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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Puppies are naturally</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">grabby</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> but they must be taught not to</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">snatch</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">. What we do with our puppies from the very beginning is play a game of</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">take it</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">We take toys from their mouths, then give it back. Repeatedly. Same with food. When I teach them to take food from my hand, I take a VERY small bit of food (a piece of kibble works</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> well) and close my hand around it (into a fist with thumb tucked in under the fingers. Then I present my hand (palm side down) to the puppy. I let them sn</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">iff, nose, lick my hand but the nano-second I feel teeth, I pull my hand away from them and give them a FIRM NO! Then we do it again</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">…</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> and again</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">…</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">. And again. When they are trying to get the treat without using their teeth, I praise (lavishly) and use the word GENTLE. About the third time I withdraw my hand, they get the idea. Then when they are gently</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">nuzzling your hand, open up your fingers and let the puppy take the treat from the palm of your hand. If you feel teeth on your skin, take the treat away and start over.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Sandi Wittenberg</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Red Bay Bassets</FONT></SPAN></P>
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