Dog Training Tip: Dog Misbehaves During Mealtime
Question from Donelda Damasco:
Our Yorkie steals our dinner napkins off our laps during our meal. He actually acts violent if we try to retrieve them. He is extremely friendly and well behaved at all other times. But we are afraid that he might actually bite someone if they try to take the napkin. Other than cage him during mealtimes, we are at a loss as to what to do.
Advice from Cesar’s good friend and dog trainer Cheri Lucas:
Your Yorkie’s behavior is most likely a symptom of his perception of a lack of leadership and boundaries in your home. Any time we welcome a dog into our home, we must be clear that with that invitation, come rules and boundaries. After all, you’re providing your Yorkie with food, shelter, veterinary care, exercise and affection. It’s certainly not too much to ask that in return, he respect his human pack when they are eating!
To turn this situation around, claim your dining area as an area only for you and your guests. He needs to respect the space around your table. Be aware of his state of mind as you begin to set your table and begin the process of dining. Since this has become a habitual practice, his level of excitement probably begins long before the “napkin-stealing” behavior. By addressing the behavior BEFORE it escalates to theft, you avoid having to take the napkin away from him, which could result in a bite.
One way to do this would be to teach him the “place” command using a mat or dog pillow positioned several feet from your dining room table. Several times a day, practice sending your dog to his “place.” Refer to my article Teaching a Dog the "Place" Command.
Once your Yorkie is solid on this command, position him on his bed (place) where he can be in the vicinity of his pack (you and your guests) but not near the table and high-value objects, in this case, napkins! Once your Yorkie understands this principle, it will be very easy for you to get him to retreat from this situation or any other in the future! Good luck!!
