One of the first and most important lessons I teach new
clients is to properly use mealtimes as a leadership message to your dog.Remember, it is the leader of the pack
who controls access to meals so in your pack it is crucial to be the keeper of
the food.
One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is
“free-feeding” or allowing their dog access to food all day.What I’ve found in dogs allowed to
free-feed is a universal tendency to take food for granted or have a take-it or
leave-it attitude.Dogs allowed to
free-feed show little respect for food and no respect for the providers of food
when food is always available.Your dog doesn’t know to respect you for providing food when you allow
him access to it at will.Dogs
allowed to free-feed tend to be picky or finicky eaters, often leaving much of
their food in the bowl uneaten.Finally, in dogs that are not completely housebroken it can be
disastrous not to have the dog on a feeding schedule.Remember, if you know when it went in you have a better idea
of when it might come out!
I recommend feeding dogs a measured amount twice daily and
leaving the food down for twenty minutes.Don’t worry if he doesn’t eat it.Dogs won’t starve themselves.Pick it up anyway and don’t offer it again until the next mealtime.At first he may not eat well but he
will quickly learn to make the most of mealtimes.
Ask your dog to “sit” and “wait” for permission to begin
eating rather than just allowing him to dig in.This teaches that you are the leader and are in charge of
everything, including when and where he eats.This exercise also teaches some impulse control.You are asking him to control his
impulses and wait for permission to begin eating.
The sooner you begin to control mealtimes, the better.Your dog will quickly begin to eat
better, respect you more and respect the message you are giving him about food.
