How to Make Your Dog Stop Begging

It's so fun to offer a new puppy a sample of what you're eating and watch her chow it down before asking for more. It's less fun when your puppy is a full-grown adult dog that darts under the table, nudges you with her nose or whines for bite of your dinner. Begging is an annoying habit that most dog owners bring on themselves; however, you may be able to make your dog stop begging long enough to allow you to dine in peace.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Eat your meal last. Get in the habit of feeding your pooch half of an hour before you and your family sit down to eat. Not only will this reduce her natural inclination to beg for your food, a full tummy may prompt her to nap while you're eating.

2. Make a no-treat-at-the-table rule and stick to it. This can be difficult if you've already established a pattern of slipping your dog a morsel or two from the table. It's important to get the entire family together on this rule, if Junior secretly palms his meatballs and holds them behind his back until the dog eats them, the problem will continue.

3. Feed your dog the leftovers in a separate place. No one wants to waste good food but wait until you're all done eating and clearing the table before you offer the scraps to your dog in a different room or outside. She will come to associate not begging at the table with her treat.

4. Tell your dog "No" in a low tone and speak slowly and deliberately. Look her directly in the eye when issuing the command. Reserve the command for only the times when she whines, nudges you or puts her paws on you. Otherwise, you may confuse her. In addition, don't use the command lightly. If you've told your dog "No" three times and she still whines or tries to jump up, remove her to another room until you're finished eating. Ignore her barking pleas to reemerge.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, feeding a dog table scraps may be fattening. Overweight dogs tend to live shorter lives.
• Avoid yelling at your dog or smacking her. She won't understand and she may come to dislike you and distrust you.

Resources

• How to Stop a Dog From Chasing Cars
• The Art of Raising a Puppy
• The Dog Whisperer: Beginning and Intermediate Dog Training
• Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
• How to Start a Mobile Pet Grooming Service

[respectfully]

on 9/13/2009 GREAT article. We never feed our dog a half hour before we eat. I always give him his food while we eat. He now will be eating 1/2 hour before us. Thanks for this tip. 5* recmnd

[HowardBThiname]

on 7/26/2009 Great article. I started this habit and now I need to break it. Five Stars.