits there pretty much all day. But as soon as something gets thrown in the garbage, even if it's a paper plate, she's right on it licking it and sniffing for more. When any of us gets something to eat, she sits at our feet and stares at us. Just stares. She acts insulted if we yell at her to get out of the garbage, and will follow us around if we have any food for ourselves. At meal times, she can be sound asleep somewhere in the house and as soon as I call the kids to wash up, she's at the table waiting for us to give her our food. We DO NOT feed her from the table and the only time she gets people food is if it falls on the floor and she gets to it before we do. We got her from the shelter almost 2 months ago and at first she messed in the house a lot. Now she's better with that and has a new issue. How can we fix this problem? Or is it something that is embedded into her? She's about 9 months old, black lab mix.

Answer 1

Tell her NO - She is used to feeding out of garbage cans it seems.... it is the odor. Next time just try changing her focus when she goes near it... say NO firmly then call her to you and play and give her a treat... let her get to know that all good things come from you... not the garbage - she just needs redirection



She will end up being a good dog for you - it just takes patience on your part...



bless you

H.O.T. Dog

Handler Owner Trainer of GSD's

Member U.S.A- MSSV - A.W.D.F

Answer 2

Hi



Well she is only 9 mos so you should be able to train her. What I suggest is that you don't put her dog food down until you eat dinner, then she will be hungry too. Maybe put a scoop of moist food on top so it intrests her.



You can put her outside at dinner and if that is not possible, maybe a kid gate to stop her from being in the dining room.



It is probably because that is how she survived and doesn't know any better. They are really just like children and need to be directed.



There are a few thing you can try with the garbage...Hot Sauce sprinkled on top and some in an eggshell or something, because then she will lap up a good bit of it and it should deter her from doin that again soon and it doesn't hurt them. Pepper or Cayene might work too. Remember you may have to do this a few times over a period of time. She may be good for awhile then 'forget' and start again.



Here is a great site with training tips on all kinds of things....

Answer 3

As for the begging, it is possible that she was fed table scraps in her "past life" before you got her, so she's used to begging. Be consistent and don't feed her table scraps and don't acknowledge her when she begs for food, and eventually she will give up. You have to make sure you don't feed her from the table at all, or else she will just learn that she needs to beg 20 or 100 times before she gets something, and she won't give up. Consistency is the key in any kind of training you give your dog.



You may have to find a new place to put your trash can so that it is out of her reach. Is there a cabinet (under the sink, maybe) that it can go in? In the garage? Another option would be to get a trash can with a lid that stays tightly closed.



I hope this works! I'm so happy that you got her from a shelter -- you did a great thing!

Answer 4

She's only 9 months old and needs to be trained. My dogs are older and still sit and stare at us when we eat. As long as she isn't trying to get up on the table what's the problem that she stares at you? Just don't feed her from the table. When you feed her (at this age she should be eating at least twice a day) put her food down for 20 minutes if she doesn't eat it in that time take the bowl away and repeat in the evening. She will learn to eat her food when it is given to her. Are Dalmatian is 12 and still will get in the trash if we don't watch her. So, we keep our trash can outside on the deck. She can't get into it there and we are all happy. You just have to be creative. She is only 9 months old though, you need to continue working with her.

Answer 5

This is an easy fix though time consuming. You NEED to exhibit patience and consistancy. Your family also.



There is no way to cure her from getting into the garbage. As soon as she gets something no amount of yelling will get her to stop because she's already received her reward. Put a lid of the trash can or put it away in a cabinet.



To cure the begging (which is a huge pet peeve of mine) is to teach the dog the go away command. Snap your fingers or make a sound to get the dogs attention. Not her name! Point and say go away. Get up and lead the dog away and put her in down on her bed, in a corner or just another room. Tell her to down and stay. In the beginning you'll have to do this over and over and over and over. (Routine is how dogs learn). After a bit you can point and tell her to go away then stand in front of her forcing her out of the room w/o touching her, take her to her spot then tell her to lay down and stay.



Eventually you'll be able to point w/o ever getting up and she'll leave.



During dinner time do not allwo the dog in the room. There are foods that are poinsonous to dogs.. simple things such as onions. You can either use the go away command or teach her to never enter the room in the first place.



There is a spray called boundary that can assist you in breaking the habit of her being in the room. Its a deterant w/ no offensive odor to humans.



During dinner time it should be a habit for the dog to be in another room in down. If you're walking around w/ food you can use the go away command also.. watching tv, going to the bathroom, sitting on the floor etc.



When feeding her.. feed her on a schedule. Put the food down for 15 minutes then pick it till the next feeding. You can also put water on it, put it in the microwave bringing out the smell making it more alluring. (She'll still beg for your food regardless if she's eaten or not..but at least you know she's eating!)



Good Luck

Answer 6

What food are you feeding her? It sounds like she doesn't like it. I don't like bologna & if that's all you offered me, I'd be bothering you for what's on your plate, too!!



When you feed her, put the food down for 15 minutes, If she doesn't eat it, pick it up, until the next meal time. THEN she will think, OH! If I don't eat now, it's going away.



Do not YELL at her--please! And do not feed her from the table. It sounds like she is adjusting, just be patient and kind, she'll learn. I had a black lab-shep for 17 years. Good luckl!

Answer 7

I got my dog from the SPCA with pretty much the same problem as you. He drives me nuts with it.



