A little excitable at meal times!

[Sophie]

I have a little problem. Breakfast/ Dinner times are rather manic. They consist of Maverick spinning in circles as fast as possible, whimpering, whining and woofing, and then jumping full pelt into his crate (he gets fed there).
I know this is my fault, as to be honest I haven't taught him to sit before meals are put down. I think I missed this bit out because he wouldn't eat when I first got him, and I spent quite a few mealtimes sat on the floor with him hand-feeding (I know, soft touch or what). After that phase passed, I was so happy to see him getting excited about food that I never taught the sit at meal times.
Anyway. Enough of my rubbish excuses! How do I go about doing it now? He's just so excitable about food! (Any food- he will literally eat anything. Tomatoes, cucumber, orange, peas... anything, he's a gannet and loves his food more than anything. I think because he spends all day with 2 labradors- the greediness has rubbed off on him!) In my head I know that it's pretty much just a 'sit' and 'wait', which he knows... but add food into the equation and his excitement takes over.
BTW he's not aggressive with his food in any way- will let me take it away if I need to etc.


Appreciate the help guys

edit for spelling- fat fingers

[zetstaff]

Awwww xxx

I'm afraid it's 'follow your head' time, he needs to sit + wait for his food. I know he's not food aggressive now, but he might become food aggressive if he's allowed to carry on as you are doing

Be firm, not easy I know when they melt your heart, but it'll be best

xxxx

[Sophie]

Originally Posted by zetstaff

Awwww xxx

I'm afraid it's 'follow your head' time, he needs to sit + wait for his food. I know he's not food aggressive now, but he might become food aggressive if he's allowed to carry on as you are doing

Be firm, not easy I know when they melt your heart, but it'll be best

xxxx

Oh I know I knowwww.... but I just can't seem to get through to him! He knows 'sit', 'wait' and 'leave'. I've even stopped him from eating poo (yuck, that was a yucky phase) by using the 'leave' command and the vet said that I would probably never stop him doing it! But at meal times it's like having a monster! (a very handsome lovely monster )

I'm just thinking. What about if I put his food in his crate and shut the door, with him on the outside? Then me have my breakfast, then let him in when he is quiet and calm? Would that work?

[zetstaff]

Originally Posted by Sophie

Oh I know I knowwww.... but I just can't seem to get through to him! He knows 'sit', 'wait' and 'leave'. I've even stopped him from eating poo (yuck, that was a yucky phase) by using the 'leave' command and the vet said that I would probably never stop him doing it! But at meal times it's like having a monster! (a very handsome lovely monster )

I'm just thinking. What about if I put his food in his crate and shut the door, with him on the outside? Then me have my breakfast, then let him in when he is quiet and calm? Would that work?

I personally wouldn't do that, at the end of the day you need your bubba to do things how you want, not how he wants. You have to do this, or you will potentially have a big prob

You've used the leave command successfully already, so just apply it to feeding. It works, honest My lil girl is THE most stubborn obstinate little cow in the world, but she has no food/treat/anything unless she sits. Sometimes poor Boris has been sat for 10 mins whilst I get Tilly to do as I ask.

You HAVE TO deal with this now, no good saying I KNOOOOOW, although I understand entirely

xxx

[Sophie]

Ooo thanks chuck I do need a firm hand sometimes. That makes two of us
I know that I have to do it the long way round, hard as it may be... I think I'm more impatient than Mav though! I gave him a bone earlier, which was very exciting for him, but he sat when asked. He did it first time so I thought I'd try 'wait'. Put the bone a few feet away from him, he lurched forward for it straight away so I held onto him. Lots of whining and crocodile rolls but he eventually got the idea and was in the down position, being still. Gave the wait command then let go of him saying 'take it'.
I thought it was a good first attempt so tried again a bit later. This time he stayed in the sit position, didn't whine, but I still had to hold onto him. I slowly released my grip on him whilst saying 'wait' until I wasn't holding onto him anymore. Then said 'take it' and off he went!!!!!!
I think the magic fairies have been training him whilst I've been watching telly. Maybe I just wasn't trying hard enough before... I'm too soft
Not anymore though. I am the leader of the pack. WOOF!

