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| No Begging Please: Coping with Your Dog at Mealtime
One of the worst things you can do for your peace of mind is to feed your dog from the table during mealtime. Forevermore, as you try to savor tender morsels of fillet mignon, Trixie will be batting her pleading eyes your way at best, and at worst will be barking her demands each time you lift your fork.
Most dogs will come sniffing around the supper table even if you’ve never fed them from it. With their keen sense of smell and seemingly perpetual hunger, dogs like a good meal as much as anybody. However, a bad behavior can rule your meal and create a canine monster. To prevent or dissuade your pooch from begging, consider the following tips.
Ideally, you have never fed the dog from the table before. Once is enough for that dog to know that a tasty treat is possible during your mealtime. If you have already succumbed, be sure to lay down the law for the future. Save scraps for after the meal and feed the dog elsewhere—never near the table where you eat.
Owners should also consider feeding the dog first. If the animal has a full belly, it may not want to hang out at your feet throughout dinner time. This may be optimistic for some willful dogs, but it’s worth a try. If the dog still won’t take a hike, consider honking a horn or giving her an innocent blast from a spray bottle.
If the dog won’t leave of its own accord, removal may be necessary. The dog should be removed to another room with a chew toy to keep its mind off the aromas of food or, of course, put outside for a good romp around the grounds.
Mealtime begging can be a frustrating problem. If you feel that these methods don’t solve your dog’s begging, consider a bout of obedience classes. Most importantly, don’t give in to your dog’s desire unless you intend to share all your meals together—which might be a solution if they didn’t eat so fast! You’ll be doling out seconds for the dog before you’ve eaten two mouthfuls!
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