When the dog isn't able to be inside with me during the day when I'm working (conference calls, etc), I put him on a dog run in the garage with the far door open so people can't just look in and see him.

Every time the UPS guy comes, my wife says that she sees him give the dog a biscuit, which he gladly takes. Has anyone else seen them do that?

This dog is going to be going to PP training, and he will be taught not to take food from strangers.

I have *3* UPS guys. I know why they all feed treats to dogs, but I don't want them feeding mine at all.

Stick a sign on the kennel that says "DO NOT FEED."

Is the dog run in a place where it is natural and convenient for the UPS guy to go? Or is he going out of his way to go around the side and into the kennel?

The concept of real-life food refusal always gets snagged in my brain whenever someone mentions it.

Someone tosses food into a kennel. Nobody is around. How long will a dog ignore it?

Or, let's say dog gets out of kennel. Runs free. How long is this food refusal training going to last out in feralville?

I agree with you Steven. But i still don't want people giving my dog food I know they will all take it. OK. I lie. Lyka won't take it. She just doesn't like strangers and will refuse food from them anyway. Don't have to train them.

However, if food gets tossed in her kennel by a stranger and they leave, will she eat it? Probably, eventually.

 Quote: John Stopps

Every time the UPS guy comes, my wife says that she sees him give the dog a biscuit, which he gladly takes. Has anyone else seen them do that?

I have *3* UPS guys. I know why they all feed treats to dogs, but I don't want them feeding mine at all.

It sounds like you have a home office, so you or your wife could easily stop the UPS man one day and let him know you'd rather him not feed your dog - or put up a sign, as Mike said. If you were worried about them continuing to treat on the sly, after you ask them not to, maybe you could claim your dog has food allergies or some other medical condition and it's critical that he only eats a special diet, that doesn't include milk bones... I find most people are pretty understanding when I decline them giving biscuits to my dog - you shouldn't really need a reason at all, as long as you ask or tell nicely.

~Natalya

My UPS guy at least asked, the one time he offered. I consider it super rude to feed someones dog without permission. I cannot even begin to understand what brings people to do that.

When I drive through my regular coffee stand (it's the Pac NW, they're every 5 feet), they always offer my dog a treat. Of course, they *ask* if it's okay, and they don't actually give the treat to my dog- who is in the backseat. They hand it to me...

Of course, my dog still won't eat the damned things. I end up pulling 3-4 dog treats out of the backseat of my car a week.

 Quote: Natalya Zahn

It sounds like you have a home office, so you or your wife could easily stop the UPS man one day and let him know you'd rather him not feed your dog - or put up a sign, as Mike said. If you were worried about them continuing to treat on the sly, after you ask them not to, maybe you could claim your dog has food allergies or some other medical condition and it's critical that he only eats a special diet, that doesn't include milk bones... I find most people are pretty understanding when I decline them giving biscuits to my dog - you shouldn't really need a reason at all, as long as you ask or tell nicely.

~Natalya

I do work from home most of the time, unfortunately it seems like every time he comes I'm stuck in my office on a conference call watching him give the treat on the surveillance camera. The problem is, it's not just one guy I have to tell to stop, it's 3 different UPS guys.

As for the dog run, it's a cable/pulley system, not a kennel. And he drops the package on the garage steps inside and walks through the dog's area. I thought about telling him the dog has a food allergy, but I'm just going to tell him that he's going to be trained to refuse food and this undermines the training at this point.

IMHO, I don't think you need an excuse. Put a sign up, tell them face to face, whatever, they (ups, postal workers, friends, neighbors, the meter reader, the gas man) or anyone else has any business feeding your dog without first asking you.
We all understand why they do it, but for the most part our (here on the forum) dogs are all under control or confined and absolutely no threat to these workers. And I don't care if my dog see these people as interlopers. All the the companies that come to my place of necessity for business know not to feed my dog as I've made it a clear point with the drivers/workers, and if it's a rotation schedule I raise holy hell with the home office about my dog. It must work, because no one feeds my dog treats. (at least I haven't caught anyone in a few years now)
I give no lame excuses.......I don't want my dog fed! period.

Randy

Alyssa, that is so funny, there is a particular coffee drive through that we go to that gives little milk bones too!

I would probably try to use a lot of diplomacy with the UPS driver. The guy is probably a dog lover, is just trying to do a kind thing for the dogs. He is out of line, but his heart is in the right place. I would probably take a minute to talk to him, then thank him for his kindness but then explain my dog isn't allowed to have treats because of being on a special diet.

Since you don't really know the guy, if you don't handle him right and he gets his nose out of joint and is a jerk, who knows what he will toss your dog when you aren't looking.

edited to add: I just read where you said 3 different UPS guys give your dogs treats. WOW!!! I wonder if it's a company policy? I've never had a UPS guy try to feed any of my dogs and I get deliveries pretty regularly. Probably because my dogs are not in the area the deliveries are made. I guess in that situation calling management might be the only way to stop it.