Begging Dogs

GENERAL RULE:  If you are reading this, you likely have a problem that you, or someone in your family, created.  Now, you want the problem to end.  Like losing weight, this isn’t going to be easy.

 Defining the Problem –  It may have started when your dog was a pup.  You knew you shouldn’t give the little one at your feet a table scrap … or two … or three.  But it looked so cute and then there were those big eyes looking up at you … big sad looking eyes.  Now, the “little one” is, or has, grown up and it stands next to you at the table or by the couch and barks whenever there is food.  If the barking and slobbering isn’t enough, you get the nose nudge and the saddest face you’ve ever seen.  Now it isn’t so cute.  You’ve created a pest.  You knew better, but you did it anyway.  You rewarded persistent negative behavior.  Bad!

 What You Can Do –  In descending order of importance, try the following:

• Resolve to correct the behavior.
• Resolve to never allow it to happen again.
• Resolve to stand your ground during the corrective process.
• Teach the dog what “Down!” means (see “How To Train Yourself To Train Your Dog” on this site.
• Each time the dog gets up and begs, repeat your command.  If the dog doesn’t respond properly.  Remove the dog to another room and only release it after your meal is finished.  You can then release the dog and feed it.
• After your meal, you can feed your dog at a location away from the table.

 SUMMARY:  If you follow the aforementioned advice, you may correct the dog’s, and your, behavior.  If, however, you give in even once, you will likely have lost the battle and will forever remain second in the chain of command.  The alternative is to pay for the services of a professional dog trainer.  Maybe the trainer can get you to do what is right.

Revised 12.31.08

jep