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Biothane muzzle. Picture courtesy of Shannon Emmons DVM

Q: I live in the city, and we regularly encounter rat bait boxes. How can I prevent my dog from getting too close and potentially ingesting the bait?

A: City living can be challenging for dogs who like to explore with their mouths. More than just empty bottles, cigarette butts, and spilled trash, there are often rat traps around which could be hazardous to dogs. Rat poison is usually palatable to dogs, and symptoms of poisoning do not often show immediately.

Management is always the first step in changing behavior. Since city trash and rat bait may not be avoidable, condition your dog to wear a muzzle with a scavenger guard or a biothane muzzle with a close weave. Guards are available in several options, from clip-on guards to snap-on attachments. Muzzle conditioning should be a fun, cooperative experience so your dog learns to love wearing their muzzle. 

Having a strong recall might be enough to call your dog away, but the Pattern Game Give Me a Break teaches your dog to return to you based on something in their environment, such as a bait box or the smell of poison.

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A chewed-looking rat poison box

Start by teaching the game in a neutral and enclosed space. Have a bait box behind an ex-pen, behind a gate, or in a crate so that your dog cannot get close to it. Begin the game by placing the treat next to the pen, turning your back, and walking away a few feet. When your dog follows you, offer a treat. After two to three repetitions, increase the distance a few feet, until eventually you are moving a good distance from the bait with your dog following. When this is going well, play the game without the barrier, and then in different locations. 

It is important not to cue your dog when teaching Give Me a Break. The object, or trigger, becomes the cue for the dog to recall to you; this is particularly beneficial because you may not see the poison to call your dog before they have consumed it. The muzzle with scavenger guard will enable your dog to practice this skill while remaining safe.