Dog taking/hounding food with my 15-month old

I have now 8 dogs and 5 grandkids from 3 to 9 yrs all of whom were born into our home.   You have to set your boundries NOW.   Crate or Put your boy outside when she has a meal.     Is she still being fed in a highchair??  If not Why?  And you have to understand she is too young to understand no no don't feed the dog when he adores her so much for doing it. 

If she is in her high chair put him in a down stay.    Period.    If he gets up , return him. It is not being punative it is being consistant for both. If she tosses a cookie on the floor pick it up...do not allow him to become a Hoover for you.

My Grands are pretty awesome the biggest still weighs considerably less than any of my Ridgebacks.   And they will wander with food.... so the rule is IF you ( the child) wander and do not pay attention G'ma does not want ot hear it when one of the dogs snags your treat. 

Even My 22 pound 3 year old pixie of a grand can walk through the crowed hallway with a piece of fried Chicken in one hand and the other up telling the dogs to back off!!  They listen and as a rule will only steal when out of my sight.   My Hounds are crated for every family meal.  But with 9 people living in my home it would be near impossible to have them crated for every snack, quick bite or stolen cookies...

Just be consistant. If you do not want him seeing her as a tiny Food ATM  don't let her become one.

Good Luck

Bonita of Bwana

I agree with Bonita (and also have RR's and twin humans). Around 12 months, food started being thrown on the ground and dogs played fetch with babies and both parties very happy. I would say no and try to stop it, but no real success. Then my daughter started handing her food to the dog then drew it back. That was the end of dogs being near the table when they were eating because my fear was the dog would (understandably) snap at the child. DOgs went behind a baby gate and watched.

At times, my kids wander around with snacks. Dogs will not poach if in my sight. Out of my sight, they will poke at the child with their noses. Kids know that if they clutch food and say no, the dogs will back off. THey also know if they let the dog get the food, its too bad so sad the snack is gone and no more.

I have let the dogs clean up the floor after the kids eat and also give them the leftovers. We are transitioning soon to a grain free diet, so that will probably change.  Do remember it is easier to set limits now when behavior starts. I have this fear if the dog nips the kid who needs medical care, the child may have a scar/phobia of dogs, the dog may be quarantined, and Child Protective Services may pay you a visit--in many states the doctor is mandated by law to report.

 Agnes

 My baby is 17 months old.  He must sit in his high chair, or up to the table in his booster seat for meals.  Snacks MUST be eaten sat in one of thise places OR on "his" mat on the floor.  Occasionally, he has sat on someones lap with a snack, but the basic message is: you sit down nicely when you eat.  He is not allowed to walk around with food in his hand.

The dogs are usually crated while he eats.  They have reached a point now where they are fairly trustworthy, but I STILL crate them.  This is a potentially dangerous situation, even for the most good natured dogs.  Child drops food, dog thinks its fair game, child reaches down to take food at the same time dog does.... the dog MIGHT catch the baby with his teeth, or he may even learn at this point to resource guard, where he hadn't previously.

There is NOTHING WRONG with segregating dogs and kids at key times, to keep them all safe.  To be totally honest I'm not sure it's even fair to expect a dog, much less a lab or lab mix, to sit idly by and ignore all that delicious food thats moving about right within his reach!  Pick your battles.... this is only an issue if you make it so.

Chuffy

 My baby is 17 months old.  He must sit in his high chair, or up to the table in his booster seat for meals.  Snacks MUST be eaten sat in one of thise places OR on "his" mat on the floor.  Occasionally, he has sat on someones lap with a snack, but the basic message is: you sit down nicely when you eat.  He is not allowed to walk around with food in his hand.

The dogs are usually crated while he eats.  They have reached a point now where they are fairly trustworthy, but I STILL crate them.  This is a potentially dangerous situation, even for the most good natured dogs.  Child drops food, dog thinks its fair game, child reaches down to take food at the same time dog does.... the dog MIGHT catch the baby with his teeth, or he may even learn at this point to resource guard, where he hadn't previously.

There is NOTHING WRONG with segregating dogs and kids at key times, to keep them all safe.  To be totally honest I'm not sure it's even fair to expect a dog, much less a lab or lab mix, to sit idly by and ignore all that delicious food thats moving about right within his reach!  Pick your battles.... this is only an issue if you make it so.

This is good advice, and I would also teach the dog "leave it" and a good recall, too.  That way, in the event you forget to contain the dog, you can still intervene verbally.