Teaching dog not to accept food from people - Page 3

A couple of people have mentioned the Koehler method of using an electric fence charger as a useful tool to teach dogs not to eat food and other tasty things that they might find laying about or that someone has offered them.  It occured to me that not everyone would know what an electric fence charger is or just how you use it to teach a dog not to eat what you do not want it to.

Check this link out to learn the basics of what fence charger does and how it is wired.

www.alwaysonsalepetsupplies.com/product.asp


This is a pretty low priced unit, basically the first cheap one with a basic explanation of how they work that I came upon.  So far as wiring goes you must use an insulated wire from the charger to the morsel, which is then becomes the electrifed object laying in wait for something to complete the circuit to "ground".

Anyhow, instead of using the charger to energize a perimeter fence of exposed wire suspended on insulators you use it to energize the substance that you would like your dog not to consume.  The "food" must be placed on an insulating material (wood, plastic) and when your pooch touches the food with any of his mouth parts, nose, etc....KERPOW!  he receives an electric shock which is not harmful as his body completes the electrical circuit.

This method can be used with any virtually any food item or liquid (anti-freeze for example) and I think you could wire such tasty morsels as cat turds to induce a strong aversion to such items.  I would think that this method could be used to teach a dog that the safest place to eat anything is his food bowl.  I am not sure if dogs are smart enough to eventually figure out what is "hot" and what is not.  Maybe somebody else knows and could chime in.  I have seen previous threads addressing poop-eating dogs and wondered if this might not be an effective device/technique to dissuade that behaviour as well.  Dunno....but it might be worth a try.

For those who like to hear clicking sounds when they train, like Hans, electric fence chargers make a nice clicking sound when they are on, but this should be kept out of earshot of the dog.

SteveO

WARNING:   If anyone attempts to teach an aversion to Anti-Freeze using this method it should be a completely supervised process that allows no room for error.  Anti-Freeze is lethal to dogs and if this method is used to teach an aversion to it Take No Chances by constantly watching the 'lesson" and removing the anti-freeze when the lesson is over.  Non-toxic substances do not require constant supervision. 

Lees, it's the part about letting me know immediately that I find appealing! Then there's me all the way at the other end of the house with my e-collar sending unit and my voice yelling NO......

Would have come in handy this morning. Someone got up on the table and snagged my glasses. And destroyed them. 

Lee very good ! I like that!
Prager Hans

 My pal Daryl writes: I would not agree with the idiotic idea stated in another thread, that "any dog who would eat food from anyone but the handler deserves to be shot".

Hey, I know there's a lot of info being tossed around, but remember that statement was referring to TRAINED PPDs, not "dogs" in general. Context, Daryl, context. 

Hans of course beats me to the punch in reminding people that a dog will smell poisoned meat. I can see that maybe working exactly one time, then the dog recognizes the smell.

I think poison-proofing is different than typical PPD food aversion, in that a PPD is only working when you're around; you guys are now in guard dog territory and not PPD if asking that dog to guard a premises and not accept any food he finds lying around. 

Another good point made by someone was that food aversion can make a dog very aggressive and suspicious of anyone offering them food. 

Try beating the strangers with a boat oar.  Through many years of study, Cesar Milan has found that dogs naturally develop a mistrust of people who have been struck by a boat oar.  The oar must be held in your right hand and must be swung over your head 3 x's before eventually striking a good friend right between the eyes while shouting "not the mama, not the mama".  As training gets better (and friends are released from the hospital), introduce a ping pong (not table tennis but ping pong) paddle.  (Paddles and handy holsters can be purchased through Ray Allen)  Gradually introduce the term "Rosebud" as you stomp your feet and spit on your shoes and your dog will never eat food from strangers again,,,,,hope this helps.