Once The Dishwasher is Done

[ckfalz]

Maybe work on putting him in a sit/stay? Then reward him when you're done?

[Snowshoe]

That's why I don't allow any licking of the dishes. After seeing my sister's dog dive in to lick the clean ones, get her tongue cut on a sharp knife, even get her collar caught on the rack and pull out the bottom one, breaking several glasses and cutting her paw in the process she still licks them. YUCK.

ETA: I mean I don't allow licking dishes in the dishwasher. A good prewash of the big dutch oven after a stew was cooked is appreciated by both of us. There was that one time the dutch oven looked clean and I made something new in it, only later remembering it had only received the doggy pre-wash but heck, we're still alive.

[Charlotte K.]

We don't allow the "pre-wash" at the dishwasher or even sniffing the dishwasher, because I am afraid they might someday get dishwasher detergent in their mouth, eyes or nose. That could cause irreparable damage to their throat or poison them. The rinse aid is also a problem when concentrated in and around the dispenser.

To correct the problem, teach a good "stay" well out of reach of splashes from the machine loading. First practice away from the distraction, or practice with the dishwasher closed. Then open an empty dishwasher, and practice. Because the food in the dishwasher occasionally or often gives them variable reinforcement, you will have to make sure they never ever get another chance to clean the dishes in the dishwasher. If you must have the dog "prewash" as opposed to scraping the food into the bowl, hold the plate or put it on the floor, away from the dishwasher. You may wish to teach the dog to go to "bed" or "place," such as a throw rug or mat. Reward with tiny bits of food periodically during the stay, as long as the dog is holding the stay, but not when it breaks or at the end of the exercise. You want to reinforce the "stay," not the moving from position. If you can throw well and the dog can catch well in a sit, a toss of a Cheerio can work well--kids in high chairs taught me that, as I couldn't have 4 dogs moving the high chair around to get dropped morsels. So my sons became experts at tossing Cheerios when my back was turned. If one of them hadn't clacked hard, I might not have caught on! The kids reinforced my sit-stay command, and I grew to accept that, as long as a whole bowl or tray didn't disappear to the dogs.

Me, I'm guilty of feeding old, frail dogs from the table to encourage them to eat--and that taught a bit of begging to the dogs growing up as the old one faded. I have to enforce an "off" on a certain Cavalier who might forget and put a paw on my lap to beg, even years later, if the meal is particularly good. Then I put him in a down stay. That can work for weeks, but he will try again.

[charliebbarkin]

Ooooo loading and unloading the dishwasher, making the bed, and covering the couch are my favorite ways to train the wait or stay command.

As mentioned, just ask for a sit or down stay. The bed and the couch are 'wait' because when I am done their reward is to be able to jump up on them and lay down. A reward for the dishwasher could be a treat or maybe a little piece of food left over from dinner, or even just some love and pets.

Unfortunately, you'll probably have to stop allowing the prewash in order to be consistent with the post wash. But if you do want to allow licking off the plates, you could just offer the plate in a different area of the kitchen/house. Really the best thing is to just throw any leftovers you want to share into their bowl, so they won't be begging at the table or counter, and don't go to the dishwasher.

At this point, Charlie doesn't even bother with the dishwasher and Burton hovers about a foot away.

[charliebbarkin]

Or what Charlotte said, ha. We must have been typing at the same time.

[BaconsMom]

Oh archie, you are so cute!

[Charlotte K.]

Or what Charlotte said, ha. We must have been typing at the same time.

It sure looks that way! Great minds think alike?

[POPTOP]

I'm one who rinses the dishes before they go in the dishwasher. Food left on the plate is dumped in the trash so Archie is only getting a hint of a taste. I generally don't feed people food to the dogs probably due to a problem with a dog long ago who was terrible at begging at the table. If there is something they can have after dinner, it's given as a treat away from the table.

Appreciate all the ideas. Going to start to use this as a training session.

[Blackboy98]

Dog saliva contains many beneficial bacteria. When Archie licks the dishes, even after they are 'clean' he is applying a layer of good bacteria to predigest the food when you put it on the plates.

What is wrong with that??????????????????????????????????????????????

[BogeyBaby]

Bogey learned "place". He has a carpet at the end of my kitchen counter and when told he goes to his place and watches safely from there. This is best when DH brings home the weekly Costco rotisserie chicken and I'm busy shredding it!