Certainly on several occasions as you eat, your dog begins to put on his own show to ask for food. If you cannot keep this situation under control, various problems may soon arise, especially if you have guests for lunch or dinner. But how can you change this particular attitude of your dog?
To change your dog's behavior, you must first begin to understand its feeding ritual. Asking for food is part of its nature as your adorable little dog is in fact a hunter. So it is absolutely natural that while he is eating he is alert to any movement and food that he brings to his mouth. In any case, all is not lost, this ugly habit can be changed simply by educating the dog. For this reason, below we will share some useful tips.
Avoid feeding him during your meals
The first thing to do is avoid feeding it during your meals. If you are having breakfast, lunch or dinner, do not make the mistake of sharing your food with him. All family members must follow this rule. If he asks for food, try to ignore it because otherwise your dog will insist on getting what he wants.
Establish a daily routine for your meals
Your dog can not eat at any time of day, he must have very specific times. For example, puppies younger than 5 months should eat at least 4 times a day, while adult dogs only twice a day. If you get the dog used to following a precise schedule, you can better control its nutrition and health.
You can also try feeding it during your meals. This habit can be effective if you spend enough time at home.
Prepare rewards
If your dog continues undaunted asking for food, tell him no and let him sit. When you have finished eating, you can give him some treats as a reward. In this way he will get used to not asking, because he will know that a prize will end up. Over time, your dog will take on this behavior and it will no longer be necessary to give him any reward.
Obviously, as far as dog bites are concerned, always remember not to buy those with too many artificial flavors and don't forget that this kind of rewards must never go beyond 10% of your daily diet. You can also try natural snacks. In this sense, a very healthy option is that of ripe fruit. Although it may seem strange, dogs like it very much. Try a piece of apple, melon or broccoli.
And if you go out to eat with your dog ...
In Italy there are restaurants that allow dogs to enter and, especially in large cities, it will not be impossible to find the right place for us and our 4-legged friend. Also during the summer, with outdoor restaurants and bars, the chances of sharing this moment with our dog will multiply. To ensure that it does not become a nightmare, some precautions should be taken.
Before going out, the best thing to do is feed your dog. With a full stomach it is less likely to start to bother you.
If he is a puppy and is not yet well trained, it will certainly be difficult to prevent him from barking or crying. At this age they really have a lot of energy. For this reason, in these cases, the best option is to make a preventive stop in a park before going to the restaurant. In this way, when you arrive at your destination the puppy will be a little tired and will certainly prefer to lie down and rest.
If there are no dog bowls in the restaurant, ask the waiter to bring you a container with water so he can drink and stay hydrated. And, so that you don't get bored, you can take your favorite game with you.
Get to know your dog. If you know it scares you when you see other people or other dogs, maybe going out to eat together isn't the best of ideas. For this, make sure that your dog obeys your orders when you utter words like "sit", "stop", "come" or "down". If your puppy is still unable to follow these basic rules of behavior, it is best to leave it at home for the time being.
Finally, remember that even if your dog behaves well, when you take him for a walk in a public space or if you are eating in a restaurant, he will always have to be on a leash and, if necessary, will have to wear a muzzle.