Begging during meals

[kimbersmom]

Yes, as soon as I sit down for breakfast or we sit down for dinner, Kimber runs to her spot and waits for her Kong. Some nights I forget to reload the freezer Kongs and man oh man, Kimber is mighty unhappy the next day!

[Abulafia]

I can't stand begging, and we've never given H. any food save in her bowl or expressly during feeding time (as I am preparing her food).

She doesn't even feel entirely comfortable getting food from a toy. She knows: food comes twice a day, at feeding time, and it's *her* food. She also gets treats for training, but no random snacks. I really don't care if others do this—I have a friend whose dog begs, and they are fine with it, so I'll slip snacks to the dog—but I can't stand a begging dog. I admit it.

[Labradorks]

He sat here and barked for 10mins straight. I tried everything, but I ignored him and he got nothing. I want him to understand that he won't get anything if he barks in my ear and climbs on top of me.

I'd just stop giving him anything other than his meals. Make him work for every morsel of his kibble. Go back to basics. NILIF. Seriously. I mean, you have a pretty good sense of humor about it, so if it's one of his quirks that you don't mind or it's not worth it to you to really work on, then go for it!

However, your dog is barking because he is frustrated because you gave him a free piece of food and each time you give him food, it's for what? He cannot figure out what it is that you want him to do to get the food. One time he was sitting, once he was standing, once he was laying, once he was barking, once he was quiet, once he was on the sofa, you get what I am saying here. He's saying, "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO TO GET THE FOOD???" and some dogs just easily get frantic when they don't know what else to do. So, if you shape his behavior and reward him for doing what you want when you want him to, as long as you are consistent, this should go away.

[PinkDragon14]

Begging at the table is one thing I will not put up with. My two get away with a lot, but never begging.

We home older dogs so I start by leashing up and putting in a down next to me. If there is any staring, panting, begging, behind the kitchen baby gate they go. Yes, there are several days of interrupted meals, but they learn fast. Now Mardi lays under the table. Archie will usually lay on the other side of the kitchen. If either decides to push the line, into the living room they go. I am very firm about this, no exceptions, EVER. When baby GS is over, he loves to sneak bits to the dogs. Let me tell you, it's harder to train a little human than it is the dogs. To keep from having to do constant corrections, they spend mealtime in the living room.

Any tidbits are given after we are finished eating and never given from the table. Sometimes I'll give it to them while I'm at the kitchen counter cleaning up, other times after dinner is cleaned up.

I'd love to put him behind a gate, but we never bought one when he was a pup since there was always someone constantly monitoring him (plus we have doors pretty much everywhere so he couldn't sneak away from us). The leash thing I will try, but he's still trying to grasp the "stay" command. I'll let you know how it goes - thanks!

I can't stand begging, and we've never given H. any food save in her bowl or expressly during feeding time (as I am preparing her food).

She doesn't even feel entirely comfortable getting food from a toy. She knows: food comes twice a day, at feeding time, and it's *her* food. She also gets treats for training, but no random snacks. I really don't care if others do this—I have a friend whose dog begs, and they are fine with it, so I'll slip snacks to the dog—but I can't stand a begging dog. I admit it.

Begging is quite annoying and whenever we have guests over for dinner (which isn't often, but still), he stands there and begs them too. It's embarrassing to have your dog bullying your guests for hand outs. They know to ignore it, but it's a problem you can't band aid.

I'd just stop giving him anything other than his meals. Make him work for every morsel of his kibble. Go back to basics. NILIF. Seriously. I mean, you have a pretty good sense of humor about it, so if it's one of his quirks that you don't mind or it's not worth it to you to really work on, then go for it!

However, your dog is barking because he is frustrated because you gave him a free piece of food and each time you give him food, it's for what? He cannot figure out what it is that you want him to do to get the food. One time he was sitting, once he was standing, once he was laying, once he was barking, once he was quiet, once he was on the sofa, you get what I am saying here. He's saying, "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO TO GET THE FOOD???" and some dogs just easily get frantic when they don't know what else to do. So, if you shape his behavior and reward him for doing what you want when you want him to, as long as you are consistent, this should go away.

All humor aside, it's definitely a problem that I need to deal with. Before we picked him up, my dad and I agreed that we would NOT feed the dog anything but his dog treats (training/rewards) and his kibble. Well, once you get an adorable little pup staring you in the eye, it's hard to say no. I will admit to spoiling him. I do it a lot, especially when it's small pieces of food he enjoys (fruits, veggies, etc.). I really need to stop doing it since it's only leading to him begging for more and he expects it every time I cook/eat. One thing I always do though is make him sit before I give him his breakfast/lunch/dinner. He knows now that he doesn't get his meal without sitting first.

I have no problem rewarding him if he's quiet and behaving. I don't have anything against giving him table scraps (in small amounts, of course). It's just the constant begging, barking, whining, etc. that bothers me. I think if I can get him to stay on his mat/in his area while we eat, he'll get the reward of (food). I know it'll take time for him to learn, but I just wish there was a quicker fix.

Last night, it slipped my mind to get him a treat/kong, so I put him in his bed for half of the time. When he came out, we gave him nothing. He eventually was quiet and sat nicely, but I want him to learn that he will not receive food near the table. Tonight we're having beef, so I'll set a few bites aside to give him on his mat/area after we're done eating

[Labradorks]

There's no quick fixes. Sure, there are patches, but no quick fixes. How old is your dog? A year? Think of it this way: it took him that long to learn the behavior and practice it consistently, it might take a year to actually fix it for good.

