Many dog owners struggle with their dogs begging for food at the table, drawn in by those irresistible puppy eyes every mealtime. Nevertheless, with the appropriate strategies, this common issue can be resolved effectively. At KC Dawgz, we offer proven methods to help you prevent your dog from pleading for food while you eat.
How to Stop Your Dog from Begging for Food at the Table
To stop your dog from begging for food at the table, you need to be consistent and patient. Start by giving your dog an alternative behavior, such as staying in a designated place during meals. Use crates in the early stages of training to prevent begging from becoming a habit. Gradually teach your dog to stay calm and stationary with commands like “place.” Avoid feeding your dog from the table, and ensure they understand that begging will not be rewarded.
Steps to Stop Your Dog from Begging for Food
1. Provide an Alternative Behavior
One of the first steps to stopping a dog from begging is to give them an alternative and compatible behavior. Early in the training process, we recommend using crates. By crating your dog during mealtime, you prevent them from developing a habit of begging at the table. This way, it never becomes a contentious issue in the future.
2. Use the Place Command
Once your dog is comfortable with basic commands, introduce the “place” command during dinner time. This teaches your dog to stay in a designated area while you eat. Over time, they learn that staying calm and stationary during meals is expected.
3. Decide on Feeding People Food
The decision to feed dogs people food is up to the owner. Some dogs can handle it without developing begging habits. If you choose to do this, ensure your dog remains in their place throughout the meal. Reward them with a small treat only if they stay calm and patient until the end of your meal.
4. Avoid Reinforcing Begging
It’s essential to avoid reinforcing begging behavior accidentally. If your dog gets food by being around the table, they will learn that this behavior pays off. Ensure that any accidental drops are quickly cleaned up, so your dog doesn’t think there’s a reward for hanging around the table.
5. Teach Long Down and Calm Behavior
Dinner time is an excellent opportunity to work on your dog’s long down and calm behavior. Teach your dog to be relaxed and calm while the humans are eating. This helps reinforce that mealtime is not an activity for them and encourages good behavior.
Understanding Your Dog’s Interest in Human Food
Dogs are naturally interested in human food, and it’s normal for them to show curiosity. However, some dogs are more intense about it, especially if they have been inadvertently reinforced. If food is frequently dropped, and the dog gets it, they learn that the table is a potential gold mine. To prevent this, ensure that your dog isn’t around the table early on and is given alternative behaviors to focus on.
Teaching Dogs to Restrain Themselves
Training your dog to restrain themselves when interested in something can help curb begging behavior. General obedience training plays a significant role in this. Dogs that do well during dinner time and don’t develop a habit of begging are often those you see behaving well at cafes or brunch with the family. They learn that no reward comes from begging, so they simply don’t do it.
Benefits of Proper Training
Proper training ensures that your dog understands there is no benefit to begging. This can lead to more enjoyable and stress-free meal times. Dogs that have learned these lessons can accompany you to various outings without causing any trouble.
In Summary
Stopping your dog from begging for food at the table requires consistency and patience. By providing alternative behaviors, using commands like “place,” and avoiding reinforcement of begging, you can teach your dog to stay calm during mealtimes.
If you need more help with training, contact us at KC Dawgz for professional guidance and support.
