Learning to beg for food is the easiest thing for a puppy or older dog to learn. This habit is usually encouraged by the dog's owner. Today we shall look at this problem and how to avoid it.Puppies are inclined to beg when the family is having its meals. Some owners throw a morsel out of their meals as a cute stunt. In some cases, the dog picks up this habit when food is accidentally dropped on the floor around the dining table or in the kitchen, or if the food is left at a place from where the puppy can get it easily. Dog owners do not realise that a dog's taste discrimination is so strong that spiced table food ruins a puppy's appreciation of its own usual food. There is nothing worse than a dog sitting next to you on the ground while you are at the dining table and it sighs, moans, paws you and repeatedly barks to remind you to give him food. This kind of situation is barely tolerable when it is just a daily family dinner, and is completely unacceptable when you have guests. Correcting the bad habit of begging takes time, depending on the length of time the habit has been fostered as well as the consistency of the owner in disciplining him. The dog should be given food before the family sits down for lunch or dinner. Never gove any food or tidbits while you are eating. If you have some tidbits or a toy bone to give, don't do so until the kitchen work has been completed. No puppy is free from the inclination to beg but when he does, scold him and pout him into his box bed or bathroom. Another method of breaking him of his begging habit is to start placing the leash and collar on him before dinner. The instant he starts begging from any one, give him a hard corrective herk and a loud reprimand. Tell everyone at the table what is about to happen so that it doesn't upset them. Scavenging in garbage binsThis habit is not only disgusting but can also cause illness for the dog and even for the members of the family. If the dog reaches the uncovered trash cans, it may scatter the dirty stuff inside the house.In addition, he may ingest it, leading to some serious infection. It may even throw up inside the house, costing the owner not only a great deal of money but also considerable hassle. If the dog eats sharp split chicken bones, it may even die. This problem can arise irrespective of whether the owner is at home or not. Food odours lure both puppies and grown-up dogs. To avoid this, keep trash cans and garbage pails properly covered. If possible, these items can be kept in places inaccessible to your dog. If the animal shows this tendency outside the house, pull him away with his leash and scold him while sayong `NO'. Another method is to create a simulated situation and reprimand him. But do praise him when he obeys you. Taking food from the table.Almost every dog owner has at least one such story about the pet stealing food from the dining table or kitchen counter. The problem is somewhat related to begging. To get rid of this bad habit, never feed the dog anything from the table or any of the food prepartation area. Make sure no family member violates this rule. Another way of curing this habit is to keep a bit of freshly-cooked food which the dog likes most, on the table or kitchen table. Step back and wait. As soon as the dog goes for it, yell `NO' and simultaneously create a sharp noise with an utensil or other object without hitting him. This type of correction will startle him and help him to end the annoying habit.