[Abulafia]

I'd love to put him behind a gate, but we never bought one when he was a pup since there was always someone constantly monitoring him

... I thought the crate thing sounded horrible, but we put one up going into the kitchen, and even though now she has run of the house when we are there, the kitchen is still her 'bigger den.' We had a new neighbor puppy over the other night—a 10 or 11 week old airedale—and though they got on very well, a few times I wanted to give the little one some space and let them both calm down a bit (the airedale is 10 lbs to Hoku's 60). Hoku went into the kitchen, gate closed... she was fine with it. Not a peep. Pups calmed down, and when the little went over to the gate for more play, out she came. I am so happy that we went with the gate. But yeah, I don't think it's something you can start later.

Before we picked him up, my dad and I agreed that we would NOT feed the dog anything but his dog treats (training/rewards) and his kibble.

I had same rule... but we've been good sticking to it. I think that's because I came to realize that I really can't stand the begging thing. Our dogs growing up always begged. Politely, but just Hey I'm right here and I love you and that smells good in case you have any EXTRA PLEASE PLEASE. We fed scraps, fed from my plate, treats while cooking, lick the plate when I'm done... we did it all. My friend, who has a dear old lab, does this. Doesn't bother me whatever when others do it, but somewhere in the hiatus of having dogs of my own, I think I became less tolerant of this particular behavior (and I don't know why: I am fine w/ her on the couch, for instance).

What I totally caved on was my (probably meaningless) insistence that she shouldn't have any chew toys that look like stuffed animals or pillows. My thought was "if she chews things that look like stuffed animals or pillows, she will chew all of (my son's) stuffed animals (he's 11, but still likes the ones he has) and our pillows. So nothing doing."

She now has, I swear, more stuffed animals than my son. Three ducks, a pheasant, a few hedgehogs, piggy, a rabbit, a squirrel... our floor is like some kind of woodland massacre.

[PinkDragon14]

There's no quick fixes. Sure, there are patches, but no quick fixes. How old is your dog? A year? Think of it this way: it took him that long to learn the behavior and practice it consistently, it might take a year to actually fix it for good.

He's 6 months right now and he's been home since July 3rd, so 4 months in our house. He was totally fine as a puppy, but now that he's getting bigger, the problem is getting worse.

... I thought the crate thing sounded horrible, but we put one up going into the kitchen, and even though now she has run of the house when we are there, the kitchen is still her 'bigger den.' We had a new neighbor puppy over the other night—a 10 or 11 week old airedale—and though they got on very well, a few times I wanted to give the little one some space and let them both calm down a bit (the airedale is 10 lbs to Hoku's 60). Hoku went into the kitchen, gate closed... she was fine with it. Not a peep. Pups calmed down, and when the little went over to the gate for more play, out she came. I am so happy that we went with the gate. But yeah, I don't think it's something you can start later.



I had same rule... but we've been good sticking to it. I think that's because I came to realize that I really can't stand the begging thing. Our dogs growing up always begged. Politely, but just Hey I'm right here and I love you and that smells good in case you have any EXTRA PLEASE PLEASE. We fed scraps, fed from my plate, treats while cooking, lick the plate when I'm done... we did it all. My friend, who has a dear old lab, does this. Doesn't bother me whatever when others do it, but somewhere in the hiatus of having dogs of my own, I think I became less tolerant of this particular behavior (and I don't know why: I am fine w/ her on the couch, for instance).

What I totally caved on was my (probably meaningless) insistence that she shouldn't have any chew toys that look like stuffed animals or pillows. My thought was "if she chews things that look like stuffed animals or pillows, she will chew all of (my son's) stuffed animals (he's 11, but still likes the ones he has) and our pillows. So nothing doing."

She now has, I swear, more stuffed animals than my son. Three ducks, a pheasant, a few hedgehogs, piggy, a rabbit, a squirrel... our floor is like some kind of woodland massacre.

LOL, he loved his stuffed crocodile until he started teething. Then he ripped an eye off of it and I took it away. There are some things we haven't followed through with (certain potty spot, no furniture, etc.), but we're pretty good besides that. He just likes people food better than his food


During dinner tonight, I gave him the frozen kong that I made earlier this afternoon (diced apples with a dab of peanut butter to seal it in). I put it on the mat and had him sit before I gave it to him. He sat and got his treat and moved to another spot but never used the mat. He did leave us alone for the duration of dinner though and ate his kong, so I really don't mind if he stayed on the mat or not. I was hoping just to associate the mat with the kong treat during dinner. Thank you all for your help! Hopefully he catches on soon

[bett]

I don't think a crate is a band aid.
if the dog doesn't get it when you ignore him, won't go to a "place" then a crate it is.
Does he know "go place?"

try teaching that and see if he gets it.but I wouldn't hesitate to use a crate.

[PinkDragon14]

I don't think a crate is a band aid.
if the dog doesn't get it when you ignore him, won't go to a "place" then a crate it is.
Does he know "go place?"

try ray teaching that and see if he gets it.but I wouldn't hesitate to use a crate.

He knows it as his bed, since I usually throw his bedtime snack in there and say, "Get in your bed! You'll get a treat!" and he sprints in. The problem is, he usually associates bed with us leaving or going to bed. He absolutely HATES being in there when we're roaming around in the house (unless he just got in trouble). If he's in there and we're ignoring him, he usually whines or tries to get our attention (he's in the laundry room which is a few rooms away from the living room/dining room)

[bett]

he's training you very well. ignore the whining.