The structured feeding routine

Duke has been controlling his owners lives and home with his obnoxious bad behaviour and subsequent anxieties just like a temper tantruming little kid who doesn’t have consistent daily routine (naps/meals/learn/exercise are the kid version).

Now dogs are NOT kids and they are not humans, they are DOGS and they need to be fulfilled, treated and honoured as dogs but I find the nap time comparison to a kid is an easy way to help folks understand why routine and structure are so important for the anxious dog and how life literally becomes a nightmare for the adults when kids don’t get the kid version of structure (routine naps/meals/learn/exercise) and anxious dogs don’t get the dog version of structure (crate time/rules/boundaries/feeding and safety protocols/accountability/exercise/etc.). In this video, I’m chatting about one of the ways I’m helping Duke be less anxious by structuring his meal times and eliminating his old fussy controlling food bad habits.

The general waiting for food exercise:
1/ If your dog is crate trained then feed in the crate and if he/she isn’t crate trained then feed in a safe/secure area where the dog can eat undisturbed once given permission to dig in.

2/ Have the dog sit, put the bowl down. If the dog moves towards the food, just pick the bowl straight up. Repeat this until the dog remains sitting and waiting after the bowl is down.

3/ Once the dog gives a courteous pause (this only needs to be a few seconds but the dog MUST be committed to waiting patiently for further instructions) then release him/her to eat, I say ‘break’ or ‘go ahead’.

4/ Close and latch the crate door and walk away, or if the dog isn’t crate trained still walk away and allow the dog to eat in peace.

5/ If after 20 minutes the dog hasn’t touched his/her food, pick up the bowl and reoffer it at the next scheduled meal time (no free feeding).

6/ DO NOT stick your hands in the dogs dish while he/she is eating.
DO NOT do not hover around the dog while he/she is eating
DO NOT allow kids or other pets to bother the dog while he/she is eating
DO NOT do not hover around the dog while he/she is eating
DO NOT allow kids or other pets to bother the dog while he/she is eating
DO NOT harass the dog while he/she is eating... all these bad ideas create conflict and really dangerous behaviour!

7/ Once the rules, boundaries, and structure at meal times are established CONSISTENTLY continue feeding the dog according to the feeding protocol