Hey guys, so I've heard so much from the locals here, a large diverse range of opinions regarding the food/treats issue. Personally I don't let everyone give Lexi treats, however exceptions include my very large family, and my boyfriend who also has a dog. I mean usually strangers don't even offer any, a few have asked and I have told them I don't quite like it when others give her treats, however the other day an older woman with a golden retriever was walking past and just started giving my dog biscuits, not one, like 4 in a matter of one second. I felt really awkward and didn't even tell her I didn't like that, just sort of said we had to go.. What do you guys think of this?
We were walking our puppy one day last week and just as we were about to lift Holly into her car crate, a chap walked over to us with his dog to say hello. After a few minutes of our dogs getting to know each other, I asked if I could give his dog a treat (as I'd just given one to Holly). He was quite happy with the treat being given, but he probably appreciated being asked first.
I will often give a dog a treat, but I always ask the owner first. One person who we often see asks me not to give treats (because her dog gets over-excited at the sight of me). Other dogs I know have food allergies. So I think it is important to always ask. But if someone asks if they can treat Pongo, I always say yes - I see no harm in it and both they and he get pleasure out of it, so it's fine by me. I'd suggest (if someone rudely feeds your dog without asking) you say something like "er...actually he is on a special diet at the moment so I'd rather you didn't...." or similar?
With a younger dog/puppy, I always say no. I angle my body away from them or focus on my dog so it is difficult for them to even engage. I would rather my puppy understood that we didn't engage with everyone we met. Just makes life a bit easier as they get older. I do think, however, sitting on a bench and calmly treating my own puppy as the people walk by is a good idea though, rewarding calm behaviours, and teaching my puppy that it is OK just to sit quietly, even with scary people in hats and cyclists walking past us.
I don't mind a stranger giving Coco a treat as long as they ask first. This gives me a chance to settle him, warn them he might snatch etc. I would step in if someone randomly fed him. Like Rosie said, use the "special diet" excuse if you don't want to seem rude.
Since I've lost a dog in the past from someone tossing poisoned food out, I do not allow my dogs to take treats from others. My last dog would not eat anything from anyone else, including friends and family, until I told him it was okay and thankfully he lived to a ripe old age. I am working on teaching my new pup this same behavior. One day it could save his life.
At a lot of store (esp Home Depot) many of the staff carry dog treats. They always ask, and we always say yes. We pretty much never say no, to any other dog owner that asks.
While I appreciate the sentiment of people who love dogs or have dogs of their own giving my dog a treat, in reality I never like it. It puts you in the awkward position of seeming like an ogre if you refuse. But if you accept and the consequences aren't good, then you're the one that has to deal with the fall out. For example, Brogan had a dodgy tummy, so there was that aspect... I was the one who had to deal with a poor sick dog afterwards and clean up the mess. The biggest problem, though, is the behavioural thing. Right now, my foster dog Carbon goes wacko for anyone giving him treats. He knows to sit and take a treat nicely from me, but he will jump on other people and subsequently push the other dogs gathering around for a treat out of the way. I also have friends who insist on giving treats, but will 'treat' him for the poor behaviour. He's learned that if he jumps on them, they will give him a treat. It's a vicious cycle. Now I just have to leash him (and actively reward him for good behaviour) when around these people. In turn they think I'm "mean". Argh. Even one-off treats have consequences with such a food-driven dog. The postmen here are on bicycles and carry dog treats. ONE TIME a kind postman stopped to admire Carbon and treat him. Now every single postman (and they are everywhere in the old town) means that Carbon wants to stop and longingly stare. Same with delivery vans. ONE TIME a nice delivery person stopped to talk to us and give Carbon a treat. Now Carbon stares into the back of every open delivery van. Finally there's the calorie thing. Carbon has a tendency to put on weight easily, like a lot of Labs. When I'm training, I use tiny bits of low-calorie natural treats, but most of the time other people 'treat' an amount that would be a 1/2 day's allotment of training treats. That means I have to cut his (healthy) dinner or replace his training treats with different rewards. That's my little whinge as this is currently a pet peeve of mine. But I guess I should think of it not as an irritation but as an enhanced training opportunity?
When we are coming home from our morning walk, we stop at the nursing home. At the kitchen door Fred and Annie get treats off the staff. Fred and Annie don't know who will come through the door to them. They meet new people and I found it very useful when they were young. They have to sit and wait their turn for a treat. They have to be gentle mouth too (the dogs not the staff). I just take the treats off their breakfast and they never mind.
