Training your dog with an exit command and food refusal: why these are important training tools

Using an exit command will give you much more control over what your dog eats and sniffs when he’s walking down the street. You can also use it at home or in any situation. The exit command is essentially a word that tells your dog not to smell or eat anything and is the first step in training food refusal. There is usually no hand signal involved in this type of training because it will most likely be used when you are walking and since your dog may be on a leash, he will not have his hands free.

Why should I use an exit command?

An exit command is a very useful tool to have in your dog’s training toolkit because it is easy to train and can be used in a variety of situations. It is also very important because it can prevent your dog from eating something that could make him sick or choke him.

How do I start training an output command?

Choose the word you want to use – some trainers use the word ‘exit’. You can do one or both of the following. For the best and fastest results, do both and have someone help you when training food refusal. When you’re outside and your dog goes to sniff or eat something off the ground, tell him ‘go’ and keep walking. Don’t give your dog a chance to get to him anyway by quickly walking away. Since this is a way of capturing, it will take some time because you trust there is something on the ground. The second method is better because you are in full control and can practice it at any time.

Choose a food that your dog likes and leave a very small pile on the floor. Put your dog on a leash and walk alongside the food. Walk close enough that he can smell you, but not so close that he can reach you. Give the command to leave just as your dog goes for the food. In all good training time is everything. Your dog needs to understand what you want right away. You need to interrupt his behavior as soon as it starts.

When you walk by, praise your dog. If you want to use treats to reward him, wait until you are five steps away. Your dog needs to learn that he is being rewarded for putting the food down and walking away, so putting a small distance between the treat and the food on the ground will reinforce this.

REFUSAL OF FOOD

Food refusal can save your dog from eating poisonous food or overeating. Training food refusal can take a long time depending on your dog’s appetite and with some breeds like Labradors it needs constant practice and reminders.

Before you start food refusal, choose an ‘eat’ command. Some people use ‘eat’ and others ‘OK’. Any word you choose has to be different from any other words you use for your training.

Put your dog on a leash and have him sit. Ask someone to come up to him and offer him some treats. It is important that you keep your dog seated and only leave treats when you tell them to. If he learns forward and stands up, command him to sit again and ask the person with the food to move away. When he can sit down and wait for your order to eat, then he will have learned what you want. Now you have to practice and start to make your training more intense.

Remember: always give your dog or puppy a chance to correct their behavior and do the right thing. It is up to you to teach him what is acceptable and what is not. Reward acceptable behavior; discourage unacceptable behavior by using unpleasant loud noises, withdrawing attention or treats, or leaving your puppy alone. Never hit or hit your puppy; You are just teaching him that violence is acceptable behavior in his pack and that he can use it on other pack members or friends, including children.