Poisoned meat

[carib]

How can I teach my pup NOT to eat any food she founds???
I have many training books but any of them talks about this subjet.

Were I live some people enjoy poisoning other people's dog. I live in a second floor apt with a big and nice terrace. I use to have it always open but now I am scared somebody can throw poisoned food and Roxy may eat it. I don't think is fair to close that area to Roxy, she loves to play in the terrace and watch the moviment outside. I have a friend used to train police dogs in France and he has an e-collar. He suggest to put it on her and he will throw some meat from outside and when she goes... well, basically, he wants to shock her so bad she will never try again. I DON'T LIKE THIS IDEA. I found it too cruel, but is worst to think she can be poisoned. I desperatly will try any other system. She knows "leave it" and "drop" but will only do it when I am there and she knows she will get treats.

[lblax]

ive never really seen anyone that has had repeated succses in teaching food refusal....sorry and i wouldnt try the ecollar for this

[Bucky's Mom]

That is a terrible thing to have to worry about :( - I will look through my books and see if they address this issue

[Bucky's Mom]

Here is a link

http://www.sardogs.com/training_tricks.htm

They have tips on teaching food refusal - but I wouldn't bet my dogs life on learning a trick :(

[carib]

Thanks Iblax, I am afraid you may be right... and thanks Lisa, but I already did a lot of research and couln't find nothing...

[Bucky's Mom]

There ARE ways - Police Dogs are taught not to accept food from strangers - but it takes a LOT of work - maybe Judi W or Mick Trainer can be of assistance

[lblax]

there are many sites on the net and you can do a lot of resurch on it but there is only limited succses just to many things(food items) and too many ways it can be presented to them.... but being how you are only worried about eating something that is on your terrace that may be accomplished but it would never be reliable enough to bet your dog on it.. if you feel theres a problem and your not there you better just keep roxie closed in while your away

[Bucky's Mom]

Perhaps Larry should come to the West Indies and sit and guard your balcony for you :)

[lblax]

Originally Posted by Bucky's Mom

Perhaps Larry should come to the West Indies and sit and guard your balcony for you :)

that sounds and looks like a wondrful idea

[Bucky's Mom]

See how unselfish Rott.Net members are!!! - Larry in FROZEN Indiana is willing to sacrifice and go to the tropical West Indies to help a fellow member - I am overwhelmed :)

[carib]

The thing is that Roxy's crate is like the plastic airplane one, (extra-large) I couldn't find the wire kind here and not even Upco mails those things here. So now she is fine there, but whe she grows is going to be too small and too hot for her if she has to stay a few hours, so I was thinking in the terrace as an alternate for the crate. Normally she goes EVERYWERE with me, but sometimes I just can't. So I don't want to give up so easily the possibility of have the terrace as her personal play room.

[carib]

ok, I put a sofa bed for Larry in the terrace too. Maybe even a cooler!!!

[spidey]

I very much doubt you can train this, you'd be trying to train out a fundamental instinct (dogs are opportunistic feeders), and as a general rule classical conditioning (the intriniscally rewarding fact of eating meat) always trumps operant conditioning (any reward or punishment you can give is going to be less powerful than the meat, especially if you're not there). A good solid "leave it" is invaluable, but only works when you're there (as does, I suspect, the police dog training).

[lblax]

Originally Posted by carib

ok, I put a sofa bed for Larry in the terrace too. Maybe even a cooler!!!

hopefully a bottomless cooler!!!!!!!! like the one from rottstock

[Bucky's Mom]

OK - let us think OUTSIDE the box - can you put up some kind of barrier in the form of shades or blinds for the balcony that would make throwing poison up ther more difficult

Like vertical aluminum blinds - or plastic strip blinds ???