How do I stop my dog from begging for food?

Our dogs are so skilled at begging because it comes naturally to them that we frequently give in. I believe we have all given our dogs a bite of our dinner after saying, “Oh, look, he’s starving.” And without realizing it, we just gave their behavior more reinforcement.

I won’t lie; it’s difficult for me to resist those puppy dog eyes. But you’ll need to learn to stop caving in if you really want to teach your dog to stop pleading.

To put it simply dogs beg because they want food. Dogs naturally beg, so if you’ve been encouraging it, it will take a lot of consistency to break that habit.

Wolves began scavenging for human food many years ago. They began hanging out around people for scraps, and the more tame the wolf, the more extra food rewards they received. Begging isn’t rude or weird to your dog; it’s instinctive.

Domesticated dogs have a biological predisposition to look for opportunities to feed from people. And because they pay attention, they quickly discover that begging is effective. Pet owners frequently express this complaint, but there is hope. You just need to be consistent if you want to keep your dog away from your food while you’re eating.

Train Your Dog to Go to Their Spot

You can train your dog to go to a specific location and wait there while you eat if you want them to stop begging. Tell your dog to go to their spot if they are interfering with your personal space and won’t leave you alone. Â.

To accomplish this, you must assign them a bed or specific location in a room. They can use this area to chew on bones or play with their toys. Start by teaching “stay. Once they are familiar with this command, instruct them to “go to their spot” and demonstrate the proper position for them.

Reward them with treats and praise when they arrive at their destination. Teach this trick before you start practicing near food. Ensure that they comprehend your instructions without equating them with begging at the table. You can refocus their attention and direct them to their destination once they begin to beg. Â.

Avoid giving your dog table scraps to prevent them from begging at the table. They’ll keep hovering if they know they can get food that way. Tell your dog that it won’t work any longer if they are barking or whining for their dinner. Although it may be challenging, try to ignore their cries for food. Â.

Don’t scold your dog for begging. Instead, when your dog leaves people’s food alone, use positive reinforcement. This will strengthen your relationship with your dog. Toys and bones should be placed in their designated area so they have something to do while you are eating. Â.

Making sure everyone in the home abides by the boundaries you set for your dog is a crucial component as well. Inform family and friends not to feed your dog, even though they may appear to be begging Maintaining consistent rules helps your dog understand the rules and demonstrates that begging will not be rewarded.

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Begging With Simple Steps

Giving positive verbal cues and rewards, being consistent, and having a lot of patience are all important when teaching a dog a new behavior. It won’t happen overnight, especially if your pet is used to eating table scraps or begs for treats. Stop feeding your dog from the table or kitchen as soon as possible.

Here are a few suggestions for curbing the begging.

Teach them the “place” command — This command teaches your pet to find their place, such as a cushion, spot on the floor, or dog bed. When you are preparing dinner or eating, tell them to find their spot or place. The first few times you teach this command, you will have to physically go with them on a leash to their spot. If they refuse to stay, take them to a separate room, then try again later. Tell them to find their place and give them a small treat (not a table scrap) when they go to it. You may need to crate your dog, if they can’t get the hang of staying in their spot as you gradually introduce the training.

Occupy your pet — If your dog has a favorite chew toy or a challenging game that takes them time to figure out, this is a good solution during dinner. A frozen Kong toy or something similar can be made low-calorie using mashed banana or sweet potato puree. Your dog will love to have their own special treat while everyone is eating.

Ignore the begging — It may be hard to do at first, to avoid those big, doleful eyes, but by paying attention to your dog, you are encouraging the begging behavior. If you look at your dog while you are eating, they will naturally expect to get something.

Use a tie-out or baby gate — If your pet is continuing to get up from their spot, use a tie-out to tether your dog to something they can’t move while everyone is eating. You can also set up a baby gate, so your pet can’t come over to the table. Afterward, spend some time with your dog doing something fun, or go for a quick walk as a reward.

Make sure everyone follows the rules — If you create the new rule of no begging or feeding from the table, make sure the rest of the family is on board. This ensures less confusion for your dog and helps reinforce the message that begging won’t be rewarded. Good behavior will be.

Just bear in mind that, as with any training, you shouldn’t chastise or punish your dog. Simply put an end to what you’re doing, get them to relax and focus on something else, and then try again. The secrets to effective training (and plenty of rewards) are perseverance and consistency.

Separate Your Dog From the Dinner Table

One of the simplest ways to stop your for from begging is by preventing the behavior to begin with. You can do this by separating your dog from the dinner table.

You can use a baby gate to keep your dog in a different room or train them to lay down while you eat in another room. If your dog is already a beggar, keep in mind that it may take some time for him to change his behavior; however, persistence will eventually pay off.

Have your dog lie down in his bed or another location of your choosing. Give him some treats here and praise him when he lies down.

Depending on his stay command, it might take some time before you can get him to consistently stay in his new position. Once you’ve finished eating, go over to him and give him lots of compliments and treats. Let him know that the best behavior is for him to remain calm while the family is eating.

You can decide to separate your dog with a barrier if you don’t think he’ll be able to stay for any length of time or if you don’t have a good grasp on the stay command. Baby gates are a common choice.

FAQ

Why is my dog constantly begging for food?

Simply put, dogs beg for food because they like food. Especially human food that they don’t typically get, food smells and tastes good. Dogs are driven primarily by their sense of smell. They are curious about what is on our plate because it smells like something they should try to eat.

How do I get my dog to stop whining for food?

1. Feed Your Dog a Nutritious Diet, and Feed Her First. Put your dog on a healthy diet filled with the nutrients she requires.
2. Eliminate All Reinforcement. …
3. Keep Your Dog Occupied and “In Place” …
4. Feed Your Dog Scraps After Dinner. …
5. Ignore Your Dog. …
6. Give Your Dog More Exercise.

Why does my dog act like he’s starving?

There is no obvious reason why a dog might be fixated on eating. It might result from a medical problem like inadequate nutrition or an underlying health condition, or a psychological problem like stress or learned behavior.

Why won’t my dog stop begging for food?

Puppies practice begging because they are aware that it will result in them receiving what they desire: food. Simply put, your dog’s pleading for an additional meal is not strange but rather an instinctive behavior. Canines are naturally scavengers, and since domestication, we’ve unintentionally promoted this behavior.