begging doodles!

[Shaia]

ok, after having so many past begging dogs, we vowed never to feed shaia from the table. she didn't even seem to notice when we ate, but finally i caved and would give her a bite here and there and WE HAVE CREATED A MONSTER. this dog is totally food obsessed. she'll eat anything and doesn't even chew it. i know it's my fault. i don't even bother with correcting her since she sits so nicely waiting, but.... she is bad. she won't eat off my plate but sharks around watching and waiting and strategically positioning herself. she's getting pushy!! it's not become unbearable quite yet, but - do you correct your begging doodle??

[annabelles mom]

Allowing her to be at the table and giving her scraps isn't going to help with correction.

Our dogs have never been allowed at the table, they have to be in the living room.
Annabelle can see us, she's only 2 feet from my chair, but she doesnt beg and never has.
When dinner is over, she gets 1 chick nugget from Daddy and 2 from Mommy - if we have friends for dinner, she gets one from each of them.

These nuggets are dried chicken and rice balls, nice and crunchy and she loves them. We do let her have scraps on occassion - she loves mashedd taters with some peas in them and she gets occassional piece of meat, but she waits for her crunchy

As long as you let her be at the table and give her the scraps, she will continue to do it
I know it's hard to say No to that sweet face, but........it really does help to be consistant

Goood luck !!

[Shaia]

well, i probably should have mentioned that we have small quarters here in san fran. we don't even have an eat-in kitchen, so we eat japanese style in the den, which is her room, basically. i can live with it now, but i was more curious if others correct for begging or lock the pups in other rooms, etc.

[River Rat]

You can try putting her on a down-stay while you're eating, and then reward her with a treat, or a particularly succulent morsel of your dinner, when you get up afterwards. That reinforces stay, too.

We don't ever feed our dogs at the table because I once had a cocker spaniel who was thus spoiled and she'd sit at your side while you ate, with long strings of drool extending ever downward as the meal continued. NOT conducive to a good dining experience, for sure!

But I have gotten into the habit of giving Chouette bits of other things I'm eating - a piece of banana or apple or a peanut - and now she thinks, naturally, that we're always going to share. However, she's good about accepting whatever I offer and then backing off when I say "That's it."

How old is Shaia (and I love that name!)

Leslie

[debbildog]

I don't feed my dogs table scraps at all - one is naturally a begger and the other one is easy about it. Sandy makes me INSANE with his begging - he isn't allowed near us when we have food but that doesn't stop him from stretching as far as he can to get his nose in there. My only little "pet" peeve is watching that nose sniff at my food! It makes me insane! Iris could care less - I've successfully taught her to lay down on her bed when we eat. I used the same training techniques on Sandy and it doesn't matter. I lay him down and within minutes of me sitting to eat he is back up with his nose stretched to my food.

So I'll be very curious to hear the answers to this!

[lmtoth2]

I agree with everything the others have said. Dex and Kirby still sit and look up at us when we start to eat, but we tell them "No, go lie down" and they listen. Just be consistent and really put your foot down. If your dog keeps begging and doesn't listen I would separate Shaia from you (either in another room, crate, etc)...I bet she will get the point and would prefer to be with you (even if she gets no food).

Maybe give her a Kong filled with dog treats or something at the beginning (i.e. put her in a down stay and give the Kong when she listens) to help her get the idea of how you want her to behave.

Good luck

[blueteal]

When we are eating we have taught Denver to go to his "mat or spot"
Put a towel or mat down and place your dog there in a stay and give
a treat. If your dog will not stay then tether to something close to the "mat". This also comes in handy if someone comes to the door
then you can tell your dog to go to their spot. Denver now goes to his spot (when told to go to your spot)whether there is a mat down or not. Good luck

[Sheila]

We're in a loft apartment, so no separate room for eating here. Usually I have Pixie on leash and I make her lie down near me. I don't mind if she's near the table, as long as she's not begging. The most she does, if I'm not sitting at the table, is sit near my husband or son, waiting to see what falls on the floor (which is inevitable!). The first few months we had her, I enforced the down pretty consistently, and we have never fed her from the table.

My sister puts her doodles in a stay when anyone is eating, or even when food is out on the counter, because they will steal the food right off the counter if you turn your back!

[momoftwo]

I agree with everyone. I would pick a blanket/rug/towel and when it is not a meal time work on "go to your rug". Start with praising them for just stepping foot on it and progress to praise for sitting on it and then laying on it. Once they can go lay on it on command then you can introduce it while you are eating. Rewarding with a filled kong or other chew toy that will last awhile is a great idea!

Heather

[Shaia]

thx for suggestions everyone! leslie, shaia is almost 7 months. i like the down-stay idea during mealtimes. i think i'll try that. i don't want it to get out of hand - she's not *too* bad about it yet but i see it going that direction. she is so food obsessed!

[Sheila]

I just remembered, I've also heard of people keeping a leash on during meals, making the dog lie down and putting a foot on the leash, so the dog can't get up. But i do like the idea of having a place for the dog to lie down away from the table, too.