Ep 083 Change Your Dog’s Begging Ways

Discover Your Dog

Dogs who beg for food at the table can be annoying.

Today, discover how to teach your dog that begging or staring at you while eating is not acceptable.

In this episode, you will learn how to use formal and informal commands to make your dog disappear at dinnertime.

Show Highlights

• Want a trick with your dog? Your awareness with your dog is the trick! Be aware of how you communicate and act with your dog.
• One main reason why begging behavior can be reinforced or created is because there is an expectation of food after the behavior; e.g. after the sit command, your dog will get the food or treat at the end of the command.
• Food that the dog witnesses coming from the plate or the counter is more than enough reason your dog will sit and wait or beg.
• Also, think about the attention given to your dog with you staring into their eyes or saying, no you will not get anything ; these are actions that are reinforcing your dog s behavior.
• Other places your dog may associate food and begging is at the refrigerator, the trash can, the kitchen sink not JUST the dinner table anything you would take food from and give to your dogs they would associate with.
• Your dog will relate your actions with the cooking or disposal of food to them receiving food or not receiving food.
• As owners, be aware of how you are giving food to your dog.
• Bennie never suggests human food to dogs.
• When giving your dog a treat or food of any kind, Bennie gives it to him on the floor and not via his hand. This helps to show your dog that while you are cooking or in the kitchen they know it is your time and not theirs.
• Goal is to create affirmative behavior from the dog and to set it up with your dog that the kitchen is off-limits while you are cooking. This requires you to be conscious before you give your dog any goodies.
• While you are in the kitchen, your dog is not; and while you are not in the kitchen they are allowed.
• Remember, if you are giving your dogs a treat from your hand, either lay your hand very flat or cup it facing upwards. That way, they are reaching for it instead of snatching it from your fingertips.
• While in your home, Bennie believes you should put the food on your floor. That way, they understand that the floor is open playing field unlike outside or a different location where you are feeding them a treat.
• While you are cooking or eating, you want to teach your dog to go to a specific spot or out of the kitchen with a phrase.
• For example, in Episode 81 regarding creating behaviors as a puppy, this is something to think about when you are feeding your puppy.

Homework

• In order to change your dog s begging ways, please go listen to:
• Ep 031 – How to Use Formal vs. Casual Commands with Your Dog
• Ep 049 – Dog Training Basics: The PLACE Command
  • This is a formal command you would use if you wanted to separate your dog from the room while you are eating or cooking dinner.
• Formal commands must be released and casual commands do not need to be released.
• Today s homework is using the casual command go to your spot.”
• You are only going to give your dog the command or attention while they are in their spot.
• Put them in their bed or on a towel and make them lay down and as they stay there you praise them.
• If they get up while you are at the table, you must put them back in their spot and praise them.
• Let s say you are eating somewhere other than the table and walks around you ignore them. If your dog goes and lay back down where you want them then you praise.
  • Always remember that eye contact is communication as well.
• It is important that once you start the mode of either cooking or eating, you place your dog in their spot and periodically you praise them for staying there.
  • The goal is to eventually not have to tell them and they will just go to their spot.
• The casual command is good especially if your dog already understands the formal command.

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