Training 6 month old around food

[Jenn]

So many variables to this...

My family is currently displaced due a tree falling on our house. We are staying in a hotel. We have our crate, but have not set it up as the room is small and there are 5 of us with two dogs!! Space is premium. For the most part, the pup is good!! But around food he is relentless. My two older kids can handle it, kind of. My youngest is autistic and ends up getting frustrated and throws him the food. Any training recommendations for teaching the pup Some manners around food?

FYI. Spray bottle doesn't seem to work anymore. :(

[Wendy and Myla]

Wow - so sorry you are in this situation - must be horrible!  I don't really understand what your puppy is doing?  How is he relentless around the food?

[Jenn]

Lunging at it, Jumping in the kids, trying to get it off their plates, etc

[Adina P]

What about tethering him by leash to a bed leg or table leg or doorknob?  Is that possible?  It sounds like you're in a crummy situation and this is not an ideal time to "train" so in absence of training, perhaps just preventing will work. 

[Wendy and Myla]

Although I know it's not a normal situation, I think the crate might come in handy - maybe you could put it on the bed or in the bathroom and if your puppy starts to do that and a firm "No" or "Sit and Stay" doesn't work, I would crate him every time he does that or if need be, every time you are eating. Hope you get to go home soon and resume a normal life and training mode!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Adina. In normal circumstances, you would have trained the dog to hold a down stay, and then when you are eating, the dog is in his "place" holding a stay. But in this situation, sounds like tethering is your best option. Either that, or one parent holds the leash and waits until everyone else is done eating. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so sorry for your situation.  The best advice I can think of is to set the crate up and take it down at mealtimes. Yes you can teach your dog food manners, but this situation is temporary and I am sure you are frazzled.  The only other suggestion I have is for you or your husband take turns eating and have the pup on-leash as far away from the food as possible.  If you are the only adult home, I would fasten the leash as far away as possible and eat after the others are finished.  Again, I am so sorry for your situation.

Could store the crate in the bathtub when no one is bathing?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I agree this is no time to start training a dog so you need to find creative solutions right now.  I would use the bathroom with a baby gate up if you can manage it and use it when you are all eating. I also know that these days kids and adults eat at random times, snacking through the day and maybe you can put in some routine around meal times. You are in a really difficult situation which must be really stressful so I hope that it won't be for long and that you can muddle through until then. :(