Uncover 7 Surefire Ways To Stop Your Dog From Begging

By : Kayla Noto
Does your dog whine when you sit down to eat dinner? Does he give you the big, glossy, sad eyes and pleading paw act in hopes that you'll give him that last piece of morsel off your plate? I say don’t fall for the ole dog begging act. Dogs relish attention--good or bad; it motivates them to do the things they do. If their action creates a reaction, you can certainly expect more of it--good or bad. Be strong and ignore him.

If you choose to give into your dog’s begging antics just remember dinnertime or any mealtime will never be the same again for you, your family or guests. Your dog’s starving performance will soon evolve into more interesting acts as he adds to the mix longingly stares, drooling, barking, balancing on his hinds legs, jumping up, and scurrying all around the room when little scraps by chance happen to fall on the floor.

The Problems with Table Feeding Your Dog

Feeding your dog scraps at the table encourages his bad behavior--begging. It puts him at risk of becoming overweight, because in addition to his regular daily dog meal(s), he’ll be eating the scraps you provide him and any other tidbits he can "mooch" from others at the table.

Additionally, food scraps can be unsafe for some dogs; many experience diarrhea, vomiting or develop a serious case of "knock-you-down" gas. A dog’s digestive system is very sensitive and eating too much human food, which can be high in fat, sugar or sodium, could easily make him ill or cause instant death.

Certain ingredients or foods that are outright toxic to dogs include tomatoes, onion and garlic, grapes and raisins, chocolate, and macadamia nuts. Other foods that are unhealthy for a dog includes raw meats, raw bones, cooked bones, cookies, cakes, ice creams, fried and greasy foods.

Can’t He Have Just A Little...

What? No Sunday dinner steaks? No sharing our Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey bird? You don’t have to be super strict at the table; your dog can enjoy some human food. If you insist on feeding your dog a few delicious morsels, then place them into his food bowl or dish preferably after your mealtime or while cleaning up--do not hand feed your dog. Or, save the scraps for the next day and add it to his dish in place of some of his regular ration.

Refrain from dumping your fettuccine alfredo or your kids’ mac-n-cheese pasta dish into your dog’s bowl. Select healthy, low-fat scraps to give to your dog. Ideal leftover foods include: lean meats, rice, cooked vegetables, small pieces of fruit, low-fat cottage cheese, broiled, skinless chicken, etc. Remember, occasional tidbits of food offered to your dog as a treat is fine, but daily, large portions of food scraps are not; be wise and moderate in your offerings.

How To Stop Your Dog From Begging

1. Instruct each family member and request visitors not to feed "Buster" at the table. Try to enforce the rule as best as possible.

2. Ignore your dog’s begging act. This may be difficult to do initially, but after a couple of mealtime sessions being ignored your dog will catch on and eventually stop begging.

If you have been feeding your dog from the table for a while, it could take longer for him to stop his annoying begging behavior--just be patient. If he remained quiet during mealtime and showed no signs of begging, praise him lovingly and offer him a doggie treat.

3. If he, however, continues to beg, switch tactics. This might be a good time to put your dog into his crate or out in the backyard or in a designated room where he can relax while you eat. Make it a fun and pleasant experience--never punishing.

4. If your dog is trained to understand the down and stay command, exercise the commands when he misbehaves at the table.

5. If you wish, before you sit to eat your meal, send your dog to his designated "meal waiting spot." Provide him with some entertainment while he waits. Try giving him a bone to chew on or fill a rubber tube toy with his favorite food treats.

6. Try feeding your dog before you sit down to eat. Hopefully with a full belly he will not be inclined to beg.

7. Try exhausting your dog with some fun playtime or exercise before your mealtime. With any luck, he would rather take a nap while everyone is eating.

Continue to enforce the "no feeding the dog at the table" policy, along with following the above-mentioned dog training tips and ideas. Before long, you will have a well-mannered dog you can be proud of and everyone will love to have around—even at mealtimes.

Article Source: http://animalarticles.com


Kayla Noto is an avid dog lover and educator, brimming with insightful, tips and ideas that helps dog owners better understand the going ons of their canine companions. Uncover effective techniques to training your dog and curbing bad dog behaviors. To receive your free 4-day mini e-course today, visit: www.dogtrainingonlinetips.com

House Training A Puppy - Three Important Tips

By : David Anthony
House training a puppy need not be that difficult and can actually be enjoyable. Playtime with your new puppy can be fun, but did you also know that it could be the first steps in your puppy's education as well? Even in the wild, young wolf cubs learn about their world through play and your puppy is no different. By utilizing play as a tool you can effectively teach your pup all the basics that will help her be a well-behaved dog when she grows up.

The most important word your dog will probably ever learn is the word "No". Pups as early as six weeks old are capable of learning the implications of "no" and it is a lesson that will be carried throughout their lives with you. This one command can go a long way to protecting your dog from harming herself or others.

And it's easy. Dogs, even puppies, are adept at recognizing tone of voice. When they learn to associate a displeased, forceful tone of voice with the word no, you will not in the future have to be so forceful in your utterances. But first you do have to get his attention. When the pup does something wrong, simply pick him up, gain eye contact and tell him very firmly, "No." It will get an immediate reaction. Depending on your pup's personality, he will drop his head and become sheepish, growl or attempt to talk you out of it by asking you to play. If either of the latter two happens, you will have to repeat the command to show that you are not kidding.

