With the holidays just around the corner, we thought it best to tackle one canine habit that can be endearing and equally annoying- begging! Dogs are born with a love of food, and their expression of that love can range from beseeching looks, hoping for a handout, to an all-out loss of control. In the end, you have to decide what you can tolerate and what is a no-go. However, we can all agree it’s no fun to spend your mealtime feeling like you’re competing with a pushy puppy. It’s time for your pup to learn to stop begging!
Good Habits From the Start
Though it can be fun to share our food with our furry friends, it’s really not in their best interest. Human food is not always safe for them to consume, and it can create the expectation that certain poor behaviors might be rewarded. From the start, everyone must be committed to not giving in to those big eyes and endearing head tilts. Food or treats meant for dogs should only be given after a command has been followed to create good manners. Otherwise, your pup will only be encouraged to keep begging even if their success rate is low.
Table Manners– Much of your experience with your puppy will come down to what behaviors you tolerate. If you don’t mind them sitting nicely at your feet waiting for a scrap to fall, then by all means allow them. However, if they start to break your boundaries, you’ll need to correct them to keep the peace. Keep in mind, the more human food they gain access to, the more they will want, and what falls may no longer be enough. Usually, they resort to expressing their disappointment by whining, invading your space, and jumping.
It’s easier to build good habits than break them, so we suggest anytime your pup behaves in a way you’d rather them not, to take the opportunity away. We are big believers in crate training. It serves as a great place for your pup to reset in a safe space. At mealtimes, simply remove them from the temptation by putting them in their crate. If your puppy has very little manners training, this is a great place for them to be, especially during the holidays. Puppies need a break from socializing, plus it keeps your guests from feeding them or having unwanted attention while enjoying their meal.
Troubleshooting Strategies
Just like with crate training, turning a cold shoulder towards any poor behavior to gain your attention is a must. If you do respond, it has to be neutral. Puppies often live by “any attention is good attention,” so correcting more forcefully will not always bring about the results you’re after. Remember that dogs are very good at reading your energy and can feel when you’re out of control. This rarely causes them to stop whining, barking, etc. In fact you raising your voice to say, “stop barking,” will be interpreted as an encouragement because they think you are barking too. It may take some time, but they will get the message.
Giving them an alternative activity while you are eating can be a great tool to use as well. Letting them outside for some playtime, giving them a new treat toy to explore, or a bone to chew on are all great options. It can even be beneficial to take a walk with them before dinner to expend their energy, so they’re too tired to focus on food. It’s a good time of year to switch your walks to this timeframe since it gets colder and darker earlier in the evening.
Mastering Manners
If you want to hear, “Wow! Your dog has such good manners!” this portion of the post is for you! This training takes a little bit more effort, but the rewards are great. Teaching your pup to go to their spot while you have your meals keeps them with the family during mealtimes, but not underfoot.
Start by setting up a bed in the dining room or within your line of sight from where you have meals. Teach your pup to go to their bed with the command, “go to your place,” by directing them there with a small treat. After they have mastered this concept, build upon it with the command to “stay.” Gradually increase the time you have your pup sit there and reward with a treat. It’s best to give the treat at a neutral spot that is not associated with your food, such as the kitchen sink, to indicate the meal is over. Mimic the mealtime process by doing work at the table. Once they have built up their ability, try having a quick meal after directing them to their spot. When they have successfully stayed while you eat, give them an extra special treat! Continue building upon this habit until your pup knows it’s no longer worth begging for food that they’ll never get, but patiently waiting will gain them their own reward.
A dog that never begs is hard to find, but training a puppy to have good manners is possible! You’ll be happy you put in the effort, and your guests this holiday season will not only be grateful but impressed. If you are still on the lookout for your perfect dining companion, look no further than our available puppies and upcoming litters. We pride ourselves on their good breeding!