How to Prevent Dogs from Snatching Food

It’s a natural instinct for dogs to scavenge for food, and they will eat just about anything that they find. The more successful they are at finding something to eat, the more they will scavenge, which means that they will become very adept at stealing anything edible that you might leave somewhere that is within their reach!

Why It's Important to Prevent Dogs from Snatching Food

The problem with having a dog that is constantly stealing food is that any food that is left on a plate will simply disappear, be it some cookies that you’ve put out for your guests or the Sunday roast that you’ve spent the best part of the morning preparing. Also, little children are not safe when these thieving little critters are around because they will steal anything edible that a toddler or small child is holding in their hand.

More importantly, though, not all human food is safe for dogs, and if your dog is stealing food off plates, they might inadvertently poison themselves in the process. 

How to Teach Your Dog Not to Snatch Food

So, how do you teach your dog that the food that you put on your table is for you and your family or guests, and not a feast that you’ve laid on just for him?

Your dog has to learn that any food it will have will come from you and nowhere else. Make your dog sit before feeding him, and only give him his food in his own bowl, never from one of your plates or bowls, and never from the table.

As soon as your dog realizes that he is only allowed to eat the food that you give to him in his own bowl, then he will stop taking your food when you are not looking. Instincts sometimes do kick in on the odd occasion, though, so it’s best to keep your food well away out of your dog’s reach!

If you find that your dog is still taking food that's not his, you could try placing a snack that has some hot sauce or lemon juice on it where he can access it. A few nasty (but not dangerous) surprises like that might be enough to discourage your dog from taking food that doesn't belong to him. 

It's a Safety Thing

Teaching your dog that they should only get their food from you is about more than keeping your snacks safe. 

If your dog knows that they should not eat anything that they don't get from you, you will keep them safe not only from accidental poisoning and in the event of anyone deliberately trying to poison them.