advice on my chomper?

[Lemon]

Hey guys. Lemon has forgotten how to have a soft mouth for taking treats. She's turned into a little chomper! We were at the pet store today, and the owner bent down to give her a piece of dehydrated chicken -- and got nipped in the process.

I don't want to have to say "gentle," nor do I want to have to cup the treat in my hand a certain way. Both of those work, but I want her to gently take a treat no matter who's feeding it to her. For the time being, I'm refusing to give her one 'til she soft mouths it. Any other thoughts?

[Imon]

Are you having her sit before offering her a treat? That might help. Would at least make her stop and think before she grabs at the treat.

Do you have any idea what caused the behavior change? If you can pinpoint a cause, it might be easier to correct it. What did she do when you corrected her at the pet store? Did it seem to slow her down or did she still want the chicken? And does she do it for all treats, or just extra-special ones, or ones she doesn't get often? Has she been around more dogs than usual lately? Maybe she's learned you have to protect your interests if there is competition around.

Maybe she's developing that super-model attitude because of all the posing she's done (and done very well, too, I have to say! She's beautiful, but we've all been saying that for a while). Please, Lemon, don't turn into the Naomi Campbell of the Village!

[Lemon]

Perhaps she *is* turning into a diva.

It seems every month, Lemon becomes more and more food obsessed. The chomping is new, and it happens with treats that she loves or doesn't get often. It also happens when she's overstimulated. At the store, both situations were present. The owner was down on the floor, playing with Lemon, making all sorts of high-pitched noises. She offered her one treat -- a brand we buy all the time -- and Lemon took that nicely. But the next one was the chicken... *chomp*! I made my corrective noise, but she chomped at the next treat, too. At that point, I asked the owner not to give her any more.

The whole time, she never broke her sit -- she does that automatically for treats or any food. I just want to make sure we get this under control, since we're hoping to make her a therapy pug soon.

[Imon]

Would putting her in a stay help?

When Otto was a puppy, I trained him to "sit-stay" and ignore any treat that was put on the floor in front of him until I gave him a release command. We don't do it much any more, just enough to make sure he doesn't forget the behavior.

Do you think doing something like that for a few weeks might inhibit the chompiness?

[Lola's Mom]

Lola becomes a pirahna (sp?) around cheese and now that I feed her chicken oh my god...she bites my finger off!

She has become a very fast eater since I had to put her on the prescription canned food that I sprinkle with chicken. Also when I feed her and her friend Riley she will finish first and cirlce him and stalk him while he is eating. I have to watch her like a hawk. I believe this behavior started when I fostered my first 2 pugs.

[eclecticmk]

Whenever Molly gets chomping I give her a long treat - like a carrot and make her eat it out of my hand sllllowwwly. With her it tends to slow her down again and be more gentle. I always say gently while she eats it. Not sure though if she remembers the command or not.

[Puggie Baby]

We tell Tonka "gentle" when he seems to be too aggressive when coming after a treat. That makes him take it with his lips and front teeth more slowly, instead of your fingers with treat attached down his throat.

[tall grass pugs]

Ceylon, here. We do have an outstanding account on the beta tape shipped to the east coast---"Chomp, not Chew...."

[Pugweiser]

Frito is a chomper too! I cant seem to stop it either.

[LuckysMommy]

Lucky went through that... i just refused to give it to him until he took it "soft" i got chomped in the process, but when he would take it soft, he got it... now he's much better. its funny though, cuz all i hafta say now is "lucky... soooooooooft" when i have food and he comes at me in slow motion!