Why your dog steals food, and what you can do about it

If your dog is counter surfin’ USA, this video is for you! Nathan Lowe, The Indy Dog Whisperer, joined us today to talk through why dogs tend to steal food off of counter tops.

Nathan told us there are two main reasons dogs will steal food, and also gave us several tips on how to curb this bad habit.

So why do dogs steal food?

• Beacause there are opportunities to do so
• Because they feel ownership over food

What can owners do to stop or prevent dogs from stealing food?

• Practice food guarding to set a precedent. This can include dropping food between your feet, and stepping towards the dog if they approach the food. When they finally give up, you can then toss the food to them.
• Be alert to theft opportunities. You can leave food in accessible places and give a verbal warning if the dog targets the food. If the dog approaches the food, you can quickly position yourself between and make the dog back up.

For more information visit, TheIndyDogWhisperer.com.