What should I say/do about my roommate's dog?

Question

The other night I had made dinner and left it on the stove in the kitchen. While I was eating in the dining room, my roommate's black lab ate the entire pot of food. This also happened to her the other night when she had made a pot roast.

The dog also barks at me everytime I come home. She only half-heartedly reprimands him, like sweetly saying "awww, don't be a bad dog."

When I told her that he had eaten all my dinner, she said, "Well, you're just going to have to stop leaving food out on the stove."

I know pet owners don't like to be told how they should train their pets, but is there anything I can do to stop this problem? I tend to believe that dogs shouldn't be eating food directly off the stove.

For those saying to get a new roommate, this is a temporary living arrangement for the next six months, at which time I'll be looking for another place.

There are actually other pets in the house, but this is the only one causing problems.

Getting rid of/punting the dog off a bridge aren't really options, although throwing a burrito in the face might be.

Norman777, I would understand if I had left the food on the floor or even a coffee table. This was on top of the back burner of the stove. That's where food goes. I refuse to stop cooking on the stove.

Answer 1

Ohhhhh, what a stickey wicket. If you pitch too much of a fit, you have tension in the house. If you do not pitch a fit, your food disappears. Neither seems to be a good choice.

How about some alternatives... Someone already suggested kenneling the dog during meals, which is a very good idea, but from what you have said about your roommate, that doesn't sound likely. How about picking up an inexpensive baby gate and putting it across the kitchen door to keep the dog out. If the dog goes over or through the gate, it would perhaps show the roommate just how out of control the animal is, since you have then made a more than adequate attempt to keep the dog away from the food.

If the situation continues, you also have the option of putting the roommate on notice that if the dog eats your food, she, as the dogs owner, is responsible for reimbursing you for the food of yours that her dog eats. Then the next time it happens, just write up an appropriate bill, keeping the details for yourself as backup, and hand it to her.

i.e. Hamburger helper
Hamburger - $1.99
Mix - $3.67
Discount for portion eaten by you - ($1.89) (if you ate about 1/3 of the dish)
Total reimbursement requested - $3.77

Good Luck!

Answer 2

She needs to take her dog out more often. You are right - people bristle over hearing things like this the same way they would if you told them that their children are misbehaving. If the dog doesn't give a hint about needing to poo/pee she has to train him. Sounds like that didn't happen before. If it did, and this behavior is new, he may be reacting to your dog moving into his house by breaking training. Either way, the solution is the same. Treat him like a puppy that never learned proper housebreaking. She needs to crate train him if she is not supervising him. When he comes out of the crate, he gets taken outside until he does something. In the house, he stays on a leash and she keeps him with her. When he goes outside, he gets high praise, loving and treats. Try playing with him as a reward. When he goes inside (and this part she got right) you don't react at all. Clean it up, but no coddling, no pets, nothing. Of course, this is something she needs to do. You will have to sit down and talk about this with her if you are going to have any peace in the house. Tell her that you are concerned that your arrival has caused her dog to break training and make the suggestions above to help her get back in control. I believe in crate training, so I'm not going to fault you there, but if the dog is destroying pillows, then A) he is not exercised enough and/or B) there are not enough dog-safe chew toys to keep him busy. Labs are notorious for being very high energy and needing lots of discipline and activity. He needs to learn something fun that will exhaust him, like frisbee or flyball, or just a stiff game of fetch on a regular basis. I have a border collie and went through this. If it wasn't for frisbee 4-5 times a week when he was young, I wouldn't have a house left. He's quite young yet, and needs to burn off this energy. Not to mention being outside will help the poo/pee problem as well. Good luck. EDIT: I just read your other question, and I wanted to add something. DON'T yell at the dog. Seriously. There is a thing called 'submissive urination'. Its a behavior where a dog urinates as a sign of submission to you. When you yell or act angry, the dog can interpret that as not being submissive enough, so clearly more pee is needed! Never show anger during these accidents. But your roommate is going to have to take the lead in this since it's her dog. If she's stubborn, you might have to suggest that right now, her dog is the one in charge and winning the battle. She has to stubbornly follow the tips above, and not let the dog win.

Answer 3

both your roomate and the dog is disrespetctful. what were the terms when you started your rooming with this person. was the dog part of the deal? if it is then you may have to find urslef a better residence. you need to explain that the dog needs to be behaved in the house. and if the dog cannot be behaved then dog and roomate need to go. as far as it barking and or growling at you, that could pose a possible dangerous situation. the dog sees you as a lower member on the dominate chain ( and that should never happen in a human to animal relationship) you may could suggest that you and the dog go for training together so you can learn how to establish alpha. can you put something up in the kitchen doorway to keep him forom entering the kitchen? a little imagination but never subject the dog to abuse. the sweet little " ohh sweeeety dont do that" from the owner is not acceptable. you two need to sit down ( if the dog will let ya) and talk about solutions. i had a roomate from hades while in college and she bought a dog against the lease agreement and i had to enforce her out by legal eviction. i have two dogs that i have had for 12 years. it was hard finding houses and apartments that would allow me to bring them in. i put a lot of time in trianing them to be bahved. not once, have i gotten a complaint about them. i like to think that your roomate would be responsible too and do the right thing.

Answer 4

SPANK THE DOG!!! I personally would have left a door "accidentally" open and if the dog gets out, then he gets out... Because "well" The dog should have known better than to run outside. Just like YOU should have known better than to leave a pot of food on your own stove! I hate when dog owners Or parents dont repremand their Pets/Kids enough and then they are unruly due to it. Good luck!

Answer 5

That dog does need some better training....however you are going to have to convice the owner of that....A good dog will never touch food unless given to them....I could sit a dog treet on the coffee table and go to bed...it would still be there in the morning....If it hits the floor its fair game...but never off the tables or counters. You need to talk to your roommate about this...if they choose not to do anything you might just have to deal, or move....Its up to the owner....

Answer 6

Maybe when your roommate is away, all of her food (and some of yours too) might fall out of the fridge and be eaten and thrown all over the kitchen by her angel. (just be gone when she gets home). That may show her that her precious pup isn't the angel she thinks it is.

I agree that the dog needs to be trained. It is not healthy for a dog to eat people food, and can be dangerous.

Answer 7

That's ridiculous. Tie the dog to a door knob or put it in a crate while you cook or eat. I have to do that with our dog when I am babysitting my granddaughter because he will steal food right from her hand. Some dogs can't be trained so they have to be restrained at times.

Answer 8

Well.. she is right.. you should not be leaving food out where a dog can get to it...If I was the girlfriend.. I would stick with the dog since she loves her dog and glad she does by the way... so if you are not happy with that... you should move on

Answer 9

that roommate of yours needs to be trained at how to train her dog . The dogs behavior and the roommates is deplorible. I have NEVER had ANY dog take my food nor would i tolerate it from a "friend's dog"! I feel your anger ...i would be hell bent on teaching them both some manners!!!

Answer 10

you have to go back to the agreement you and your roommate had to begin with. She didn't just sneak this dog in on you, right? Talk to her about it and tell her how you feel, maybe she'll see that she need to look after her dog a little more.