We have had our Dally since he was 8 weeks, and he is now 14 months old. During this time we have been aware that we don't want a "begging" dog and so Jazz has NEVER has any titbits from our plate, or from the table. If we do give him any extras thay are given to him well after we have finished, and into his bowl in the kitchen so he doesn't connect us eating with goodies for him.
As a result of this, we have been able to take him to bbq's and picnics without too much bother. Even though we have kept a very keen eye on him, our friends toddlers have been able to wander around, food in hand without being bothered by a thieving puppy.

Last week we has some foreign students staying with us and we told them not to feed the dog.
A couple of nights, we ate seperate from them so gave them their dinner in the dining room and busied myself doing other things whilst they were eating. On the 3rd day I noticed that Jazz was sticking his nose into their laps whilst they were at the table. He has never done this before, and so was told to get on his bed. He went, but then as soon as my back was turned he was back fussing round them. In the end I had to shut him out the dining room. My OH then caught them at half 1 in the morning feeding Jazz ham straight from the fridge.
He shouted at them and they just shoved it back into the fridge and sloped off to bed. Having monitored them closely for the remainder of their stay we managed to stop them doing it again but I am now left with a dog that has turned into a complete mugger.

I ate a peice of toast wandering the garden this morning and he badgered me the whole time - despite being told no very firmly indeed. Again dinner times have been a nightmare. Last night we managed to get him to sit outside the doorway to the dining room rather than stalk us from under the table but he was quite vocal about it.

So, am I now destined to have a begging dog? We are both so frustrated that he was such a good boy around food but all our work has been ruined. Lesson learnt for next time I have students, but in the meantime any ideas/advice?

I would say start ignoring all his begging behaviour. Don't make a big thing of it by telling him to go away. Just pretend you can't see him. don't make eye contact or anything. pretend he is invisible. He may well have an extinction burst and start trying harder to get you to give him food. What ever you do don't react to this. keep ignoring him and he will eventually give up. It may take a several days before he gives up begging again. He may well however try begging from other people since that has paid off for him in the past.

He will learn. It's very telling in my house that not a single one of the dogs beg from me or my husband -they know it's pointless! I've never told them off, just not given them anything. They do however beg when my mum visits!! Wonder why!!

oh how frustrating i too have taught my dogs that food only comes from their bowls as i can not stand a dog begging for food, my dogs now will go and lay in the hallway when the table is laid without being told our springer that is 6 years old, who has only been with us a few months was a begger, but within a few days she learnt to stop, and all we did was have her lay down away from us while we ate, if she tried to come over we would just firmly tell her out, and place her back to where we wanted her to lay, she learnt very quickly x

I'm another that doesn't like begging dogs. So much so that they know not to come into the kitchen if I am preparing food. They will stand at the kitchen door looking in though

Why is it that they all know when the last piece of food has been removed from the plate though? They all stand up waiting to be fed as soon as the last piece goes into my mouth Oh, I feed them after I ahve finished just in case I don't eat everything. They get what's left

> He will learn. It's very telling in my house that not a single one of the dogs beg from me or my husband -they know it's pointless! I've never told them off, just not given them anything. They do however beg when my mum visits!! Wonder why!! <IMG class=qButton title="Quote selected text" alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif" width=20 height=10>

That strikes a cord with me! 

My ex used to complain that the dogs always sat close, salivating, and asking for food off his plate.  He didn't like the fact that they never did it to me!   

Keep ignoring, don't even make eye contact, and the begging will disappear.

Several weeks ago another dog walker gave my Abby a tidbit of something.   I only found out because I called her several times and she didn't come, so I went looking for her.  That's when the other dog walker confessed that she gave her something to eat and said, "I guess I shouldn't have done that."  Abby is very food oriented and would not leave this woman until she said, "all gone"  -- a phrase Abby understands well.   

Even though I always have treats in my pocket when out on walks, since that incident Abby is constantly going up to people to check if they have food.   If they are carrying anything in their hands - could be a poo bag or umbrella - she just will not give up inspecting them to see if they have food.  

I *really* wish people would ask first if they can give someone else's dog food.  In the case where they have been told not to give a dog tidbits and such, that's really disrespectful.   At least though it is an indication that they like dogs, which is far better than a young dog having a bad experience with people.

Same with my boyfriend! He's always giving the dogs bits off his plate and then gets annoyed when they bother him when he has food, they don't pester me at all. Dogs learn so quickly who will cave and who won't when it comes to dinner, now if my boyfriend could pick things up as quickly as the dogs...

Well that is encouraging - if we stick to it them hopefully he will remember that he doesn't get anything from us.

Annoying that he may still beg from others - I was quite proud of the fact he didn't steal from the kids, or beg from others. Still, if we are really stick with everyone it may just sink in.

I am still quite cross actually........

Awww lots of spots......you've got to learn to laugh things off now you own a mad dally!  A dog is a dog is a dog and not a robot!
Time is on your side to teach him restraint.
Try not to stay upset - it'll only do you more harm than good and you'll lose out on so much fun with your dog.
Live with him and love him for who he is - whatever his less desirable habits - and believe me, begging is not the worst by a long shot!  lol

Live with him and love him for who he is - whatever his less desirable habits - and believe me, begging is not the worst by a long shot!  lol

Teehee - I haven't mentioned his love of humping castrated males!!!!

I suppose pride comes before a fall and I WAS proud that he was such a good boy around food when he is so food oriented during training.
I don't love him any less, and do not blame him - just the cretins we opened our house to. They actually did lots more annoying things, but we have sorted those, this was the only thing that had an adverse effect on my baby.

How very annoying. i have three tts who I have taught to literally, look away from me when I am eating. makes me laugh really as they sit with their back to me. The pay off for this is that when i next go into the kitchen they get a treat.
You mind find it useful to hold a newspaper or similar up between you and your doggy when he looks at you so he cant see your food. I did this with tt number three to bring her up to speed. She eventually got fed up of looking at the newspaper and lay down. another glance would bring the newspaper up again. A bit tedious, I know but it worked. Good luck with your lovely spotty lad.

Thanks to everyone who suggest the ignoring - this has worked a treat. We have been actively ignoring him whilst eating all week, and he has reverted to his normal behaviour at home.

We went to dinner at the inlaws last night as we do quite often, but this is the first time since he started begging. Jazz just laid on the the floow away from the table while we ate. As soon as we started clearing the plates he came around for a sniff, but other than that was beautifully behaved. I think it did help that historically he hadn't had any titbits there so doesn't associate it.

Ditto Jake would not lower himself to beg, any grandchildren visiting Whistler is a nightmare. Rubin (1) eats his biscuits spits it in his hand and feeds Whistler!! if you scould them Rubin cries so I feel a right meanie!! By that I mean say NO!