Premier MannersMinder Instruction Manual page 11

bored or gets distracted, remove the
MannersMinder machine and stop the game until
you feel like playing again later in the day. If he
loses interest, even for a short instance, he's
telling you he's not that interested in eating. Or
at least he's not willing to work for his food. He
wants it for free. By removing it before or imme-
diately once he shows disinterest, you will quickly
train him to become a good eater. You'll also be
teaching him that you are in charge.
• Once Fido's regularly excited to get his food, which
he shows by running to the machine when you
take it out and staying focused on the machine
during the entire game, then you can start on the
specific polite-at-the-door training.
Won't Fido Lose
Too Much Weight?
Some people worry that their dogs will waste away
or will dislike them for withholding their food.
Cutting back or missing meals for a few days won't
make much of a difference in weight. In fact, if
Fido's not willing to work for his meal, then he's
telling you that he's really not that hungry. He's just
eating because the food is available and there's
nothing better to do.
Over 44% of pets in the U.S. are overweight and
25% are actually considered obese. Because dogs
don't walk around naked or wear bikinis — rather
they hide their fat under their fur — it's easy for
the excess to go unnoticed. That means that if Fido
actually looks fat, he's probably very heavy or even
obese. Even if you're not concerned about how the
extra weight looks, you should consider taking it off
because a long-term scientific study published in
the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2001) clearly showed that
dogs that are lean, athletic and trim live two years longer and develop diseases such as
arthritis two years later than their regular or overweight counterparts.
Chapter 2: How Fido Learns
For Fidos that do eat their
kibble immediately but not with much
gusto, cut the total meal down to 3/4
of normal amount for several days
until Fido clearly enjoys his food
and then start training.
excited to get his food, you
can start on the specific
polite-at-the-door training.
If Fido's not willing to work for his
meal, then he's telling you that he's
Over 44% of pets in the U.S. are
overweight and 25% are actually
11
Once Fido's regularly
really not that hungry.
considered obese.