Teach your dog to beg no more

It’s not uncommon: you sit down to a nice dinner, and before you know it your pooch is at your feet. Somewhere along the way someone handed him a bite of human food, and he hasn’t stopped begging since. A little begging can be easily ignored; but when the whining and whimpering starts, you have a full blown problem on your hands. No matter what stage of begging your pooch is in, it needs to be stopped; and stopping starts with you.

Even though slight begging may be cute at first, it can quickly become a real issue. It’s one thing to shush a whimpering pup when it’s just the family, but what happens when you have company over for a nice dinner? If your pooch is used to getting a bite of your meal, then a stranger or two won’t stop his insistence.

Unfortunately, you’re probably the one to blame for your dog’s begging. It’s very tough to resist those puppy dog eyes, especially when you know how good the food tastes. However, it’s important to realize that dogs have their own food for a reason. Dog food is made specifically for a dog’s diet. Eating large amounts of human food will cause weight gain and other medical problems with your pet. Stopping the begging is possible, but it does take time and persistence.

The first step to combat the begging is to simply say “no.” Every time your pet asks for food, firmly say “no,” and do not give in. Giving in one time can ruin any progress you have made up to that point. For the low-key beggar, a “no” may be sufficient in eventually solving the problem.

For the developed beggar, saying “no” may only cause the pooch to get louder and more obnoxious. In this case, you may have to remove the dog from the situation entirely. Placing him in another room during meal time can eventually break the habit if it is repeated at every meal. Synchronizing his feeding time with yours can make a difference, too. For instance, having food for him in his room while you eat your meal can help him forget what he’s missing.

If you have a well behaved dog that obeys your commands, then you may be able to welcome him back into the dining room sooner rather than later. Place a dog bed or blanket in the corner of the room, and command your pooch to “stay.” If he tries to inch closer to the table, then repeat the command. You may even need to distract him on the bed with a new toy that he can only play with during dinner. If he obeys, reward him with a treat that is made for dogs.

If you have a begging dog, then it’s important to try to break the habit as soon as possible. The last thing you want is for your dog to beg every time you sit down for a snack. It may take a long time to undo the begging, but you can stop it with a little patience and persistence.

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