Puppy Training from the Beginning

You can do a number of things to establish that you are in control of the food. Always ask your puppy to sit and leave it before allowing him to eat from his bowl. You should begin teaching him the basic sit and leave it commands as soon as you bring him home, if only to use them at mealtime. Later, you can incorporate these commands into the rest of his training regimen. The leave it command is different than the stay command in that it is used to prevent your dog from moving toward or taking an object. Asking him to leave a food or toy item reinforces that you make the decisions about what he eats or plays with and helps keep him safe. Puppies should never be allowed to eat scraps on the ground or floor without your permission.

Reprinted from The Original Dog Bible © 2005. Permission granted by BowTie Press.

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