Stop Begging!

Is your dog notorious for begging? Those big eyes or whine that tug at your heartstrings.

Dog owners usually respond to begging in one of two ways: getting angry or annoyed with their dog, or giving in. Neither of these is a helpful approach to begging.

Even if your dog is not begging for food, giving in can have negative consequences. Each time you turn your attention to him when he whines, you are actually teaching him that whining and begging is an effective way to get your attention. This will encourage him to keep doing it.

So how can you get your dog to stop begging? Here are three simple but effective tips:

1. Eat together. No, I do not mean setting a place at the table for your dog; I mean scheduling meals so that you and your dog are eating at the same time. If you give your dog his own food while you are eating, he will be less likely to beg for your food because he will be too busy with his own. This will also put him on a feeding schedule, which is better for your dog in general.

2. Give him something else to do. Along the same lines as tip #1, if you give your dog a favorite toy during the times that he is most likely to beg, it will keep him occupied and distracted. This also rewards him for leaving you alone during mealtimes.

3. Tire him out before dinner. Sometimes dogs beg because they are bored. Too much energy and no way to use it can lead to all sorts of annoying habits in dogs. You can cut down or even eliminate begging with some exercise. Simply take your dog out for a long walk or a brisk run before you sit down to eat, and he will be resting during the meal.

If your dog's begging is less about food and more about attention, he could actually be suffering from a mild case of separation anxiety. In addition to the toys and exercise mentioned above, you can use naturally-produced compounds to relax your dog. D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) products mimic the calming natural chemicals secreted by nursing mother dogs, sending a signal of comfort and safety to her puppies. When your dog senses these pheromones he feels comforted and safe, and thus is less likely to display signs of stress such as begging.

Begging and Dogs

Company coming over for the holidays?

Does your dog beg for food at your parties?

Dog owners who have a begging dog problem must have rewarded the behavior at some point, either inadvertently or intentionally. Some owners of begging dogs decide to try to break the cycle of begging and reinforcement, but do not have the willpower to stay the course.

Instead, they occasionally cave in, reinforcing the dog's begging behavior on a random intermittent schedule. This schedule of reinforcement produces the most indelible learning of all. It ensures that the dog will continue to beg on the off chance that next time he may win.

Here are several suggestions to eliminate begging:

Have a set feeding regimen for your dog. For instance, feed him twice daily at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Feed proprietary dog food only so that there is no confusion over what is human food and what is dog food.

Feed your dog at the same time as you sit down to eat, so that he is fully occupied during mealtimes. Also, feed him in a separate location.

If necessary, crate train or tie your dog so that he is not free to roam (and beg) at mealtimes, but make sure he has something to do when confined.

Never give in to begging after you have indicated, "no" – not even once. Recognize begging for what it is and stand fast against repeat requests.

Remember that a behavior that worked in the past will initially be carried out at an even greater frequency when the expected reward is withheld. Do not worry about this exacerbation and do not let it weaken in your resolve. Your dog will eventually stop trying something that does not work. (Does this sound familiar to raising children?)

Teach doggy Zen. Hold a food item in your closed hand. Whatever your dog does by way of begging/nudging do not open your hand. When he relaxes into calm acceptance of the fact that you are in control, by sitting patiently and stopping begging, say "take it" and open your hand. You are now training an acceptable behavior – waiting for a command (more appropriately cue) before the "goods" are produced. The message is that good manners work; bad manners do not.

Punishment is never appropriate. Your dog would not understand why he was being punished and would wind up confused. Punishment teaches a dog nothing except how to avoid the punisher.

A well-behaved dog is a pleasure to have around. One that is constantly trying to push people's buttons is often viewed as a little beggar. The decision to reward or not reward should be made by the owner, not coaxed by the dog.

If the time is not right for the game in question, the dog should be instructed to perform some other behavior that is incompatible with asking/begging, such as going to his dog bed or blanket and lying down. This will only be possible if the owner exhibits firm but fair leadership.

Be in charge. Stay in control. As your faithful friend and follower, your dog will appreciate your lead.