How can I teach my pup to take treats out of my hand gently? At the moment he snaps at my hand and has drawn blood on a couple of occasions. He doesn't mouth us at all otherwise, he is very gentle when playing, it's merely when we treat him that he snaps.

Our elder dog is brilliant and even a small child can give her food, she is so gentle - I have racked my brains and can't for the life of me remember how we taught her to take food gently.

The biggest mistake people make when offering treats when a dog snatches is to hold it in the fingers.If you hold it in a clasped fist the dog will sniff and nuzzle in order to try and get the treat.Just hold out your fist and let your dog do as he wants then expose the treat slowly,saying gently when the dog has settled and is behaving as required.
Archer

I offer the treat in between the tips of my first two fingers - but I'm ready to withdraw it into my palm the millisecond the dog tries to snatch, all the dog then gets is the back of my hand - he can sniff and paw at this as much as he likes, but he won't get offered it again until he's sitting and waiting,then we try again - if he tries to snatch, it's withdrawn again..........  When he sits and doesn't approach, I give a verbal command 'go on then' and he can take it so long as he is gentle........  If teaching a 'leave' command, do the same thing, but the dog NEVER gets the treat in the first hand - but is rewarded with something nicer from the other hand.  HTH

I use a method similar to digger's in that I don't use commands but the dog learns by cause and effect, if it grabs, paws, mugs me, the food disappears; if it waits and is more tentative then it appears :D

Another thing is to make sure that the dog can easily reach the treat - many dogs start to snatch if the treat is held just out of reach and they have to "bounce" for it.

and of course if you're nervous you may (not necessarily tho) be slightly pulling the treat back just before he takes it - guaranteed to encourage this behaviour ;)

With a young dog/ pup I would over-react to snatching (high pitched "ouch! ooh that hurt" etc.) and then try again saying gently in a very soft voice.

I use a method like archers, I first make a fist with my hand and the back of my hand is the first thing that goes towards the dog. I then roll my hand round and let the dog take the treat nicely and as she does I say 'gently' I also use the clicker and when the dog is calm and sniffing the back of my hand as I roll my hand around and say 'gently' I click the dog and give her the treat.

sarah xxxx 

If he's so snatchy when you initially try to reward him then try teaching him to take gently from you after he has had his meal so he is less hungry and use something not quite so delicious to start.
Hold the treat in your enclosed fist with the palm down and your fingers tucked out of the way (so make the treat small enough). Let him nibble at you to try to find the treat. Too much of a snap and use the "yipe" withdrawing your hand if he doesn't back off - no treat! Try again in a bit!
Gradually - using the word 'Gently' make a gap between your thumb and forefinger so he can poke his nose in it and slowly turn your hand over opening your fingers. If he starts to get snappy snuffling for the treat then turn your hand back over remaking your fist and hiding the treat again. Start again reinforcing the 'gently'.
You might also like to try using a leather glove or similar for a bit of added protection if he bites at your hand until he gets the idea
As he learns you can use less of a clenched fist and more of an open hand until he is gently taking an exposed treat from the fingers alone.
Lara x