Treat snatcher - help!

[kmann]

Guys, I totally love my dog to bits and wouldn't trade him for the world, but I feel like all I do is complain on here about him and issues I have no idea what to do about, but you're all so full of helpful advice and support.

I posted when Griffin was a wee pup about a time when he growled at me when he was eating and I was petting him. I have since fixed that problem and we no longer have an issue around his food bowl. Now the issue comes when he steals treats or human food he's not supposed to have. Twice now he's stolen a small package of dog treats out of the closet (stupid me for leaving the door open), and when I go to get the treats from him he's growled at me, and I know he would have snapped if I reached for his mouth. I tried trading him a different treat, cheese, and peanut butter and he was completely uninterested in dropping what he had. We're currently working on the "leave it" and "drop it" commands, which obviously need to be quite polished. He's fine when someone will take a toy or non food items away from him. It's just when he has goodies in his mouth.

 

[lmfoltyn]

It does just take work...Jake will still sometimes lunge when I go to take away a toy or non toy that he feels is his treasure. He has never bitten me and I feel confident enough to just reach in and take it with a good scold of "bad boy". They sure don't like to be scolded! You really have to think ahead of them, make sure NOTHING is left out where they can get it because they will. Did you see the picture of Acadia on the counter? They will do amazing things to get what they want. Make sure all cupboards are closed and really all you can do is work on leave it and drop it! Good luck...many of us are in the same boat!!

 

[wrknnwf]

Practice "give" and "take" a lot! Start with toys or objects that aren't high value. Be sure that you don't just take something away and never return it. That's one way to make him think he HAS to guard his things. Trade the object back and forth several times during a practice session. If he is just mildly reluctant or simply doesn't understand the command at first, try taking hold of his collar under his chin and steadily but gently pull forward until he lets go. He will probably lean backwards and then open his mouth. Most dogs will release what they have with this technique. Remember to make it seem like a fun game. Lots of praise and a treat each time he gets it right. When he is close to 100% right, try higher value items (not food yet).

When you practice "leave it", you can have him lie down and put a small treat on the floor just out of his reach. Tell him to leave it, then take the treat and give it to him. If he does well, put another treat closer and closer each time always praising and rewarding and giving him the treat. If he does well, then start back at the beginning, adding a few seconds of pause before you pick up the treat and give it to him. Don't go too fast or add too much time, but do continue to add more seconds before you pick up the treat. Eventually, you should be able to put the treat on his paw, tell him "leave it", wait a short while and then give it to him. Since he has a problem with snatching and guarding things, you should always give him the treat by hand and not let him grab it himself. So be sure you aren't cueing him to grab by talking or praising before he gets it from you.

 

[cmorgan.1505]

Good luck! Thor has never growled at me in an angry manner. He knows that I'm boss and what I say goes. We have also been pretty lucky with the fact that he does not steal food, but will sniff the heck out of it.

I'd say try to make sure that there is nothing for him to grab. Leave it is a great command and thankfully with lots of work I can even get Thor to spit out a treat ( I dropped the bag after having just gave him a treat and he went in for another one. I told him to drop it and he did, but the puppy eyes made me give him cause well such a good boy to drop the treat!)