My dog is 4 years old and i only got him a few months ago. Before we got him he was nearly starved to death. He keeps going into cupboards and eating things out of them. The other day he went into our understairs cupboard, got into a draw and ate a full christmas cake. Just before he got into the cupboard and ate a tub of gravy granules, 2 pot noodles, a tub of pasta and a box of spagetti. I don't know what to do with him. I understand that he is only doing this as this was his only way to get food at his old home. Any ideas on what to do?
( P.S he knows how to get the lid off a bottle, before i gave him an empty bottle to play with. He didn't try to get into it to get the drops of coke, he just unscrewed the top then went away and lef the bottle!)
Help?!?!?
Thanks,
2006-12-23 07:39:09 · 22 answers · asked by Babe, pig in the city ;) 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
You'll have to baby proof your cabinets love. Spray handles with a pet training aid called "bitter apple" its safe for dogs, but leaves a nasty taste in their mouths to help them quit rummaging for food. Perhaps you could invest in one of those dog food bowls that auto fills itself, this way when your pet can no longer get into the cabinets he does not freak out.
2006-12-23 07:42:54 · answer #1 · answered by Destiny 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Get some of the cupboard door locks that are used to keep toddlers out of cabinets. Lock any doors that can be locked. You might want to crate him at night, if that is when he raids the food.
It will probably take a while for him to learn that he is never going to starve again. I had a cocker spaniel who had been starved, and he went through the kitchen garbage can every night for a year, and strewed it all over the floor, until he finally learned that he was always going to be fed, no matter what! We never had any problem after that.
It's not much use scolding him, because he has never known any other type of life. It will help if you can free feed him. He might initially gobble his food down, but once he knows there is always food available, he will have no reason to raid the cupboards.
If you can't free feed for any reason, then it might be a good idea to crate train him. It's a good idea to have him crate trained anyway, in case you have to be out, or if he ever has to be crated for medical reasons.
2006-12-23 07:49:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chill out why dont you go on the computer and go to ask.com and type in My dog is 4 years old and i only got him a few months ago. Before we got him he was nearly starved to death. He keeps going into cupboards and eating things out of them. The other day he went into our understairs cupboard, got into a draw and ate a full christmas cake. Just before he got into the cupboard and ate a tub of gravy granules, 2 pot noodles, a tub of pasta and a box of spagetti. I don't know what to do with him. I understand that he is only doing this as this was his only way to get food at his old home. Any ideas on what to do?
( P.S he knows how to get the lid off a bottle, before i gave him an empty bottle to play with. He didn't try to get into it to get the drops of coke, he just unscrewed the top then went away and lef the bottle!)
2006-12-23 07:45:42 · answer #3 · answered by Shayha 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
He is very resourceful! As you say, he was starved and this is the way he is because of that terrible experience.
Over time - it may take years, he will learn that food is no longer scarce and he won't panic about finding and eating everything he can - but in the meantime you must preserve your stocks and supplies!
Fit child safety locks on kitchen cupboards and restrict him to rooms without temptation when you are not around to supervise.
2006-12-23 22:13:25 · answer #4 · answered by PetLover 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend buying latches for your cupboards. They sale them most everywhere in the baby section. They are easy to install and will be almost impossible for your dog to get past. Make sure you keep all food off the counters. Watch him at all times and if you can't watch him, crate him. If you catch him stealing food, sternly tell him no. He'll learn sooner or later. Good luck and thanks for giving this little guy another chance at a better life.
2006-12-23 07:44:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put child proof latches on the cupboard doors, you can find them at Home Depot and probably Walmart type stores. Smart dog!
2006-12-23 07:48:07 · answer #6 · answered by leslie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Take a video of him opening the coke bottle and send it in to dog food company's maybe you can make an Ad.!!!
2006-12-23 07:42:23 · answer #7 · answered by JAM123 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try placing a bowl of dry dog food where he can have it any time he wants it, when he gets into "people" food tell him NO in a firm voice, try not to spank him as he was probably abused, pick him up or lead him to his dish and firmly tell him this is his, and then let him know he is a good dog.
2006-12-23 07:46:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
your dog may have nervous issues. We had a beagle once that every time we left her home she would trash the house.
I would recommend making the house safe for your hound. It will be better if He doesn't eat something that will do him serious harm.
P.S. our dog takes the lids off of Mountain Dew bottles!
2006-12-23 07:51:26 · answer #9 · answered by lysrider 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you try and get some of those child proofing things to keep him out of the places that you don't want him in. Leave food out for him and don't let him have anything else but the food you allow him to have.
2006-12-23 07:43:02 · answer #10 · answered by tragedys_eyes 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