So, So angry with my dog right now!!.....

[lisathorp]

My 6 month old boxer, is stealing my kids food! My kids are only 5, 4, and 3 so they are still little. I try to keep Ceasar out of the room when they are eating, but he always finds a way to sneak in and take there food out of there hands and eat it. He is so fast, he swallows it hole! He doesnt do it to my husband or I, only the kids. Its getting so bad, they cant have anything around him. I have a cage for him, so I started puting him in it when they eat. But I'm not sure if thats the right thing to do. Should I keep him out of the cage and teach him to stay put while they eat, or should I put him in the cage?
Tonight he took my 4 year olds cheesburger right out of his hands and swallowed it hole. GRRRR I am so mad!!

 

[kathysboxer]

I would cage him until he learns how to behave. Tyson always is fed before we eat, and is told down (lay down) until we are done. When we are done, we tell him ok and he gets up. I give him a small treat then. This way, he's not hungry when we are eating. I just don't like a dog watching me eat.

 

[Indy's mom]

Well, you really can't blame Ceasar. If you think about it, even when a child holds their food above their head in the attempt to keep it out of the dogs reach, it's pretty much the same height that you or I might offer a treat. And it's very tasty too!

At 6 months old he's still very much a baby himself. I would probably teach him a word that tells him it's time to go to his crate. My dogs always knew 'go to your room' or 'go to bed'. If you teach him that he has to crate up each time you feed the children, give him a treat when he goes in there, it will become a habit and make life easier for all of you.

It's also a great way to reinforce the habit of children eating at a table if that is your family policy. When you feel that you are able to supervise the situation, you may want to consider having Ceasar on a leash while the children eat. Still gives you some control while giving him the freedom and opportunity to make the right choices.

I remember those days very well. I remember our Rocky and my eldest son Billy sharing ice cream cones and peanut butter sandwiches. sigh, it sure was a silly thing to see, but I could never convince 4 yr old Billy not to share with the dog. A bite or a lick for Billy and a bite or a lick for Rock. Why Rocky never took the whole thing I'll never know. By the way, at 25 yrs old, Billy still shares his food with Indy when he is in town, but now he breaks the food off.

Good luck with Ceasar and your kids.

 

[lisathorp]

I would cage him until he learns how to behave. Tyson always is fed before we eat, and is told down (lay down) until we are done. When we are done, we tell him ok and he gets up. I give him a small treat then. This way, he's not hungry when we are eating. I just don't like a dog watching me eat.

I think thats what I'm going to do. I keep the boys at the table to eat, and they dont tease him, or try to feed him. I think to Ceasar its fair game but its bad because like tonight I only got them one happy meal. So when he took one of there burgars they was pretty upset, "and so was I"!! Thanks! Take care

 

[lisathorp]

Well, you really can't blame Ceasar. If you think about it, even when a child holds their food above their head in the attempt to keep it out of the dogs reach, it's pretty much the same height that you or I might offer a treat. And it's very tasty too!

At 6 months old he's still very much a baby himself. I would probably teach him a word that tells him it's time to go to his crate. My dogs always knew 'go to your room' or 'go to bed'. If you teach him that he has to crate up each time you feed the children, give him a treat when he goes in there, it will become a habit and make life easier for all of you.

It's also a great way to reinforce the habit of children eating at a table if that is your family policy. When you feel that you are able to supervise the situation, you may want to consider having Ceasar on a leash while the children eat. Still gives you some control while giving him the freedom and opportunity to make the right choices.

I remember those days very well. I remember our Rocky and my eldest son Billy sharing ice cream cones and peanut butter sandwiches. sigh, it sure was a silly thing to see, but I could never convince 4 yr old Billy not to share with the dog. A bite or a lick for Billy and a bite or a lick for Rock. Why Rocky never took the whole thing I'll never know. By the way, at 25 yrs old, Billy still shares his food with Indy when he is in town, but now he breaks the food off.

Good luck with Ceasar and your kids.

I think I'm going to put him in the cage, or tie him up. That way the boys can keep there dinner He is so sneaky! I keep the boys at the table, and I dont always eat with them their. So he will wait till I'm not looking and run and grab.
Thanks for the advice. Take care....

 

[Kilby'sMum]

I definitely think that you're right to crate him while your kids are eating until he can learn some table manners. From the outset we have taught our girls the "leave it" command when it comes to food and it works wonders. We have never had a problem with them taking anyone's food or even unattended food... quite often I'll leave half a sandwich or something on our coffee table (about nose height of our boxers!) and just tell them to "leave it" before I leave the room. They have on occassion gotten close enough to the food to start drooling but never touched or taken anything (including bbq'd steak). If you could teach this to Ceaser and teach the command to your kids then you might save yourself a few tears and cheeseburgers down the road and he might not have to be crated.

 

[kathysboxer]

Another thing I did/do is make sure Tyson has a RMB he can chew on if he's not hungry. Keeps him busy and out of our way. We do eat in the living room (I know, should use the dining room table ) and he doesn't bother us at all. At times, he may drool, but that is it. No whining, crying nothing.
Good luck! Maybe an extra happy meal for Ceaser :D LOL just kidding

 

[suzyqdogsmom]

We always put SuzyQ in her crate when we were eating (usually in the living room) when she was little. Then when she was older she had to go lay down in her bed. If no one feeds them and you are consistent in crating or making them lay down in a specific spot after a while they won't even pay attention to when you are eating. Now she's 7 and when we bring plates out to the living room she just automatically lays down on her bed. But when they are 6 months old, it's a different story.

 

[boxerlove45]

kitchen table

my boys know if you dont want to be harassed eat at the table..my 2 older boxers know kids food is off limits..but my 11 month old and 1 yr old boxer can care less,they just want it..they are learning the leave it rule but it takes time..my 5 yr old boxer wouldnt dare and my 2 yr old wouldnt think about it but really watches....so the kitchen table is really the best place or crated..they are dogs and a very high food drive..time really that is what it takes and for a 6 month old pup they can care less what you are saying when they see food..

 

[palemask]

eating kids food

oh my! Do not get angry. Stay calm and teach your dog baby the leave it command. Give time to puppy. Boxers figure things out. and are independent. Praise,Praise,Praise. is the ticket for a boxer, when he does leave it and move away from the childrens food, do sit command and reward with a toy or one of his treats. I do not pick up shoes with a new puppy, I know I will have a few chewed., but that is how they learn. I stay calm, pick up chewed shoe or catch it before chewed and still in puppys mouth, say NO SHOOOES!, yes spelled as said, then replace with one of the puppys toys. never anger, Boxers go deaf when yelled at. I refuse to live with my dogs they live with me. I am always training my dogs every day. Good luck. Your children will have a soulmate for life in that puppy who will grow up with them and be a positive experience for life. When they are 40 they will remember that boxer who ate their cheese bugers. .