Saturday, June 16, 2012

Obedience Training Can Train Your Dog To Stop Begging At The Table

By Suzie Dharm


If your dog is begging at the table, consider giving yourself a smack on the hand. This is one situation where the owner is more to blame than the dog. Without even being aware, you have trained your dog to become a beggar. While this badly behaved behaviour isn't precisely the worst thing that your dog could do, it is exasperating. It could also progress to swiping food when you are not looking.

In this eventuality, canine obedience training concentrates on un-conditioning your buddy. With a little patience undoing this behavior is easy. Understand that your dog is motivated by food. The drive to eat is a powerful instinct. This explains why dog obedience trainers so frequently use treat rewards. It exploits an evolutionary urge. Since the dawn of time, humans have been proved to be a trustworthy source for obtaining food.

It usually starts innocently enough: your dog asks for food and you give it to him. In time though, your dog learns this works. The behaviour escalates because he knows that if he is insistent enough, he's going to get his reward. And hence the monster is formed. Some owners take the trail of least resistance and will feed their dog to stop the begging. It is often easier than saying no thanks.

You can correct your dog from begging at the table using obedience training. You can't surrender to the behavior or it will become even harder to begin to break. This advice will help even the most determined beggar if you apply them constantly.

- Set up a regimented schedule. Feed your dog at a set time each day. This creates a predictable routine that your dog will learn how to expect.

- Constrain your dog during mealtimes to a crate or another room. This is an excellent time to give him his evening meal. You are eliminating the temptation.

- Create a "will work for food" policy in your home. Using obedience training, offer treats as a reward. Don't give them unreservedly; make your dog earn them.

- Never punish your dog for begging. He won't understand why he is being corrected.

Begging is simply corrected using the techniques discussed above. A nicely behaved dog is a dog that understands his bounds. Be consistent and firm. In virtually no time, you will find that your furry friend's manners have improved.




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