Dining and Dashing

Dining and dashing is not only impolite for people, but is also inappropriate for your dog.  I mean, how rude is it for your dog to go and order a huge steak and fries (minus the broccoli with an extra side of bones) at Texas Roadhouse then run out before they pay the bill or even tip the server?  Geez.

But seriously, does your dog ever come back to you, grab whatever you are offering then bolt away again?  How about when your dog is on lead and you are trying to get his or her attention while that other dog at the park is rolling in the grass or playing fetch-so you say your dog's name, he or she looks up at you physically, takes the treat, and then continues fixating on that other dog "having fun" while he or she is "stuck" at the end of your leash?

Lucy is an expert at the second scenario...and like a server who has been stilted, it definitely annoys me.  So here are five ideas of things that we work on to prevent (physical or mental) dining and dashing:

First, don't let your dog borrow your car.  If they can't get to a restaurant, then there isn't the chance that they'll stiff the establishment.  My dogs only get to borrow the car if they're running errands for us, and even then they have to pledged on their kibbles that they'll be on their best behavior.

Second, make sure your dog is mentally with you and not just going through the motions before you reward them.  Training is as much mental as it is physical performance.  Make sure they are thinking about you-not everything else around them.

Third, randomly have your dog do multiple things before earning the treat.  When you call him or her to you, not only should they recall, but they can also do a down, sit, then a shake, or something else.  This changes things up a bit and helps with suggestion number two.

Fourth, randomly give them more treats for a behavior.  This is not jackpotting, but instead is about rewarding them for continued attention.  If your dog thinks they might get more, they'll be more motivated to hang around longer.  Just make sure that you don't always give them a set number of treats each time.  Dogs can't count, but they will pick up on patterns.  So, give them one, give them five, but always switch it up.

Fifth, enforce a 'release' command before your pooch is allowed to move on.  So, when you recall your dog, they shouldn't go back out to play until they get their release.  Likewise, when you are at PetsMart and they are wanting to investigate the smelly and wonderfully-pee-filled world out there, they shouldn't unfocus from you until you give them release.  Kind of like at-ease for soldiers.

Credit for this lovely article goes to: Becca