Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject: Snatching treats, how do you stop?
Jack (15 months old) is in desperate need of training... In order to achieve this I'd like to reward him with treats, the problem is, he snatches and I mean SNATCHES, takes your whole hand, if you lay the treat flat on your palm its the same, he doesn't use his tongue, he uses his teeth, not in a nasty way at all, just desperate to get the treat, so desperate he jumps up at you to get it, my immediate reaction as would anyone I think, is to pull back, I have tried and tried not to but it hurts
I have held the treat so that my fingers are bent and present him with the back of my hand but its no different PLEASE has anyone got any ideas????
The way we teach this with puppies is to hold the treat, in a closed hand in front of their nose (not higher as they will jump up), then grit your teeth and keep your hand there, saying and doing nothing, until the pup stops fussing and mouthing and pawing at your hand. As soon as pup leaves your hand, say good boy or take it and open your hand. If you use a clicker, click and open your hand as soon as he leaves it. Do this about five times and he should get it. You really will have to grit your teeth with Jack as his jaws are that much stronger, but at least his teeth aren't as sharp as a puppies! A bit of pain now will save lots of pain in the future.
Hope this helps x
Thanks Helen, that is what I have always done with a pup too and figured it would be the same but on a bigger scale but god it hurts! he really snatches at your hand, thats why i pull away even though I try desperately not to maybe i should have added he mouths really badly still.
You could also try using a pair of pliers to hold the treat Karen, that will save your hands and fingers, once Jack leaves the treat alone he can have it.
You will have a bit of a hard time with Jack I think, sounds like he`s had almost no training at all, but you`ll do it I know you will
Maybe to begin with do his training after his meals, this may help to stop him being so eager , what am I talking about????, he`s a LAB!!! , maybe worth a try anyway
Edited to add, the way I did it was to hold the biscuit really tightly in my thumb and forfinger, if CJ snatched at it I pulled it away, didn`t take him long to learn he didn`t get the biccy if he snatched at it, again like Maddoglady says, it`ll be a bit of pain before you get any gain.
Last edited by _Mary_ on Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:04 pm; edited 1 time in total
Whenever rewarding her, if she tried to snatch I pulled my hand away immediately and said a loud, "AH! AH!" She then associated that with NOT getting a treat. Following that, I waited and then gave a command such as sit or down. Then, gently would give her the treat with a 'good girl'. Although if she tried to snatch again, I would repeat the AH AH sound and not give the treat until she stopped.
The AH AH noise needs to be loud enough to startle him and make him think, "Ooo, that wasn't a very nice noise" - but not so loud that it frightens him to death.
Max is desperate to get any treat and sort of takes it too quickly but has never made contact with teeth or anything - you just get covered in slobber.
He also makes a sort of hoovering noise as if to absorb every last molecule at the same time which can be a surprise for anyone who doesn't know him.
I have worked and worked on dulling his enthusiasm but all I seem to do is get him more and more excited
Where is Di? She told me a great way of doing it as Mills used to do this - but using Di's method she is quite good really. But at this moment I cannot remember her method (sorry, I am really tired and my brain is all mangled)
I really like the idea of the pliers Mary it is honestly like having a 10 week old puppy in an adults body, he is finding his confidence daily which is lovely but he has the weight to knock you off your feet, which he has done more than once and turning yout back equals deep scratches down my back. I know there is a sweet, soft boy in there somewhere I just need to set him free.
I too am a firm believer in the AH AH! but I cant seem to get him to believe that means anything except ''Oh we can play can we?? followed by bounce bounce, leap up at me''
I have been shown how to do this but cant explain it or rember very well. If you curl your wrist towards you and close fingers and pull your hand and arm to a V saying AH AH the dog should automatically back off and put nose down. Give the treat then as they are retreating back their nose. Or curl your hand back on itself then give (but that sounds like what you have already tried.
Rubbish explaination but it worked on Boo.
Sara & Bessie Boo
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
, what am I talking about????, he`s a LAB!!! 
and turning yout back equals deep scratches down my back. I know there is a sweet, soft boy in there somewhere I just need to set him free.