[lauraburns]

Well done Sophie!! Keep it up and do the same with his food! He will soon get the hang of it!!

[gloriab]

Originally Posted by Sophie

Ooo thanks chuck I do need a firm hand sometimes. That makes two of us
I know that I have to do it the long way round, hard as it may be... I think I'm more impatient than Mav though! I gave him a bone earlier, which was very exciting for him, but he sat when asked. He did it first time so I thought I'd try 'wait'. Put the bone a few feet away from him, he lurched forward for it straight away so I held onto him. Lots of whining and crocodile rolls but he eventually got the idea and was in the down position, being still. Gave the wait command then let go of him saying 'take it'.
I thought it was a good first attempt so tried again a bit later. This time he stayed in the sit position, didn't whine, but I still had to hold onto him. I slowly released my grip on him whilst saying 'wait' until I wasn't holding onto him anymore. Then said 'take it' and off he went!!!!!!
I think the magic fairies have been training him whilst I've been watching telly. Maybe I just wasn't trying hard enough before... I'm too soft
Not anymore though. I am the leader of the pack. WOOF!

see - you DO know how to do it.
Maybe mummy has been a bit lazeeee and not been doing as she should for an easy life?
He sounds like a quick learner so persevere - make him wait as long as you need to - so you are in charge of how it's done - bet it won't take long based on what you've already done.
x

[zetstaff]

Originally Posted by Sophie

Ooo thanks chuck I do need a firm hand sometimes. That makes two of us
I know that I have to do it the long way round, hard as it may be... I think I'm more impatient than Mav though! I gave him a bone earlier, which was very exciting for him, but he sat when asked. He did it first time so I thought I'd try 'wait'. Put the bone a few feet away from him, he lurched forward for it straight away so I held onto him. Lots of whining and crocodile rolls but he eventually got the idea and was in the down position, being still. Gave the wait command then let go of him saying 'take it'.
I thought it was a good first attempt so tried again a bit later. This time he stayed in the sit position, didn't whine, but I still had to hold onto him. I slowly released my grip on him whilst saying 'wait' until I wasn't holding onto him anymore. Then said 'take it' and off he went!!!!!!
I think the magic fairies have been training him whilst I've been watching telly. Maybe I just wasn't trying hard enough before... I'm too soft
Not anymore though. I am the leader of the pack. WOOF!

Yay, well done you, told you it works

A bit of perseverence + apply that to food + you'll be sorted. GSDs are very intelligent + learn very quickly, he just needs to know what you want him to do + he'll be eager to please

Well done xxx

[Sophie]

Originally Posted by gloriab

see - you DO know how to do it.
Maybe mummy has been a bit lazeeee and not been doing as she should for an easy life?
He sounds like a quick learner so persevere - make him wait as long as you need to - so you are in charge of how it's done - bet it won't take long based on what you've already done.
x

Yes mummy has been very lazy... too busy teaching 'hi-five!' to do the basics!! Naughty mummy, slapped wrist! He is a quick learner, although I think it might take a bit longer this time. But yes I'm going to persevere and hopefully within a couple of weeks it will be sorted

Originally Posted by zetstaff

Yay, well done you, told you it works

A bit of perseverence + apply that to food + you'll be sorted. GSDs are very intelligent + learn very quickly, he just needs to know what you want him to do + he'll be eager to please

Well done xxx

Fingers crossed he will start to twig within the next couple of days. This morning was 'interesting'... We had the same spinning around etc as usual. I put his food in the crate and managed to get him to sit but had to hold onto him. Lots of crocodile rolls and was deaf to 'wait'. I think I will have to do it in stages- first just getting him to sit before taking it then adding wait and take-it after he's mastered that. There was lots of whining and howling but I was determined not to crumble so waited until he was quiet for a few seconds then let him go to his food.

He seems to have twigged the idea with treats/ toys though? I keep practising so I can apply it to meal times. Just put a treat inside his Kong, put it a couple of feet in front of him and he eventually sat and waited without me holding onto him.

[Sophie]

Check it outttttttt! "wait.... wait.... waaiiiiiiiiiiiiit...."