by Terie Hansen
Does Your Dog Hover and Beg?
There is nothing more irritating for many dog owners then having their dog(s) hover or beg for food. Even worse, you have company over and Fido plants his head on your guest’s lap while they are trying to enjoy the dinner you so generously prepared!
Picture this… You are trying to enjoy a meal whether at the dinner table or the sofa (where many people seem to eat these days) and your dog is sitting right in front of you, staring you down, waiting for that inevitable morsel to fall or be tossed. Maybe they are sitting ON the sofa next to you. You try to fend them off with one hand and simultaneously try to hold your fork and eat with the other! Sound familiar?
Creating boundaries around your dinner table, your sofa or anything else is really quite simple. It does however take patience and persistence. Keep in mind if you own multiple dogs it may take a little longer to get results. Practice one dog at a time so that you can see that it is possible.
Grab a bag of chips and sit on your sofa or at your dinner table. The moment the dog comes over to investigate you will stand up, snap your fingers and point like you are telling him to go away. DO NOT SAY A WORD, DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT. If he tries to go around you just block him with your body (shall we dance?). You will block and keep standing until one of two things happens, the dog lays down or walks away. Those are his ONLY options. If he sits and looks at you or just stands there you are not finished! The moment he lays down or begins to walk away immediately turn and sit back down. This tells the dog that he did the right thing. Don’t say “good boy!” as he will just come back over.
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