Does your dog beg for food at the table? Do they beg even from strangers when you’re at a restaurant? Then you should know, that you are one-hundredth percent guilty of this yourself. If a dog learns to beg for human food, it is an educational mistake. But the good news is, that you can unteach them to do this.
Of course it is ideal, if the dog never learns to beg. For example, my dog never had an issue with this. And otherwise, he is quite a mischievous little dog. But he has never gotten food at a table from anyone, not even while meat was cut in the kitchen. Thanks to this, he has learned that when people are eating, it doesn’t mean, that he is going to. He just knows, that human food is not for him, and that’s why he doesn’t even try to beg for it.
However, if you fail to resist the begging stare of dog’s eyes in the puppy age and from time to time, you give your doggy a piece of food off your plate, he will get used to that whenever you’re eating, something tasty might come from it. Then you can’t wonder why they are begging. They just learn that such behaviour pays off and from their point of view, it is rewarded with a treat.
Unfortunately, it may happen, that even if you yourself will consistently teach your dog, that they shouldn’t beg, then some of your friends or family members might secretly slip something to them under the table here and there. You leave your not begging dog for someone else to watch and you will get a first-class bum in return. What can you do? Steel yourself with patience and start to ignore the begging dog. This way, you can unteach them the begging skills again.
If the dog comes to the table during a meal, starts throwing heart-wrenching stares at you or they start whining or put their snout in your lap. Simply ignore them completely. It is no good to start talking to them in a kind voice, since then they can interpret this as a positive signal which approves of their behaviour. In short, it is ideal, if the dog stays at their place when the humans are dining, in their bed or on their blanket and they aren’t at the table at all. Simply put: before you start eating, send your dog friend to their place.
But if the dog sets off to you to the table, immediately send them back to their place, so that it is clear to them that they are not welcome at the table and nothing good is waiting for them there. If the dog should come back to the place by you after you send them to their place, always order them strongly, to go back.
And one final advice: if you ever wanted to give your dog, for example, a piece of meat that you are cutting in the kitchen, or a piece of your own food, for instance (even though, this is definitely not necessary in case of a balanced diet), always put the food into their own bowl. The dog just has to remember that they are getting their food only in their own bowl, or as a reward during training and not from a human plate that you are eating from at the moment.
So if you have a little dog beggar at home, try to be consistent and patient, and you will see, that they will unlearn this undesirable behaviour after some time.
If you’re thinking about starting canistherapy with your four-legged friend, but you don’t know whether you would manage, here you will find a brief overview of the characteristics your dog is supposed to have and what he should all know.
Dermatological problems are one of the most frequent reasons of veterinary visits. Cats often suffer from them as well. A skin problem may appear due to several reasons and you may not notice it immediately. Also because of the time that cats devote to...
Toxocariasis is the most frequent parasitosis in dogs and cats. If we want to keep both ourselves and our pets safe, regular deworming is necessary. Do you know what’s behind this disease and how it’s transmitted?
If you’re thinking about getting a rabbit, maybe you will find handy a bit of advice how to house him at home. A rabbit has certain needs as any other animal and it’s up to us, the owners, to make its life as comfortable as possible.
Holiday time is approaching fast and maybe you’re considering where to go with your four-legged friend. If you’d like to go camping, there are certainly many things you should consider. You have to plan and pack not only for yourself, but also for your...
Zoonoses are diseases common to both animals and humans. Are you interested in how such a disease can be transmitted, which ones are we at risk of in the Czech Republic or how to defend against them?
Guinea pigs are one of the most common pets that parents get for their children. They are considerably less demanding to take care of than cats or dogs. They stand out among rodents because of their sociable nature, willingness to snuggle and they are...
I have already written about dogs and how they (don’t) feel pain. So let’s look at cats. It is often not very simple to recognize. But the early recognition of the problem is important for their health and well-being.
Last time, I explained that allergy to fur as such does not exist. I wrote about allergens, the symptoms of allergy and the breeds that are hypoallergenic. Today, I will share with you how to cope with the allergy without giving your pet away.
Did you know that the concept of "allergy to fur" is actually a nonsense? The hair itself are not the only allergens. So what exactly is the person allergic to if he/she is allergic to dogs/cats and does he/she have to get rid of the animal immediately...
No matter that the surgery is minor, each brings certain risks. It is also a mental and physical burden for the animal. I wrote down several tips how you can eliminate the risks and the burden as much as possible.
This is really what this sport is about – herding balloons. The aim is the same as for herding sheep, get all the balls into the gate. And do not be mistaken, treiball is not only for herding dogs. You can do this sport with dogs of any race, size and...
