Q: My dog has the very annoying habit of begging for food. It's especially bad when we have people over for dinner – he literally walks from person to person waiting, sometimes jumping with paws up on their laps to see what's on the table or go for the food right off their fork (or plate) – help!
A: Consistency is key to solving this problem. After all, dogs can't magically tell the difference between "OK begging" and "not OK begging" so you must make begging never OK. While banishing a dog to another room is one option, space may not make this possible . . . and, with enough effort, you can retrain your pup.
I'd recommend never giving your pet any treats while you are making or eating food. (Right before dinnertime is not the time to work on a sit-stay.) Teach your furry friend that he's not going to get food just because you're preparing food. In fact, I make North do a full sit before I put his dish on the ground – he's not allowed to go to it until I give him the release command.
See one more tip when you read more.
I like to give my pet a long-lasting toy or treat just before a meal with company. Offering it up to him before everyone takes their seats will not have him mistakenly perceive this as a reward because he hasn't had a chance to start fussing yet . . . and keeps him occupied, too!
Puma
Cosmence
Roksanda Ilincic
Pet is right.
I will say that my dog knows who she can beg from and who she cannot. She will not jump up on me or the hubby but she jumps up on my Dad. LOL! So, she knows who's rules to follow and when. Another example is she is not allowed to lick the dishes while they are in the dishwasher but she is allowed at my parents. She knows the difference.
1Oh man, I have this problem, too, when we're with company. He's so bad during the holidays. I'm going to try giving him a Greenie when we eat.
2We're in doggy school right now and we're learning to hold "Down Stay" where the dog lays down and stays for extended period of times. The "goal" for our homework is for him to down stay through a whole meal. I never thought it would be possible, but I've worked with B-Bop a lot and now he's up to a 15 min down stay! Maybe something like that will help him learn. They say to give them a bed or a special area to do this in, so the dog knows to go to their special spot when people are eating. Good luck!!
3Definitely stop hand feeding your dog. If you occasionally want to give them a special treat then place it in their dog bowl
First off my dogs are not allowed in the kitchen specially when food is being made. If they come in I tell them out and back them all the way out of the kitchen. Every time they come in I tell them out. Keeping them out of the area where food is being prepared is the first step because they can't sit there and watch food being made and wait for scraps to fall.
The same technique should be applied to a dinning room. There is just no reason for them to be in there.
I also train my dogs to leave food alone specially if it is on a table. I sit or lay the dogs down and place "human" food directly in front of them. As soon as they make a move for it I make a noise like EH (a loud disapproving noise) and take the food away. Once you do this over and over they learn to leave the food alone and it also becomes less interesting to them.
If they jump on your lap looking for food, immediately stand up and say no. This motion shows the dog that you do not approve of their behavior.
Consistency is KEY
4Thankfully my dog doesn't do a lot of begging at the table. But when she does I tell her to "Go on" and she gives up and walks away.
I agree with Pet. Don't give your dog any treats when you are cooking or eating.
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