Friend Rewarding My Dogs Bad Behaviour!

[skip]

I've just come home from our dog park and am I bit annoyed! Had a shitty day at work and not in the mood!

I'll try to keep it short. Hard for me. We walk in a dogpark daily as a group for 2 years. My dog was rescue and scared of men. So I have always encouraged him to greet an older bloke I walk with. It is good to see him look for this bloke and fly across the park to him. Gradually more and more people carry treats, usually to encourage recalls.

So naturally my dog had found begging, pleading, dancing in front of people, pawing and especially joining in a sit with another trained dog to be very sucessfull! Or even start his very own sit in front. So I ask no one feed him. I don't care if they feed theirs or others just not mine. Most people respect this.

Now tonite as the old bloke goes to catch his dog mine goes to town. He'd been begging already a bit from him and I'd pointed out this behaviour was not good. So even as I'm standing there pleading "Don't feed him!"he gets a treat. And it's Good'O's that he won't touch at home! Mind you it is a very determined effort on the dogs part.

One obvious idea is don't walk with them I know. But I love the company and after moving to a new place I enjoy the friends I have met thru the dogs.

And my dog literally ignores me in this state so my calling him is useless.

Assume I cannot scold my dog as he is actually very timid and I would rarely if ever raise my voice? As I allowed the behaviour to develope I'm at fault.

As this behaviour starts in the last 50 metres I was thinking I could put him on lead before this and don't let him near the friend. This will involve literally dragging him away. Once I am out of his path I would think my dog would switch his focus to me. But should I treat him if he focuses on me? I am hesitant to. I will treat to reward a good job and I don't think this is one?

So I'm asking if 1. You wouldn't scold. 2. I do drag him away. 3. Get his focus and reward him still.

Shouldn't have been so weak minded in the first place. Just so glad he started trusting people I let it go too far.

Edited August 21, 2007 by skip

[J...]

I don't blame you for being annoyed about someone feeding your dog, especially as you've only just told them not to!!

My dogs a food hound and no-one really feeds her but me, but she'll still prick her ears and watch someone intently if they are rustling a plastic treat bag in their pocket. I normally have pretty high value rewards which are better than everyone else's, but the novelty of the unknown seems to be far too enticing - drives me bonkers!

Maybe explain to your walking mates (the ones you trust to do the right thing) that the treating from strangers has really helped your dog get past his problems, but now the treating is causing its own problems. If there are a few who don't respect your wishes, then try the "special diet" story. Doggies on a specific diet with no treats other than the ones you have cos they are "xyz-free". Its quick and easy to say "he's on a special diet - strictly no treats!!!" and I would hope that people would respect that! Far easier than having to justify yourself to all the do-gooders who think its harmless to feed someone elses dogs! Fill in the trustworthy mates on the doggy diet story so they can help point it out to someone who doesn't know any better and help you enforce the rule.

It will take a while for your dog to get past the habit, he's been on a pretty good success rate so EVERYONE needs to be consistent. If one person crumbles and gives in, or even drops a treat by mistake while your dog is begging, it will be back to the drawing board again!

Have you taught your dog to focus on you at home? Just simple "yes" and treat anytime he looks at you. Teach him a focus word i.e "watch me" and keep working on it, as well as your recall. Do you have a really high value toy or food treat that is just absolutely No 1 in your dogs books? Use that as part of the distraction and reward.

Don't let your dog beg and focus on other people, if you have to walk up and physically lead him away and then ask for the "watch me" and reward him the moment he gives you his focus. Teach him that you are now the master of all things good, toys and excellent treats. By letting him beg and plead in front of others there's a chance he'll manage to suck someone into feeding him and all your hard works gone.

As part of that, have a look at the triangle of temptation post pinned at the top of the training forum - it will help work on focus as well. :D

[skip]

Thanks for that help feralpup.

No one else feeds him except this one bloke. I thought it was stopped. What worked for a while is my dog sat next to a bitch being treat rewarded ( who we don't even know ) and the bitch understandably told him off. So I told my friend my dog would get bitten eventually at training if he did this . Worked for a while.

He normally has great focus and has been easy to do agility with. His focus is often commented on so it is really out of character to develope this behaviour. But he knows who's an easy mark. He is also a fussy eater and often goes on strike from eating. He has seperation anxiety and I think he would prefer to be fed all by hand. I don't of course and if he hasn't eaten in 10 mins I put it away until the next day.

So I won't let him beg from anyone, even if they will not feed him. And it is OK to drag him away. Mostly I think he will transfer his attention to me. But in the case of this one bloke I might have to physically move him away. Thanks, I just wasn't sure if it was a good idea to reward if I did this.

[J...]

Sorry skip I didn't exactly know where you were "at" with your dog

My dog is the same, brilliantly focussed at agility but if there's any downtime and we happen to be standing next to the one person who has given her a treat, she will sit and stare intently hoping to win one again. I do exactly what you said, take her away or ask for her attention if I can get it and then reward her for it.