Help Your Dog Stop Begging

A problem many dog owners face is begging for food. It can happen in the kitchen, at the table, or anywhere your dog detects a tasty morsel they desire. Oftentimes, this results in your dog putting their paws up onto the counter or table to try to grab a bite. Or maybe they are the type to scrounge around in the trash after a meal, looking for leftovers. We want to stop all of these behaviors as soon as you notice they start to happen, so they don’t become acceptable habits.

Stop Begging at the Table

One of the most common places we see dogs beg for food is at the dinner table or wherever you eat your meals. Physically, you are often lower to the ground and more accessible to your dog. They can smell the tasty meal you are eating and want some for themselves. Many dog owners have been swayed by those puppy dog eyes and discreetly slipped their best friend a scrap of something delicious. However, establishing this precedence will only increase the amount of begging at the table as your dog discovers it’s working.

Our best advice to stop begging at the table is not to let it start in the first place. Do not let your dog think that the table is a place where they will receive food. Create boundaries around your dining table or eating space, either with commands or indoor invisible fencing solutions. This can help in situations where you have guests over or small children who do not understand the importance of avoiding feeding your dog from the table.

Stop Jumping on the Counter

To prevent your dog from jumping on your kitchen counter in an attempt to beg for food you are preparing or have laid out, you can decide between two different approaches. The first is to keep your dog out of the kitchen altogether. If you find there are just too many cooks in the kitchen, making this space off-limits for your dog may be the best option. This not only takes away the opportunity for begging at the counter but also keeps your dog out from under your feet as you are moving around with hot and sharp objects.

If you don’t mind your dog being in the kitchen, training your dog with an “off” command is essential. This command should let them know they need to remove their paws from whatever surface they have jumped upon and return to the floor. Reward calm behaviors and consider offering your dog a place to settle in the kitchen if they enjoy being near you while you’re cooking.

Stop Digging in the Trash

Just as crucial as preventing your dog from begging for food before and after your meal is keeping an eye on the scraps that end up in the trash afterward. Make sure that wherever you dispose of food after your meal is not accessible to your dog, as many human foods can be dangerous or deadly to our dogs. Your kitchen trash should be protected within a cabinet, or boundaries should be put in place using commands or an invisible fencing solution. No pet owner wants to end up at the emergency vet after a relaxing meal because their dog got a hold of dangerous chicken bones from the trash.

Enlist Professional Help for Begging

If you’ve done all of the above and are still having issues with your dog begging for food, it may be time to enlist professional help. You can find dog trainers that will come into your home and provide hands-on training and advice on how to help your dog and specific begging situation.

Contact Superior Dog Fence Today!

Superior Dog Fence specializes in pet containment systems that go under the ground. This provides a safe way for your pet to learn boundaries and protect them from strangers and running away. We have many solutions for pets depending on the size of your yard and other options for your convenience. We are locally owned and have lower overhead than some of our big competitors – which is obvious by our pricing! Give us a call today to learn more!