Face in my plate
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| I don't think there's anything wrong with putting her out but I think it would be better to try to curb the behavior instead, just in case you guests over or you can't put her out.
I'm not one to talk because Lucy knows that I will feed her if she hangs out long enough. I always have and probably always will. However, never in front of Clyde because I vowed to not do that with him so she'll sit and wait through a whole meal (though never intrusive so it doesn't bother me) but he'll hang out for a minute, I tell him no and ignore him. If he tries again, I push him away, make him sit and ignore him. He usually gets bored with this after a couple of times and goes somewhere else. Then after the meal, I praise him if he hasn't bothered me (and if he's still close enough to understand that it was related to it!) But he's a puppy and a little easier to mold. Do you know anything about her history? Do you think she's always been table fed? |
| Thanks for input. Beloved pet of an older couple -- I'm guessing that she probably was table fed. I'd like to break the cycle. She will sit but not stay. She lies down reluctantly and I feel bad making her do it because she seems a tad arthritic. I will probably try a refresher training course with her but I don't know what to do in the meantime to correct the behavior. |
| Valerie, We sometimes put Panda outside when we eat. There is nothing wrong with that!! Especially if you cant make her lay down and stay...It took Panda a while to realize that she wasnt going to get any food..at first she was outside every meal...now she lays at our feet, no begging..but it took a while...what about giving her a toy that might occupy her while you eatt? |
| I have a 14.5 yr. old female. I solved that problem by feeding her at the same time we eat dinner.
She's happy because she's eating with the "pack". She thinks we're eating the same thing. Sometimes she gets a little dab of what we're having to assure her that she's not missing out on anything. She eats in the kitchen. I have a baby gate at the door to keep her in there while we eat in the other room. |
| I think I will try the baby gate idea. I'm so used to cats and I've never needed to restrain or quarantine them. I do feed Chumleigh at the same time as me but she either ignores her food (I don't think she likes it) or just eats a bit and then wants attenion. This morning, I gave her one of those "meaty bones" from petsmart. That kept her occupied while I had breakfast. But those are pretty pricey. . . I am going to try to find a butcher for real bones. It is a bit of a challenge to find the line between being loving and being a total pushover. . .Cats are less complicated. |
valerie wrote: I am going to try to find a butcher for real bones. Careful with the real thing. Some very loving dogs will show you just how "unloving" they can be if they think you're getting too close to their bone, while others will allow you to take it right from their mouths. Just wanted to point that out because sometimes people give the bone, walk away, forget its on the floor and if a child or someone happens to get to close and the dog sees that, well.......................... before you have time to remember the bones on the floor, it's too late.......... Also, when I do give my dog "people food", I always stir it in well with her food so she can't just take it off the top of the bowl. That way, she has to eat her food and that gives me more time to eat in peace.  |
| Good tip -- thanks. I don't have kids but I am protective of my poor kitty who does not seem to understand why this giant creature is always blocking his way. |
| Hi,
Okay here goes...Don't give in!!! No matter how sweet and or sad the face she gives you...do not give in to giving her a piece of something off your plate. ..Haaa of course I'm saying that after having 7 dogs and many years later of what I wished I knew then what I know now. Just like raising a couple kids..you become smarter with each one as you see some of the mistakes you've made and correct it with the preceeding ones. I made the mistake with Shaggy and Blue..sneaking them a bit of tidbit under the table..I'm sure my kids did too. Now Blue is 15 and although I can leave a full plate of goodies even at his eye level he won't touch it. He does however, sit and get into my face and gives me that mournful , oh please feed me look and drools. Blue is part Lab and the drooling is a trait of theirs. Trust me not very apetizing. I got smarter with Panda and Merlin, NEVER fed them anything from my plate and they ignore me at dinner. In dog life..the Alpha usually eats first or the best stuff and the other dogs learn to leave them alone. I can sit on the couch and eat a snack and they have learned that I'm not giving in. Okay I feel like a greedy glutton..but whatever you do ..be prepared to keep it up for the next 10 years or more. I've learned my lesson! 
I also feed them at the same time. Still, you'll find for the next 2 years, 5 years..perhaps even 10 years there will be circumstances where you'll be eating or hosting a party and you do not want your furball to sit infront of a guest begging for treats. It may be the dead of Winter and may not be possible to put them outside, so feeding them their own food and always ignoring them when you eat yours is the advice I'd give. If I choose to feed them a "people" food ...it's put away and given at the next meal in their kibbles..like mouthypf does. Marianne and the boys |
Marianne wrote: ..Haaa of course I'm saying that after having 7 dogs and many years later of what I wished I knew then what I know now........................ .................so feeding them their own food and always ignoring them when you eat yours is the advice I'd give. AMEN!!!  Another little trick I used with "my" snack time, was to turn my back to the dog. Kind of like Marianne was describing about the Alpha. I felt like a heel, but it worked for me. And, like with kids, "never" let them see or hear you laughing at the expression you'll get. You WILL, hurt their feelings.  |
| Oh boy. This is very very helpful. I don't have any instinct to want to feed her tidbits from my meal. Every dog in my extended family begs at the table and after many years without a dog ane subjected to begging from other peoples dogs, well, i am pretty steel-willed about it. At my family gatherings, they all coax me to just give him a bit, a bite, a piece, c'mon. As if I were being really unfair not to give in. I never do. I wonder how long it will take Chumleigh to realize she will never get a rewarded for that behavior from me? I mean, they are so hopeful and optimistic. She does not seem at all interested in chew toys but bones do keep her occupied a bit. . . |
valerie wrote: I do feed Chumleigh at the same time as me but she either ignores her food (I don't think she likes it) or just eats a bit and then wants attention.
You might want to try the "gesture eating" technique from The Dog Listener book. The idea is that you prepare Chumleigh's food on the counter and put out a bit of something for yourself too. The author suggests crackers, we use mixed nuts. Make Chumleigh sit and eat your bit of food while she watches. Then put down her bowl. The idea is that pack leaders eat first. But the result we've had with Bailey is that once we tell him that he can eat, he stays at the bowl until he's done. I think he's decided that if he doesn't finish it, we'll eat it! Bailey doesn't beg at the table, but if we decide to eat sitting on the couch he will come over and sniff at whatever plate you're holding. But since he never gets people food he's pretty easy to correct. |
| OK. I've been trying the techniques and the situation is improving. . . She wants to be a good girl, I think. Thanks for the help. |
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