Labrador bitch training.

Question:
My eight-year-old Labrador bitch, Rosie, seems to think that every walk is an excuse for and eat ‘food’. As we live in the country and most of our walks are on public footpaths bordering farmers' fields, you can imagine the wide range of goodies that are available. While I realize that Labradors are 'dustbins on legs' she is my sixth bitch and the first to have had this problem.

Otherwise she is a happy, healthy animal, regularly wormed and treated for fleas. She is also fed on a good quality dry food.

Is there a way of curing this problem or do I have to live with it? Whatever she eats doesn't seem to harm her.

Doreen Hoyle, Essex.

Answer:
How much of a problem is this to you? Curing it will require quite a lot of work. You could try fitting your dog with a remote controlled spray collar that delivers a blast of spray under her chin when the handset is activated. Alternatively, you could try introducing dog training discs. However I think that teaching her a good leave command would be the best course of action. Follow this routine at mealtimes:

• You need to teach your dog to look at you before being allowed to eat. Put her on the lead and stand up straight, holding her away from the bowl on the floor.
• Do not say anything at this stage but wait for her to look you in the face.
• As soon as the dog looks at you, immediately give your chosen release command; this could be 'OK' or 'Good dog'. Then allow her to start eating her food.
• As the dog learns that she has to look at your face to be released to eat, you can start to extend the amount of time she has to wait for the command. Remember, she may well get frustrated and look away from you but all you have to do is wait for her to focus on you again before releasing.
• If you are using a lead to control your dog, try to gently relax the tension on it, particularly as you give the release command.
• If you have managed to get the dog to wait and look at you for five seconds or so, then you should be able to progress to get her to sit while she waits.
• You can now add other words or commands. Start by getting the dog to sit using the hand signal and command for sit. Then place the bowl on the floor and tell the dog to leave; she should look at you, waiting for the release command.

 You can repeat the word 'Leave' more than once if you feel it helps but don't forget to give the release command clearly. Now that you have taught your dog the word, you need to start using it out on walks.If you walk Rosie away from roads, try putting her on an extending lead and when she looks as if she is about to scavenge say 'Leave', lead her away from the item of interest and then reward her with a tasty treat. With practice she should come to you on hearing the command.

Finally, do remember that she is al dog and habits we may find disgusting are just her way of finding out about the world around her.

_{source Your Dog Mag.}