How to Stop Your Dog From Eating From Other People

Many dogs get very excited about food, and without the proper training it can seem nearly impossible to control them when there is a delicious morsel around. This situation can be even worse if the dog is trying to get a snack from other people instead of just the owners. If you don't know how to stop your dog from begging for food or stealing a bite from someone's plate, things can become quite tense. Teaching your dog to follow certain commands can help reduce or eliminate this problem.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Teach your dog the command to "sit." This is a good place to start since it is a fairly simple command for most dogs to understand, and it can lead to other important commands. Hold a treat over your dog's head just out of her reach, moving your hand back slowly until the dog sits. As soon as the dog sits, reward her with praise and the treat. Start using the command "sit" as you carry out this action, and soon the dog will learn to sit when you tell her to.

    • 2

      Work on the "stay" command with your dog. This command can take time to learn, but it is vital that your dog knows how to stay in order to keep her from begging for food or taking it from people. Tell your dog to sit using a treat to entice her. Before giving the treat, raise up a hand in front of the dog's face and say "stay." Slowly back away from the dog, keeping your hand out. If she gets up to follow you, start over. If she stays where she is after you have moved back a few feet, reward her and praise her. Soon, you will be able to tell your dog to "sit" and "stay" when you are around people with food, preventing her from taking food from them.

    • 3

      Train your dog to not beg. Ignore your dog during meals, and don't give table scraps. If the dog tries to beg, do not give in by offering her a taste of your dinner. This will only lead to bad behavior, such as begging others for food or taking it right from their plates. Use the "sit" and "stay" commands during meals if your dog won't leave you alone. After you are done eating, you can reward a well-behaved dog with her own dinner.