Will Beg for Food!
Sound familiar? Most dogs love food and people food is the best. Warm and flavorful, it beats the dry kibble. For many of us we like having our dogs around on social occassions, but get irritated when they beg at the wrong time. It can be a confusing balance for a dog. Or at least they pretend to be confused.. and sad, and starving.
Why Do Dogs Beg?
Dogs beg for the following reasons:
- Seeking Attention
- To Get Food
Dogs are going to beg for food if there is any chance that it will work. Although dog food and people food are clearly different in our minds, for the dog the distinction is not as clear. Sure one tastes a lot better, but the average dog receives dog food and treats on a regular basis. How is he to know that one treat is strictly human food and the other is just for him? He doesn't, and so he is, intentionally or not, taught that seeking food can work.
Tips To Stop Dogs From Begging
The long-term solution to stop dogs from begging is obedience training. If you need immediate results, you can try the following:
- Move the dog in another room or outside
- Use a baby gate to confine him in an area away from the table
- Place him in his crate with a Kong toy filled with peanut butter or dog treats
If he does whine or bark after getting kicked out, ignore him. He will stop whining eventually.
In many cases a dog's begging is the consequence of previously receiving scraps from the table or couch when you were eating. He quickly figured out that meal-time or snack-time meant him too. If you only fed your dog once out of a hundred times, he'll think, "So you're saying there's a chance!"
Dogs That Beg Are Also Likely To...
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