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Most dogs I know will eat just about anything off the human table that you give them, some may want a quick sniff, others the treat wont touch the sides. I prefer to eat my meals with my family without a dog hanging around waiting for titbits. If you want to avoid dogs hanging around the food table the best approach is to start as you mean to go on.

In the dog world there is a hierarchy that you may already be aware of, the alpha is at the top with others in a pecking order underneath. In the wild the alpha will eat first, with the more junior members of the pack eating when given permission. This is why even when giving your dogs their own food it is a good idea to make them sit and wait for a few moments, before allowing them to approach their bowl. This reinforces your position in the hierarchy, letting them know they only eat when you give permission.

When you act as the alpha there must be a firm rule that you control access to Food.

As with other areas of dog training it is important to be consistent, never give your dog a treat at the table, dont allow friends or family to indulge it was just a small one. Dogs dont know which times are appropriate and which aren't.

A dogs main sense is the sense of smell they use scent to hunt and scavenge for food. It is natural for a dog to approach when they smell food. A dog will very quickly learn if you indulge them, that the smell of food means they will be given something to eat.

A good habit to get into is to ensure your dog knows to go to set place at your meal times. It can become a relatively stress free routine for your dog to go to its bed when you are eating. A little bit of patience in the early stages will reap rewards. I never mind a couple of cold meals when my new dog is learning to go to its bed when we eat.

You can train your dog not to beg for food by using the same techniques you would use to train them to perform any other desired behaviour. When you have identified a place for them to go, use voice such as commands 'go', 'sit', stay or bed. However dont be tempted to reward obedience with a treat, since that's exactly the opposite message youre trying to get across.

You dogs health is a good reason for not allowing feeding from the table, one of the major causes in obesity in dogs is the additional food given around human meal times. Many owners that indulge in the practice of feeding from the table or giving scraps do not make a compensating reduction in a dogs main food portion.

As with any dog training, when teaching good behaviour around food, consistency, patience and persistence are the main ingredients (no pun intended). If you persevere you pet will respond they way you want, even when they smell delicious food.

Terry King runs Parcel Pets, a leading UK pet supplies web site and has had pets all his life. He lives with his wife Louise, dog Sam, Cat Sabrina and 5 fish!

posted by qzqcuz  # 7:40 PM