The first step to knowing how to stop puppy begging is to
understand why they beg. It is not a natural instinct but rather it is learned.
However, you can prevent your puppy from learning this. It starts by feeding
the puppy human food, such as slipping him food from under the table or
allowing them to lick your plate.
Before long, your puppy is waiting by the table because he
knows that someone will feed him. Feeding him from the table teaches him to ask
for more, and thus puppy begging ensues.
This habit that your puppy may learn is annoying and
distracting even though it is harmless. The easiest way to stop your puppy from
begging is not to teach them to beg in the first place.
When it is time for your family to eat, put your puppy away
so that he is not in the room for the family meal. This will not give him the
opportunity to make cute faces at you and share your dinner with you. You
should establish this routine the day you bring the puppy home.
How do you stop begging if it has already started? Be
persistent and consistent. Stop giving your puppy anything when he begs for it.
If you give in even once, this will teach your puppy that it is okay to beg,
because you have rewarded him for it and he will know that begging will get him
results.
The best way to train your puppy to stop begging is to
remove him from the scene while you are eating. Although this reinforcement is
negative, it will work best while you refuse to give into your puppys begging.
One way to do this is to put the dog away during mealtimes, as mentioned
earlier.
There are two other methods that will help to stop puppy
begging. The first is feeding your puppy at the same time that you eat with
your family. Doing this will distract the puppy from your meal, since he will
be preoccupied with his food. If you choose this method, feed him in a separate
room from where the family eats.
The other method is equally simple. When your
puppy is near someone that is eating, give the puppy a firm command to go away.
Yelling or shouting is not necessary. Simply make sure that the puppy does not
get comfortable being near people who are eating, so that he will not beg.
