Is your dog begging? Want to help him stop? We loved this article (by Michelle Posage, DVM, a Veterinarian who deals exclusively in pet behavior diagnosis and treatment) on how you and your dog can break the habit together!

“The simple approach of only feeding Fido from his food bowl is very effective. But what if it is too late for prevention and begging behavior is already well established? Actually, the same approach works here, too, but it will not be as simple.

• Feed your dog first. Make sure she has a full stomach before you sit down for your own meal.

• Exercise your dog. Try to fit in a game of fetch or a long walk before dinnertime. A tired dog is usually a good dog.

• Segregate. Keep your dog in a crate or behind a gate during meal time. Alternatively, teach your dog to “down” and “stay” on a pet bed while you are eating. Reward this behavior with treats.

• Use distraction. A food puzzle toy can be a great reward for leaving you alone while you eat.

• Yelling and hitting does not work. This approach will usually backfire by rewarding the dog with attention or causing anxiety or aggression.

• Remote punishment, such as the squirt of water from a spray bottle, can be helpful when training a stubborn dog (and if you lack patience). Timing and consistency is the key here. You must be prepared to spray your dog within seconds of the unwanted behavior every single time it occurs.”

Read the whole thing HERE !