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I'm looking for advice on how to train my dog some specialized skills. I've recently had problems with my neighbor throwing dog kibble over the wall and I would like to train my dog to refuse it. I have no clue on how to even start, so any advice would help. The other skill I would like to teach is having my dog touch her nose to my hand as a request for the bathroom. She asks now by standing at the door but at night that isn't going to wake up my husband and she's had some "accidents" with an upset stomach as a result. If anyone has some starting ideas, or even some books or videos that are recommended I would greatly appreciate it. Ohh just a little side note so I don't seem like a bad owner. I have talked to the neighbor with NO immediate results. Adding a dog door is not an option either, because of the neighbor and because the house just isn't structurally set up for it.

>>I'm looking for advice on how to train my dog some specialized skills. I've recently had problems with my neighbor throwing dog kibble over the wall and I would like to train my dog to refuse it. I have no clue on how to even start, so any advice would help. The other skill I would like to teach is having my dog touch her nose to my hand as a request for the bathroom. She asks now by standing at the door but at night that isn't going to wake up my husband and she's had some "accidents" with an upset stomach as a result. If anyone has some starting ideas, or even some books or videos that are recommended I would greatly appreciate it. Ohh just a little side note so I don't seem like a bad owner. I have talked to the neighbor with NO immediate results. Adding a dog door is not an option either, because of the neighbor and because the house just isn't structurally set up for it.

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You might consider asking animal control or the police (during a slow day!) to come talk to the neighbor. Perhaps if they explain to her that the behavior is harmful to other people's dogs and is also likely to get her drawn into a criminal case in the event the dog ever gets into poison from any source, she'll listen. Or you could try.

You can poison-proof a dog. There is specific training for that. It's going to be either very harsh, very labor-intensive on your part, or both.

As far as a doggie door, I'm not seeing how that would solve this problem. Dogs are opportunistic eaters, and if the dog can get outside, the dog will eat that stuff. A doggie door lets a dog go in and out freely, so you wouldn't be able to supervise the dog outside--which, by the way, is how I would handle my dog to protect her from this neighbor's behavior. Use a long line and hold the other end of it when the dog is outdoors.

The touch method for a dog to ask to go out can get awfully rowdy. Perhaps you could teach her a touch to a switch that would create enough noise to wake him up. If you teach her to nudge people, you could wind up with a dog who claws them, knocks them over, jumps on their faces, etc.

To teach a dog to touch anything is a "target" behavior often taught by clicker trainers. A useful way to set this up might be for your touch-switch to be at the exit door, wired or transmitting to a buzzer/bell/etc. that is where you need it--and possibly portable. For that matter, you could use a baby monitor. This would make sense to the dog, being at the door, and let you use the system anyplace you need it.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47