When your dog’s pleading eyes melt your heart, it’s easy to give in and toss a nibble from your plate. You tell yourself, “it’s just a taste.” What you’re doing instead is reinforcing begging behavior. Janet Miller says a few simple tricks can convince your dog to stop begging every time you eat:
- Do not give in
- Ignore the behavior
- Close the door
- Use the your-place command
- Keep the dog distracted
Source: The Bark, April 2019. Link.
The most important thing you have to keep in mind when teaching your dog to stop begging for food is that you need to be patient. Your dog might have developed his or her current behavior in months or even years, so it’s unreasonable to believe it will go away overnight.
INSIGHTS: An untold number of dog owners are challenged with this begging behavior. Consider this article for social media posts, websites and e-newsletters. Include it with puppy packs and in puppy training classes to help dog owners avoid the behavior from the start.