I tie him out when I am preparing dinner and wont let him in until we are done eatting. I have to tie him out before I even start other wise he wont go out.



we also redirect him out of the diningroom if he's not tied out, by say "NO" firmly and pointing to the livingroom, he then goes to the livingroom.



it doesnt always work, and so tieing him out works best but were still working on it, and I admit he is getting better about it.



we do give him table food twice a week, we mix it with his dog food, and then he eats it because the entire dish smells like what ever we put in it.

we are also very careful about not feeding any thing what so ever aside from that because at first he would do exactly what your dog does, but in time he saw he was getting at all but his dog food and it took a while but now he eats it.



as far as the trash goes, we installed one of those trash bins built right in the cupbord so it is a drawer. and when it gets full and we pull it out we put it on a chair or put a tight lid on it.



I know I wasnt tons of help, but I want you to know it took us alot of time to teach our dog and still he takes a lot of time from us, but in the end it's all worth it.

Answer 8

First, let me say Congratulations on your rescue! That's a wonderful thing you did.

Now, let's look at your dog. She is only 9 months old, which means she is a "teenager". She will be pushing the limits to see where her place is in her new "pack". That's you and your family! Being firm, consistent and patient at this time in her life will be very important. She is also part Lab! Labs are notorious "chow-hounds". They love to eat. (I've owned 4 so far!) So, even though this may be a tough time in her life, BOTH of these problems Can be solved, so here goes...

First, the tash picking. You'll need 3-4 empty soda cans. Place 3-4 pennies inside each can and tape up the opening. You can try something called "sound aversion". For now, only use these to correct the trash picking, until she has stopped that behavior. Clean out the trash can, put a new bag in. Now put a nice smelly morsle in the trash and walk away. Watch your dog. The moment she goes toward the trash, throw a soda can behind her (never AT her), she'll jump and (hopefully) turn to see what the sound was. At this point, give her the command "LEAVE it". If she turns away from the trash, praise her! What a good dog!! Let her relax, watch her, if she moves towards the trash again, repeat the steps. Keep it up until she no longer goes for the trash. Reward her for being so good! Repeat this process a few times, perhaps each day, if you still see the behavior. (putting the trash up out of the way when you aren't there will help keep her from making a mistake when you can't correct her) Keep your soda cans at the ready when your putting food into the trash. Soon, she won't want to go near that "noisy, scary" trash can.

Ok, on to HER food. There are a few things I would check here. First, try getting a good quality dog food. I recommend an all natural food. This doesn't mean she'll like it more, but it will be healthy for her. Check the "recommended" amounts stated on the bag, you can almost always cut that amount in half...I have found that their amounts are always too much! (adjust the amounts to suit her activity level and weight) Feed your pup twice a day. Once in the morning and once after YOUR dinner. Now, I have to say, I love giving my dogs table food. (no onions~they cause anemia~very bad) But I don't give it WHILE I'm eating. You could put it in with her dog food and she'd love you for it. But this gets done only after you are done eating. Also keep an eye on your dog food's expiration date and how long it takes you to go through a bag of food. Don't keep any bag longer than 4 weeks! Rancid dog food can cause cancer, so keep it fresh!

Ok, begging at the table. Let me just say, I don't believe in "tying a dog outside" for any reason, but here especially, it will never solve your problem. I would teach your dog a new command. "GO BED" Give your dog a small throw rug, dog bed, or towel. Name it "bed". Using treats and praise, teach your dog to lay down on this item and give the command "Go Bed". Once she knows this command you can use it at dinner time. Move the "bed" to a doorway or corner of the room where she can watch what's going on in the kitchen and dining room. Tell her "Go Bed", when she does, tell her she's a good girl (don't over do it and get her excited~the goal is to have her laying quietly on the bed), go on to making dinner etc. If she gets up say "AT, AT!" Give her the go bed command again, praise her when she lays down. Keep it up until she gives up trying to get up and stays on the bed. When you're done dinner, give her a "release" command like "OK!" or "your free". This gives her something to look forward to and tells her for sure that she is allowed to get up! Then, take a few healthy scraps (meat w/o too much fat, veggies, fruits) and mix up her food in her dish. Make her sit down before you give it to her. This shows her that you are still in control of what she eats. She will learn to wait patiently just outside of the room you are eating in or in the corner and that when she does, she gets a great dinner/breakfast. If food falls on the floor while you're eating and she goes to get it, give her the "leave it!" command that you've taught her with the trash. Tell her to "go bed" and when you are done dinner, give her the release command and she can "clean up" any droppings.

Well, I hope this helps! I'd love to hear how it goes, so feel free to email me! Good luck!!

Answer 9

I have a silly question - does the garbage can have a lid on it? if not - get one that has a lid - that will help a lot.



There's an easy way to deal with the staring thing - ignore the dog and don't give it any attention - if you ignore the dog it will walk away and go lay down.

Answer 10

My dog is a garbage-monger...if she can tear through it, open it or tip it over, she will eat whatever's inside. I finally discovered a way to keep her from devouring the contents; I sprinkle some red chili pepper over the contents of the garbage. As long as there's enough covering the top of the garbage, she won't touch what's in there.

Answer 11

Well I have two dogs and my dad buys them a big bag of Imam's to keep them healthy instead of letting the dogs eat out of the garbage also that's what the raccoons do eat out of the garbage.

Answer 12

You can buy lid clamps at the store. As for begging, I would talk firmly and loud (Let The Dog See Who's Boss!). Be nice when he's not, and do not feed him when he whines

Answer 13

Just keep being persistent.



She will eventually learn what she should and should not do. She may have been starved before you got her, but now that she is not, you need to enforce your rules with her, and if it hurts her feelings, then you know it is working.

Answer 14

do you have a chain for her outside then if you do put her outside when you are eating and about the garbage scold her don't be afraid if she seems insulter it will help if you scold her

Answer 15

get a trash can with a good lid on it not one with the swingy flap thin but a tall one with a heavy top