We like to eat our dinner in relative peace.  In order to procure peace, and eat our meal without someone’s nose on our plates, the dogs must be on their “places.”  I bought some quilted material, cut it to the size I wanted and sewed the seams to form a “place mat” of sorts; where the dogs must lie while we eat our meals.

When we sit down with our food, we give the dogs a treat.  After we have finished eating we release the dogs and reward them with some carrots.

Sampson has been on his “place” since he was about six months old.

Delilah has been a challenge.  When we first started setting Delilah on her place, we would turn around and walk into the kitchen and Delilah would get up and follow us.  Eventually Delilah conceded to sitting on the mat until we came back with our plates but she wouldn’t lie down.  Then Delilah would lie down but as soon as we left the room, she would sit up.  Lately I have been really working hard on getting Delilah to “down” on her mat.

A few months back I read a book by Jennifer Arnold entitled “Through a Dog’s Eyes.”  Ms. Arnold trains service dogs for people with disabilities and she does all of her training with food as a motivator; she uses no force.

Delilah is pure lab, in English this translates to “highly motivated by food.”  So tonight when I brought Delilah to her place I also brought a small piece of carrot with me.  I used the carrot to entice Delilah to “down.”

When I came back into the living room, here is what I found.

I think this might actually work.