There’s nothing worse than seeing a dog with its head stuck in a garbage can! Very often, the contents of the container are not palatable to the dog, he is just looking for food and food. You should teach your dog some basic littering etiquette during his doghouse training for his own well-being. Garbage bins are really not healthy places for your dog to look for scraps to eat, dogs are naturally horny, they will beg and forage for food if need be.
Your job as an owner is to make sure your dog is not a nuisance to anyone while eating, most people find this type of behavior intolerable. I love dogs and have spent most of my life with them, but I have to admit there is nothing worse than trying to eat your food with a dog looking at you the whole time. While you’re working on house training your dog, try teaching your dog about his dumpster manners. Anytime you see your dog wagging, stop them immediately.
You will probably find that if you have rehomed a rescue dog, they are worse at stealing than dogs from other sources. This is simply because of their history, a high percentage of dogs that end up in rescue centers are discovered wandering the streets as strays. They have to learn to forage and search for food scraps to stay alive, when they are relocated it can be very difficult for them to adapt. Suddenly this dog is taken off the streets and fed regular meals, which requires a lot of adjustment on the part of the dogs. Through dog house training, you can help your former rescue center dog get used to his new feeding regimen.
Your dog needs to learn that yes, he will get regular meals and that there is no need to defend his food or worse, fight over it. With a little patience, your dog can learn to wait for his food, mealtime doesn’t have to be a crazy, crazy jumble of paws and fur everywhere! They can be a dignified and peaceful occasion even for a hungry dog. Be sure to ask your dog to “sit” before placing the food bowl; once they are seated, the reward is the plate of food.