Over the holiday season, it can be difficult for dogs to resist the exciting smells all around them, and you might see your pup begging for scraps, jumping up at the table, or gobbling up any dropped morsels.
Of course, some dog parents are more relaxed than others when it comes to letting dogs have ‘human’ food, but whatever your rules are, begging can be annoying when you’re trying to enjoy a nice family meal. And, there can even be potential safety issues if you’re eating and drinking things dogs shouldn’t have, like chocolate and alcohol.
If you’d rather your pup be satisfied with the best dog food, Annie-Mae Levy, a professional dog trainer and behaviorist at Woofz, a dog and puppy training app, has four key tips to share. So, let’s take a look below.
1. Don’t reinforce the behavior: “They’ll keep begging if you give in to the puppy dog eyes, and if you scold them? You’re giving them negative attention, which dogs often deem better than no attention at all,” says Levy.
If you want the behavior to stop, it’s best to simply ignore it. Dogs learn by association, so if the behavior doesn’t get them what they want, they’ll realize it’s simply not worth it.
2. Keep the table and floor spotless: Positive reinforcement of begging isn’t necessarily always actually handing food over to your dog. When crumbs fall on the floor or you leave leftover scraps on the table, these can be very rewarding for your dog.
Levy recommends cleaning up before your dog has a chance to eat everything that catches their eye, or simply placing them in a different room – or their crate – while you prepare, eat, and clean up. Keep them safe from these Christmas hazards for pets!
3. Offer a distraction: If your pup has food of their own to be tucking into, they probably won’t be quite as interested in yours, so put their food bowl down before you begin eating yourself.
“If they’re particularly determined to sample the turkey, try filling a Kong with healthy treats and freeze it to make it last longer, which should keep them occupied while you enjoy your meal,” Levy adds.
4. Give them somewhere pleasant to wait: “Meals offer a perfect opportunity to practice your ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ commands,” says Levy. “Create a cozy spot – such as a bed full of blankets and cuddly toys – near the dinner table where your fur baby can sit, wait, and watch so they don’t feel too left out.”
It’s a good idea to practice before the meal itself, to help your pup get comfortable with the routine. And, if they make it through the meal without any begging or trying to get your attention, perhaps they’ll be allowed a scrap or two.
The holiday season can be quite overwhelming for dogs in general, so it might be a good idea to brush up on these common dog behavior problems and solutions. And, if you’re looking for more advice about the dinner table, here’s more information about how to stop dogs begging for food.
