Much to your chagrin, the dog may consider the garbage pail to be an endless source of delicious food. Dogs really like human food - even what is thrown away. Your faithful friend may be very excited and curious about rummaging through the trash. Of course, eating from the garbage can is a very unwelcome behavior, but luckily there are several things you can do to stop him from rummaging through the garbage.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Making Garbage Unwelcome or Inaccessible
Step 1. Prevent the dog from accessing the garbage can
There are many ways to do this, for example you can keep the bin in the kitchen in a closed cabinet. However, if the pet has found a way to open the door, it may be necessary to install child resistant locks on the handle.
- In the other rooms of the house, you can put small baskets at an unreachable height for the dog, for example above the cupboard.
- You can possibly completely block access to a room where you put your buckets or rubbish bins by closing the door or installing baby gates.
- Also consider using buckets that have a lid that your dog can't open. Those that open by pedal are not good, because the animal can understand the mechanism and open them; look for bins from the dog's point of view to determine which model is harder or easier.
Step 2. Make the bin unwelcome
A typical way to correct your faithful friend's misbehavior is to make the garbage container unwelcome; make it a punitive environment to discourage bad behavior. There are deterrent devices on the market that you can install near the bucket to deter the dog; one of them is similar to a mousetrap, which snaps loudly into the air when the animal steps on it.
- You can also put a device near the dustbin that activates with movement and releases a puff of compressed air when your furry friend approaches.
- You can also find a mat that causes a small electric shock when the dog walks on it.
- Creating a punitive environment is the most effective way to discipline an animal that has learned to rummage through the litter when the owner is not around.
- Although this method does not cause physical injury, it should not be used with individuals who are naturally hyperactive or anxious; if your wagging friend exhibits these characteristics, a sudden shock, a puff of air, or a loud bang could make him even more intimidated.
Step 3. Make sure he always has food available
Perhaps the dog sneaks through household waste because he is hungry. Offer him several small meals a day so that he is always full enough to not feel the need to look for more food in the garbage can. If you are dieting to make him lose weight, consider talking to your vet about setting up a meal plan that will allow him to always feel satisfied without gaining weight.
- If you are away from home most of the time and can't feed them, blocking them from accessing the bin is probably the best method.
- Keep in mind that some dogs cannot tell when they are full and never stop eating; do not feed this type of specimen until it spontaneously stops eating, as it would become obese.
Step 4. Make sure she gets regular physical and mental activity
Even if not hungry, the dog may be tempted to look for food in the garbage can out of boredom; from his perspective, the different smells coming out of the bin can make him feel happily busy. In order not to get bored, you need to allow him to do a lot of physical exercise, taking him for a walk and playing with him; if he is well trained, you can also take him to a dog park, letting him run around freely and interact with his other fellows.
Give him toys to distract himself with and keep busy when you are not at home
Method 2 of 3: Teach him the "Release" command
Step 1. Hold a delicious treat in a fisted hand
The "Leave" command teaches the dog to stay away from the garbage pail. When you have a treat in your hand, the animal tends to smell and touch your hand with its paw; he may also start barking or whimpering in hopes of getting food. When he loses interest in the treat - presumably within a couple of minutes - open your hand, immediately say "Yes" and give him the treat.
- Keep your fist open, say "Yes" and offer him food every three or four repetitions of the exercise; the aim is to teach him that he should only leave when you say: "Leave".
- Keep training him this way until he learns not to pick up the treat when you say "Let go."
Step 2. Teach him to look at you when you give him the treat
Hold the food in your closed hand and say, "Leave". Instead of putting his paw on his hand, the dog will look at you waiting for you to say "Yes"; as soon as he looks at you, open your hand, immediately say "Yes" and give him the treat. Perhaps you need to repeat this exercise several times before your pet learns that it is necessary to look you in the eye to get the treat after the "Drop" command.
Also, looking towards you, it takes your attention away from whatever it is tempting to eat
Step 3. Put the candy on the floor
Choose another type of delicious food and put it on the ground - it should be something he likes, but it doesn't have to be his favorite treat; this performs the function of "bait". When you put it on the ground, say "Let go" and cover the morsel with your hand; meanwhile, hold her favorite treat in the other hand. When the dog loses interest in the hidden bait, remove it from the floor, immediately say "Yes" and give him the food you are holding in your other hand.
- Make sure he doesn't eat the "bait" food; if he does manage to reach him, show him the tastiest food he could have eaten had he not taken the one on the ground.
- Challenge him by holding your hand 6 inches above the bait. This "test" tests his ability to forgo the bait on the floor, even when it is clearly visible and easily accessible.
- Repeat the exercise until you learn to resist the temptation to eat ground food, choosing instead to look yourself in the eye and wait for the "Yes" command.
Step 4. Say "Leave" as he approaches the dustbin
You have to say this when you see him approaching the garbage can. By this point in training, the dog should have learned to look you in the eye to receive the treat, instead of reaching for some food they shouldn't eat (in this case, something in the bucket). Reward him with a treat every time he comes back by walking away and looking at you.
Method 3 of 3: Teach him the "Go" Command
Step 1. Clap your hands and say "Go"
If you catch your dog in the act while rummaging through the garbage, clap your hands and at the same time say "Go" in an authoritative tone. Then, carefully grab him by the collar and pull him away from the dustbin; this is an important command to say when you notice him with "his paws in the sack". If you do not intervene immediately, for example, you act when it is already eating the food it has removed from the bucket, the animal may get confused and not understand why you are punishing it; such confusion could also lead to him being more afraid of you and your punishments.
You will have to repeat the "Go" command and clap your hands several times before the animal learns not to snout in the garbage
Step 2. Say "Go" without clapping your hands
This is an alternative technique, which involves giving the command and calling the animal close to you; reward him with a treat when he approaches. You can use this method to discourage their misbehavior by distracting them with something more rewarding.
You will probably have to repeat this training several times when you see him approaching the garbage; eventually, he will learn that it is more satisfying to walk away from the bin than to get closer
Step 3. Put some strong smelling food on the lid of the bucket
If you know what food he particularly likes to look for in the bin, place a piece on top of the bucket itself; say "Via" and reward him when he gets close to you. After several (or many) repetitions, the dog will eventually learn that he has to get away from the bucket, even when there is something good in it.
Advice
- Teach your furry friend to stay away from the trash can from a puppy age.
- Don't rip food out of his mouth if you see him chewing on something he took from the bin. Instead of experiencing the gesture as a punishment, the dog only learns to ingest the food more quickly, so that you cannot take it away from him.
- As a last resort, consider putting a muzzle on him. Some models, such as Baskerville, allow the animal to drink and snort but not to eat, so they are not cruel models.
- If he continues to scavenge for food even after training him properly, consider taking him to the vet or a behaviorist for further advice.
Warnings
- The food in the trash can may contain pathogens that are potentially dangerous to your furry friend's health. If he starts to feel sick after eating the food you threw away, take him to the vet.
- Chicken bones can cause severe damage to the animal's intestinal tract, which may require surgery.
