For many pet owners, training is an essential part of a dog’s life, whether it’s learning new tricks, reinforcing obedience, or simply building a strong bond. However, a common issue many owners face, especially with puppies or high-energy dogs, is “grabby” behavior—where a dog lunges for treats with a bit too much enthusiasm. This can lead to accidental nipping or grabbing of fingers, which isn’t ideal for you or your dog. Luckily, with some patience and training, you can teach your dog to take treats gently. Here’s how.
Understand Why Dogs Become Grabby with Treats
Before diving into the training exercises, it’s helpful to understand why some dogs develop grabby behavior in the first place. Often, it’s due to:
- Excitement: Dogs can get overly eager and impatient when treats are involved.
- Lack of awareness: Some dogs, especially puppies, don’t yet understand that their teeth can hurt.
- Previous habits: If dogs have been rewarded for taking treats aggressively, they will believe this is acceptable behavior that serves the function. Remember: You get what you pay for.
Understanding the “why” helps you focus on patient, calm methods for changing their behavior. As always, we need to see our dog as in need of information, not as “being a jerk.”
Teach Your Dog to Slow Down
- Hold a treat in your closed hand and present it to your dog.
- Allow your dog to sniff, lick, or nudge, but don’t open your hand if they’re being rough.
- Wait for your dog to either pull back a bit or show a softer approach. Once he/she does, open your hand and present a flat palm with the treat in the middle.
- Allow your dog to take the treat.
- Repeat this exercise every time you hand your dog a treat until you start seeing improvement.
If Necessary, Use an Alternative Treat Delivery
If your dog is especially bad you might consider using an alternative treat delivery. Here are some options:
- A wooden spoon with the treat in it.
- A spatula or other food safe item that puts distance between your hand and your dog’s mouth. Use peanut butter or sqeazy cheese on the end and present it to your dog for a lick to reward.
- Treat tossing is an option, but it sometimes can make excited dogs even more excited. If being too “amped up” is the reason your dog is grabbing, don’t use treat tossing.
Use Flat Palm Treating
Until you have made progress with this, use a flat palm every time you deliver treats. Hold the treat on your open palm and let your dog take it from there. The open palm is generally too large and awkward to end up in the mouth, so the dog must use their tongue to take the treat. This is especially useful for dogs who are new to training or who are naturally a bit mouthy.
As with all training, patience and consistency is key.
Dogs are creatures of habit. The longer your dog has been grabbing your fingers, the longer it will take for the behavior to go away. Dogs thrive with consistent, patient training. Try to remember to keep your hand closed and wait for a gentle mouth every time you hand your dog a treat. In a short time you will find your dog taking treats more carefully.
When to Ask For Help
If your dog is particularly aggressive with treats or shows signs of frustration or even snapping, talk to your trainer. They can help assess any underlying issues and suggest customized training techniques.