Suddenly going for food

[Enko]

We have a 2.5-year-old basset hound.

He has never been fed from the table and we do not allow him to beg at the table. This has not ever been an issue with him and he usually gets a small treat settles down with this and then after he is done he snoozes on the floor.

We moved in July 21 and there was no change in this behaviour though he was very clingy and really upset by the move he has now settled and is his usual self most of the time.

In the last 3-4 months he has started going for food at the table. We can not leave it for a moment without he swipes for it (and for a basset hound he is surprisingly fast) today he went for (and got a hold of) the fish bones from the breakfast kippers.. We got a hold of him and got the bones out of his mouth and he was put outside for the remainder of the cleanup/ breakfast

What can we do to change this? We have been using " off" and stepping in front of him blocking him with our body when he tries to go up to the table/countertop this is beginning to have effect as he will at times respond to " off" (he is a basset hound they are slow for training) however the food is becoming a real problem.

he is on Butternut box and we have upped it to 600Gr for his 27 kilos as we wondered if his regular walks and daycare during the week was making him hungrier. He still gets plenty of treats and responds well to treats and positive behaviour but it seems to not make a difference with the food.

The best way is to just prevent access - I have a beagle and he's a bloody nightmare around food

He was in the vets yesterday after he ate an entire box of Bakewell tarts including the tin foil cases and plastic wrapper

Bassets are like many scent hounds and their noses are so powerful that sometimes they just can't listen to reason.

At times food needs to be out on the table as we are eating we are working on " preventing access" but it is not like we are leaving food out alone for hours for him to not take. The fish bones had been on the table for less than 3 mins when he went for them.

I would just not allow him in the room while you're eating if he can't be trusted not to steal food - I think with breeds like Bassets and beagles, you do have to sometimes take the "easy" way out - they are scent dogs and no amount of training will override their noses.

If he takes something that's bad for him it could cost you a fortune in vets bills - either to make him sick or because he's given himself a blockage somewhere. I paid £100 yesterday to get mine to vomit up what he stole - the most expensive box of Bakewell tarts I've ever bought

In general you can work on impulse control, but I would start doing that with his treats or toys rather than jumping straight in to expecting him to resist something as delicious as fish bones!

We are having similar issues with our 5 month old malamute, he is so big he can reach all surfaces so we have a gate for when we are cooking, we actually have an open plan kitchen/lounge but the entrance to the cooking area is now gated off. He doesn't even try to get in.

That's fine when we're cooking but he's a nightmare when we're eating. He will try and steal from our plates and he's so big and strong! He has a lickimat and will seem really engrossed then suddenly goes at full speed to where we're eating. He is a nightmare when out also as will just want to grab any food he can. I'm finding it really upsetting and stressful. He's extremely strong so I need to sort it before he's any bigger.

We are trying ignoring him but making sure he can't get to our food then using positive reinforcement when he's showing the correct behaviour ie all 4 paws on the floor and not looking towards any of the food. Just hoping consistency with it will pay off and him on lead where there is food! Our trainer has just stayed with him for a week whilst we're on holiday and couldn't fix it in that time so I think it'll take a while.

@PugInTheHouse you need to shut him out of the room while you eat and break the habit.

No amount of positive reinforcement will work when he's able to grab food - the reward of forbidden human food is never going to be beaten by whatever you have to offer, unfortunately. I speak from experience!

Out and about, short lead and a muzzle to break the habit.

Thanks Sunsets. Will shut him outside going forward.

Ours stopped this as suddenly as he started and these days has his treat as we start eating then comes and lays under the table until we are finished. Was a right pain whilst it was happening though.

.bassets 😶. Do love him though 😍