Most dogs who beg for food from the table have owners who have inadvertently created this behavior by feeding their dog from the table. To resolve this problem, the owners will need to be consistent in managing the begging behavior, positively reinforcing the non-begging behavior and effectively interrupting the dog when he engages in the inappropriate behavior.

Some dominant dogs may actually be demanding food from the owner or from other family members. This is considered “serious” begging and should be addressed first by establishing a proper relationship with the dog. Typically, this dog would be living in an environment that promotes his dominance and territoriality and has an owner who he perceives as subservient. If you determine that the dog is engaging in serious begging (demanding the owner’s food), you should re-rank the dog using the Leadership Exercises taught by our certified dog trainers who can be found at About Us, and confine the dog in a crate or another room during mealtimes. If the owners simply use some typical anti-begging techniques and do not correct their relationship with their dog, the dog may respond aggressively to them, their children or guests.