May 13, 2019
What do you recommend when your dog "hand mugs"?
Full Question:
Hello, my dog has a very high food drive, which has aided us in the obedience training we have been doing as he is very motivated by it, but often, particularly if I am using a high value reward, he tends to ?hand mug? or bite at the hand to get to the food. I have been teaching him by offering the food, saying ?no? and pulling it away repeatedly if he snaps and ultimately feeding him when he is gentle. It?s not been highly effective, though. What do you recommend? 
Cindy's Answer:
If you are holding the food correctly and delivering it properly, the dog should not be able to bite your hand. If you pull it away when he does this you may accidentally be creating more drive to snap at you. My dogs know to push into my hand if I am luring them but by holding the food properly, they can't get it. I then mark and release the food as seen in the short video I linked here: How to Hold and Deliver Food Rewards.
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