| Suppose you and your family are enjoying a meal at | | | | day. For example, if you normally give him two meals |
| your dinner table. Before the first bite is taken, your | | | | each day, feed him at 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and |
| pooch is standing next to your chair. His tail is wagging | | | | avoid deviating from that schedule. |
| and his eyes are focused on the food hanging from | | | | This builds an expectation in your canine. He'll know |
| your fork. It's clear that he wants you to share. Instead, | | | | when his meals are supposed to be given to him. |
| you decide to ignore him. | | | | There is no confusion. |
| Before long, your dog raises the stakes and places his | | | | Also, provide his meals in the same spot. This creates |
| paw on your leg. His eyes are now switching between | | | | a connection in his mind between his food and his |
| you and your food. When you continue to ignore him, | | | | feeding area. He'll learn that any food outside this area |
| hoping he'll get the message, he begins to whine. He | | | | - aside from treats - is off limits to him. If you and your |
| may even bark. He is a persistent beggar. | | | | family are eating your meals at the same time as your |
| A begging canine is a nuisance for you, your family, | | | | dog, have him eat in another room. |
| and friends. Unfortunately, many owners unwittingly | | | | Train Him To Wait For You |
| reinforce the behavior, making it more difficult to curb | | | | Dogs beg because food has been given to them in |
| later. Below, we'll provide a few suggestions that will | | | | the past when they do so. Begging is a habit learned |
| help you nip the problem in the bud. | | | | over time. You can use positive reinforcement (dog |
| How Owners Encourage A Bad Habit | | | | treats are an ideal tool) to shape your canine's |
| A lot of owners simply give in to their canine's appeals | | | | behavior in the other direction. For example, place his |
| for food. Sometimes, this occurs at the dinner table. As | | | | favorite treat in your hand, and close your hand while |
| the dog's staring turns into pawing and whining, the | | | | he watches. If he has grown accustomed to begging, |
| owner finally surrenders. This teaches the canine that | | | | he will have trouble sitting still. He may bump your hand, |
| he merely needs to paw or whine more persistently in | | | | whine, or even bark to let you know he would like the |
| order to receive what he wants: food. Next time, if | | | | treat. |
| forced to do so, he'll become even more persistent; | | | | Avoid opening your hand while he begs. Instead, wait |
| after all, it has been successful in the past. | | | | for him to sit on his own. When he does, open your |
| Discouraging your canine from begging starts with | | | | hand and give him the treat. |
| taking a "no tolerance" stance. That is, decide upfront | | | | This teaches your dog several important lessons. First, |
| that you will not capitulate, regardless of your dog's | | | | he learns the most reliable way to receive food from |
| pleas. If you yield, even once, you will send the | | | | you is to recognize and respect your authority. |
| message that begging works - if only sporadically. This | | | | Second, it teaches him that his begging will not |
| reinforces the habit and increases the likelihood your | | | | persuade you to give him a treat more quickly. Third, it |
| canine will beg in the future. | | | | reinforces the idea that he'll be given food only when |
| Same Time, Same Place | | | | he remains calm and avoids begging. |
| Once you have resolved yourself to never giving your | | | | These lessons dovetail. As they do, they will slowly |
| pooch food from your dinner table, establish a set | | | | curb the bad habit. Your dog, as a result, will become |
| meal routine for him. Feed him at the same time every | | | | better-behaved and more pleasant to have around. |