Training Dog Mealtime

Articles and information on training your dog to behave during breakfast, lunch and dinner!

How to Teach Your Dog to Stay Off the Dinner Table!

I think most people will agree that the dog which wanders round the table at mealtime, poking its nose into laps and begging for food is a nuisance; and furthermore the dog which is continually being fed with tit-bits at odd times is seldom healthy.

Therefore, from the point of view of both the owner and his dog, the latter should be taught mealtime manners. For this purpose it is a good plan to allot a certain corner of the room for the dog's resting place the animal's basket or mat (if such is used) can always be placed in this particular spot and whenever a meal is in progress the puppy should be made to stay in that particular place, and rated if any attempt is made to wander. The soft-hearted owner may imagine the dog to be feeling considerable temptation and envy when it is thus made to watch others feeding whilst no crumb is spared to the expectant animal; but in actual practice, the dog, as soon as it becomes thus regularly accustomed to seeing its " superiors " fed, will cease to take any interest in the proceedings other than perhaps the natural interest which we ourselves may take In watching the animals being fed at the Zoo!

Having considered the behaviour of a dog uring the mealtime of the " superior " animals, you must remember that a desirable dog should also demonstrate self-control and congenial habits at its own meals. From puppyhood, the animal should be trained to take its food quietly and decently, and not be allowed to fall on its meal like a starving pig. You will probably find it to be a good plan to make the dog " drop " whilst the food is being prepared and placed in a bowl on a sheet of newspaper (if fed indoors) and to remain thus dropped until called by name to come and eat. If there are several dogs to be fed, each animal should be called by name, in sequence, to its meal; and as each dog finishes, it should be made to drop again alongside the empty bowl until all the other dogs have finished eating. Of course any attempt to quarrel must be sternly punished. Drinking water should always be available for the house dog. Many owners are negligent in this respect and their dogs suffer considerable distress as a consequence.

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