By Janice Jones
Your begging dog annoying you every time you put a morsel of food into your mouth? Congratulations, your dog is well trained but don’t despair, dogs can also be untrained.
You are not alone. People with small dogs (and big dogs too) are so close to their dogs, they love them as if they were children. It would be difficult to sit and eat in front of your child without giving them something too. Right?
Most people do not think about this scenario in a conscious
way because we love our dogs so much.
But, basic principles of psychology are at work here. A behavior that has been rewarded tends to be
repeated.
A behavior that is not
rewarded can be extinguished. These
principles work for both dogs and humans and much of our knowledge of child
development as well as dog training are rooted in them.
Unfortunately, when we give our small dogs a taste of the food,
we are eating; we are encouraging them to expect this reward every time we
eat. It doesn’t seem to matter whether
we are eating a meal at the table or snacks in front of the television.
If we are eating, they expect they should be
entitled to something also.
Eventually,
this behavior becomes hard-wired into their little brains and like so many of
our unconscious behaviors, they automatically jump up and beg and we automatically
give them a taste of what we are eating.
What’s Wrong with That?
- Can lead to annoying behaviors
- Can lead to overeating and obesity
- Can lead to your dog ingesting a toxic substance
if you are not careful - Can lead to entitlement problems in the dog
- Can lead to
more serious behavioral problems such as aggression
Your dog begging for a treat might not seem annoying at
first and may even seem cute. Eventually,
begging is the behavior du jour and what was cute at first develops into a
behavior that could be described as pushy or brash.
Assuming you don’t want a chubby little dog, the extra
calories that he consumes while dining off your plate can add up leading to a
possible weight problem.
It is very
difficult to estimate just how many extra calories he is getting with that bite
of steak and broccoli floret.
A carrot stick might be fine to share, but what about the
chocolate chip cookie you are enjoying?
Dogs
should not eat chocolate. You know that,
but your six-year-old may not. If
sharing with the dog has become a family tradition, kids may also enjoy
sharing.
Worse yet, your family dog may
have learned how to dislodge the cookie in your 3-year-old’s hand.
As you can see this innocent, little practice of begging and
sharing can get more complicated, especially when it comes to the dog’s
behavior.
If your dog has been enjoying
a few bites of your dinner over time, even nutritious ones, it will be
difficult to ignore his behavior.
If you
try, he can get more insistent and demanding.
Your sweet little dog now believes he’s entitled to a bite of your food
and may do whatever he feels necessary to let you know—jump up on the table,
nip you, bark, or growl. The canine
version of a temper tantrum.
Do you
yield to the pressure and give him a bite?
What Can You Do About a Begging Dog?
Prevention, of course, is the easiest course of action.
Let’s assume, however, that you are like the
rest of us who have offered a bite now and again.
Are there ways to reverse the behavior?
Train Your Family
It does no good to assume you are going to cure the problem
if you live in a household full of people who will cave into a begging
dog.
Everyone must understand and agree
that they will not reward their begging dog.
Ignore the Begging Dog
Easy in theory, difficult in practice.
To break the habit, you will need to be consistent in your
efforts to ignore the dog. This means,
- Do not look at the dog
- Do not talk to the dog
- Twist and turn your back to him if he tries to jump on you.
Train Your Dog To Do Something Other than Begging for Food at the Table
One of the best proactive ways to prevent a dog from begging for human food is to plan ahead and train a new skill that you will be able to put into practice when the family sits down to a meal.
One method is to train your dog to go to her spot and stay. This command is useful not only for begging, but also if you have a dog that barks when the doorbell rings, or if he insists on jumping on your guests. Through a series of steps, lots of praise and treats, you can lure your dog to his designated spot such as a comfortable bed or crate. Once there you can offer a Kong toy filled with something tasty or an irresistible chew toy.
Eventually, when the family sits down to eat, the dog knows he is going to get a treat when he settles into his bed. As with any training, though, you don’t want to offer treats forever. Gradually taper food treats and substitute for a favorite toy or just a cuddle.
Actions that Might Help
- Acknowledge and accept the fact that for the next week or so
(more or less) your nightly dinner may be disrupted. - Feed your dog at the same time you sit down for dinner. Place the bowl near the table so your dog will
think he is eating with you during mealtime. - Put your dog in another room while you eat.
- Put your dog in his crate while you eat.
How Long will “Treatment” Last?
This depends on three factors: How long the begging dog has been at his craft, how stubborn the dog is, and how consistent you and your family are in solving the issue.
Ultimately, you want a dog who will be content to sleep in his bed/crate or under the table, quietly without initiating any begging behavior while your family dines.
If you have a young dog of one or two years, the process should go faster assuming he doesn’t have a stubborn streak. If you have a senior dog that has been begging for 10 years, expect rehabilitation to go much slower.
How to Stop a Dog from Begging?
Changing a behavior whether it is your own or your dog’s is
never an easy task. This problem
behavior is one that can be resolved, though, and as you solve this issue, you
gain confidence to tackle other issues your dog might have.
References for Begging Dog
American Kennel Club
Begging Dog: Pin for Future Reference
Pin for Future ReferenceAbout Janice (author and voice behind this site)
Having lived with dogs and cats most of her life, Janice served as a veterinary technician for ten years in Maryland and twelve years as a Shih Tzu dog breeder in Ohio.
Her education includes undergraduate degrees in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a master’s in Mental Health Counseling.
She is a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Her favorite breed for over 50 years has been the Shih Tzu, but she has also lived with Poodles, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Beagles, English Bulldogs, Carin Terriers, and a Cocker Spaniel.
When not writing, reading, and researching dog-related topics, she likes to spend time with her eight Shih Tzu dogs, husband, and family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Miracle Shih Tzu and Smart-Knit-Crocheting
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