Then, simply let it go. Put the pup down and keep a watchful eye on his response. A rebellious pup may repeat the action as a way to test you, in which case you need to repeat the process. Be gentle, but be firm and consistent and your pup should get the message.

As for the other things that your baby needs to know, you will probably default to teaching him the proper way to go potty. This is actually easier than you might think, as pups are a lot smarter than they look. Timing is, however, everything. If you notice a puddle on the floor and your pup has since gone off to play with his ball, the only thing you can do is clean it up and watch him more closely. Don't rub his nose in it, or he will simply be hurt and confused. What you want to do is catch him in the act. When you see him start to take a tinkle, grab him and take him outside. Chances are he will be so shocked that he will save some for the yard, and when he goes there you can praise him lavishly.

The third thing that your pup needs to know is that he should never put his teeth on a human being. This is a tough one, as it is so much fun to play "bite" with a youngster. But when they are older, you really don't want them to play so rough. So when you play with him, be sure to do so with toys that are okay for him to bite. If he bites when you are trying to pet him, tell him no and give him his toy or put his toy right in his mouth. If he persists, pick him up and tell him no. If you are consistent, you should get good results.

Once your pup understands his first command, goes potty in the proper spots and ceases puppy-biting, he is on his way to becoming a well-socialized dog and a pleasure to be around.

Article Source: http://animalarticles.com


David Anthony provides informative and highly researched dog breed tips and guides at www.onlinedogbreeds.com . You can find a wealth of dog related information on a variety of topics such as choosing the best puppies for families to help in finding the right family dog for you and your children.

Tools for Training

By : John Neyman Jr.
In the dog trainers’ arsenal of tools and tactics, there are many great items that will assist in the task and make things much easier for you. Items such as clickers, leashes of different varieties, halters, electronic collars, electronic and chemical training aids, muzzles and treat carriers all have their place in the trainers world and can prove very useful in your efforts to train your dog. Let’s take a few minutes to explore some of the various tools of the trade.

We shall begin our discussion with the clicker. This handy device is usually made up of a small plastic box with a piece of formed metal inside of it. It emits a clicking noise by pressing down and then releasing the metal. This sound is a quick attention getter for most dogs and once they are taught to recognize the sound, they can discern it even over much background noise or relatively long distances. It is used a great deal by trainers who focus mainly on positive reinforcements.

Next in line are a variety of leashes. These handy tools can range from a very short leash with less than eighteen inches of length to an extremely long leash of twenty feet or more. The shorter leashes are used for more control when working on training an animal for up close behaviors such as the Sit, Heel and Stay commands or when walking thru large crowds where longer leashes could pose dangers for your dog or other people. The longer leashes are used for behaviors that allow more freedom and come with some nice features such as the retractable leash which is essentially a long leash on a spring loaded spool that will allow the dog to explore at a distance but will coil itself back as the animal returns, thus preventing trip hazards and tangling. In the same group as leashes, we find the halter which is essentially an extension of the collar, which forms itself around the upper torso of the dog thus allowing more control for the owner and less strain on the dogs’ neck. Halters are also made use of for working dogs such as Seeing Eye dogs and police or military animals.

After the leashes we find another control device; the electronic collar. These negative reinforcement devices come in two major categories, sonic and shock emitting. The sonic version is the more humane of the two and emits a discomforting sound when the dog performs a certain disagreeable behavior such as traveling beyond the limits of an invisible fence perimeter or jumping onto furniture. The second version works in the same manner but has the added enforcement of delivering a painful electric shock.

There is also a variety of training aids, both electronic and chemical based, for combating specific behaviors. One of the most popular electronic aids is the electronic shock mat, which is placed on furniture to keep your pet from jumping onto your leather couch or expensive recliners. These devices emit a mild but persuasive electrical shock when the pet comes into contact with them. (A cautionary note: Don’t forget to remove these items before you sit down on the furniture. It might prove to be a shocking experience. ) Chemical based training aids include such products as Bitter Apple sprays or creams, which are used to prevent chewing or self-mutilation behaviors. Other such products are administered as a dietary supplement to produce calmness in excessively overactive dogs or to stop a dog from eating feces.

Some trainers also use muzzles as a way to curb nipping behaviors. It is a good idea to give your pet at least some familiarity with this item as many veterinarian offices now use them to avoid injury to the staff during procedures such as nail clipping or shots and it can be very stressful on a pet who has never encountered the device before. Muzzles are also useful in training dogs to stop barking and to avoid aggressive behaviors and injuries when a gathering of many animals is expected or when introducing your pet to a new animal in the household such as the family cat.

Last but not least, and certainly the most appreciated by your dog, are the special treat carriers that have become quite popular in training circles. These carriers provide a clean way for you to carry a whole days worth of treats on your side without having to dirty your pockets or have your hands full constantly. They are an excellent choice for outdoors types who take their dogs on back packing adventures or for a days hunting as they provide an ample supply of treats and they are relatively light and easy to carry.

This listing was composed of just a few basic tools of the trade. There are many other training aids that we do not have time to discuss here but feel free to visit your local pet store and find out more about the ever growing line of pet supplies and how they can aid you in your training ventures.

Article Source: http://animalarticles.com


John E. Neyman, Jr. is a Pastor, an internet marketer, a counselor, life coach. www.dogsareforever.com/