How to Keep Your Dog From Stealing Food

Dogs are so smart. They can quickly figure out that children are little dispensers of yummy food, so they stick around. Younger children, especially toddlers, drop food often because they’re learning to use their little fingers; and the family dog is right there to pick up any dropped Cheerios or splatters of baby food. The more a dog practices this behavior, the stronger it becomes until a dog steals food from your child’s fingers.

If your dog steals food from your child, check out these tips to prevent (which is always best) and eliminate this dog behavior. If your dog hovers or stares at your child’s food, it’s time to change this behavior now.

Teach Your Child Not to Feed the Dog

When small children offer food to a dog, we all think it’s absolutely adorable until the dog learns to hover around them while they’re eating. While it’s cute now, this dog behavior will most certainly teach your dog to beg for food whenever your child eats. Remember, giving a dog human food does not teach a dog to beg; it’s offering food from a plate that creates begging behavior.

When your child starts offering your dog her food, it’s time to give your dog something else to do instead of accepting food gifts until your child is old enough to understand she shouldn’t share her meals with the dog yet.

For children over 4 years old, ask them not to give or share any food with their dog. Also, if your dog is in the kitchen, keep an eye on him. Better yet, give your dog something else to do instead of hovering around your child while she eats.

Give Your Dog Something Else to Do During Meal Times

During meal times, offer your dog a food stuffed toy to enjoy inside his crate. This keeps your dog happily busy while everyone enjoys her dinner. Plus, it keeps your dog from hovering around your child while she eats. Remember, it takes just one time for your dog to learn that children drop food on the ground, so your dog will come running the moment he hears the clatter of the high chair.

Now, I understand young children snack often, so fill your dog’s food stuffed toys with portions of his daily ration of dog food. If your dog eats one cup per day, divide this into four food stuffed toys by sprinkling ¼ of it with a bit of canned food or peanut butter and freeze overnight. When your child is sitting down for a snack, toss your dog a food stuffed toy to enjoy instead of waiting around for dropped food. Soon, the sound of an opening freezer door will cause your dog to run into the kitchen.

Punishment Doesn’t Work

You’re probably tired of hearing me say this, but it’s so true. Punishment doesn’t work. Yelling or punishing your dog with leash tugs or time outs will only make the food stealing behavior worse. Basically, punishment teaches your dog not to steal food when you’re around. Plus, punishment will tear you and your dog’s relationship apart; it’s not worth it. Punishment is a slippery slope and often the first thing pet owners employ, but it has major fallouts.

Instead of punishing the dog behavior, prevent it from happening by keeping your dog occupied while your toddler eats meals and snacks. Secondly, teach your child not to share meals with your dog. Lastly, if your dog has already learned to hover around your child during meals, give him something else to do instead. Soon, your dog would rather lick a food stuffed toy than hang out under your child’s high chair. This is the best way to change dog behavior permanently.