Those big brown eyes, those pleading paws, the little bit of drool: it’s enough to melt the hardest of hearts. Dogs are artful beggars but it’s easy enough to learn how to change their begging behaviour.

Jack russel terrier begging

Understand why

If your dog is pawing at your leg or intently watching the food travel from the plate to your mouth, somewhere along the line they were probably rewarded for begging, this may have begun as a puppy. Your dog may also turn to begging if you offer rewards at random. Good pet care means only rewarding your dog immediately after they perform a desired behaviour otherwise they will come to expect treats for nothing in particular. It’s also important to remember that you should only reward dogs with treats specifically designed for them, not for you would eat yourself.

Ignore

If you have a dogged beggar on your hands then you need to ignore them. No matter how convincing their puppy-dog eyes are, remind yourself your dog is well fed and doesn’t need extra food from your plate. Attention of any kind can reinforce their behaviour so don’t yell, make eye contact or even say their name. The easiest way to do this is to remove your dog from the room while you eat.

Be consistent

If you slip up and reward your dog for begging even once then all your hard work will go to waste. Make sure the entire family is on board: you don’t want one family member caving in and undermining your progress in teaching your dog not to beg.

Offer an alternative

If you remove your dog from the room, make sure you send them to their bed or time-out spot and ensure they have something to keep them occupied. You could also feed your pet their own dinner at the same time, or give them an interactive toy until you finish eating. Reward your pet for not begging by providing them with a treat before you release them.

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