Advice needed for this lovely stray

[jnl0612]

We have adopted (well almost) a lovely stray from the rehoming kennels where we live. (Not UK)
He was found as a stray in January but they think he was dumped as his nature is too good to be a typical stray (strays are a massive issue here)
I he's around 2 and toilet trained, lovely natured and fantastic with the kids
We visited lots and this is our trial before we decide to have him as a member of our family
I really want this to work because he's a lovely little dog.
I always imagined that food would be an issue for him because of him being a stray at some point but how do I get round this ?
He literally chases my kids around jumping up trying to get what they have,tries to get on the table, chair anything he can to get their food.
Should I put him in the kitchen whilst they are eating ?or just carry on telling him no and getting him off whatever he's jumped on to get to them?
I really want this to work out but want to know how to give him the best chance !
He has never been aggressive regarding food just really cheeky and curious about it

[flanjabelle]

I would separate when there is food. If he has been through the situation of having no food, he will always have this part of him imo. It may get a bit better over time as he realises that he will always have enough food, but I wouldn't risk him accidentally biting one of the children to get to the food.

Well done on giving a loving home to a pup who hasn't had the best time.

[MostAmused]

I think to start with you need to separate them when there's food around. The more he practices a behaviour the harder it will be to break the habit. I'm not sure what the best way to break the habit would be though. Perhaps settle him on a mat and give him his own chew. Have you tried posting on the dog training behaviour and advice Facebook page? You'll get free advice from trained behaviourists on there. They also have lots of other information files to look at .

Hope he settles in well with you, he sounds like a lovely dog.

[alwaystryingtobeafriend]

Our rescue is the same. But he has got better. We were doing some crate training to start with. So when we are eating he would go in his crate with his kong.

He always gets fed last too.

6 months in he will still watch every bite but from his bed! We tell him 'bed' and usually he goes.
It takes time but I'd seperate for a while. Dog will learn but you might always have to remind him. X

[LimeJellyHead]

Awwww, that's lovely. Good for you.

I always think as humans we focus a bit too much on saying no to what we don't want the dog to do and can forget to actually show them what we do want them to do

I would fill him treat toy like a Kong or Busy Buddy and give it to him, in his bed and teach him to settle and enjoy that while the family eats. So rather than just saying no to going for human food, show him an alternative - sitting in his own bed with a lovely treat toy to enjoy.

Also, you mention he is chasing the kids around so are they running around with food, in order to avoid him? That could seem like a game to him and will only make the food chase more fun. Get him settled first with his own food toy, as mentioned above, then give the kids their food and no waving it about or getting the dogs attention. Hopefully you can get the dog to ignore the kids and vice versa, while food is around

[tabulahrasa]

I had an ex-stray once and yes food was always a bit of an issue in that you never could leave any food out...or the bin

But he learned to stay in bed while people were eating fairly quickly.

[jnl0612]

Thank you everyone, I'll give it a go.
He's around 2 so not a puppy so it might be a little harder but I'll give it my best shot
He's just so lovely bless him.
I have never really been into little lap dogs but he's just adorable and so good with my kids !
The charity definitely don't think he's a typical Cyprus stray as he's so good natured and would have been dumped. Makes me really cross

[LimeJellyHead]

Na, it'll be easier. Puppies are hard work