If your puppy spends time near the dinner table, he likely has good reasons for it. For a start, everything you put on the dinner table smells heavenly to a sensitive puppy's nose. Next, those random crumbs are tempting treasures that make going near the table a remarkably rewarding event.
Determine what makes the dinner table so attractive. Are you unable to resist those pleading eyes and end up feeding table scraps when you are eating? Are you brushing crumbs off of the table after dinner, creating a fun treasure hunt? Are you allowing your pup to lick bits of food off your plate? Are you giving permission to eat anything that drops from the table? While your puppy may be attracted to the dinner table naturally, there are things you may be doing that will make the table further attractive.
Change the behaviors that are "feeding" the behavior of hanging around the dinner table. In other words, stop feeding table scraps at the table. Those leftover foods are quite unhealthy for his digestive system anyhow. Also, try your best to avoid crumbs from falling to the floor and giving your puppy the chore of making your dishes spotless with his tongue. With less attractive events taking place near the table, after some time your puppy should feel less inclined to linger around.
Puppies often are told what not to do, but what about telling them what to do instead? Establishing good table manners at an early age is best. Train your puppy to stop hanging around the dinner table by teaching him to go to his mat instead. Place a mat on the floor at a distance from the table and place a puppy Kong stuffed with treats on it. Your puppy will lie down on the mat and will stay busy getting the goodies out of the toy. If you repeat this every day, you will establish a routine and your puppy will only make good choices, since staying on the mat is much more rewarding that hanging by a boring table where not many great things are happening anymore.
Tips
If you do not have the time or will to train your puppy in alternate behaviors, simply install a baby gate or put your puppy in a crate to prevent access to the dinner table.
Make sure all family members and guests do not to feed any scraps at the table no matter how adorable your puppy looks.
Train your puppy to go on the mat on cue by saying "mat" or "place" right before you puppy goes on the mat to get his Kong.
Training your puppy with the "leave it" command (see Resource) will help teach your puppy not to eat any foods that may be fall from the table accidentally.
Warnings
Avoid yelling at your puppy for lingering by the table. This actually may make sensitive puppies fearful of you or it actually may encourage the staying by the table behavior, since some attention-seeking puppies find being yelled at rewarding.
Never give in, and stick to the training program. Should you ever give in at any time and give your puppy food at the table, you will be back to the same problem in no time and the behavior will only get worse.
Warnings
Avoid yelling at your puppy for lingering by the table. This actually may make sensitive puppies fearful of you or it actually may encourage the staying by the table behavior, since some attention-seeking puppies find being yelled at rewarding.
Never give in, and stick to the training program. Should you ever give in at any time and give your puppy food at the table, you will be back to the same problem in no time and the behavior will only get worse.
Tips
If you do not have the time or will to train your puppy in alternate behaviors, simply install a baby gate or put your puppy in a crate to prevent access to the dinner table.
Make sure all family members and guests do not to feed any scraps at the table no matter how adorable your puppy looks.
Train your puppy to go on the mat on cue by saying "mat" or "place" right before you puppy goes on the mat to get his Kong.
Training your puppy with the "leave it" command (see Resource) will help teach your puppy not to eat any foods that may be fall from the table accidentally.
Items You Will Need
- Mat
- Puppy Kong
- Treats
References
Resources
Tips
- If you do not have the time or will to train your puppy in alternate behaviors, simply install a baby gate or put your puppy in a crate to prevent access to the dinner table.
- Make sure all family members and guests do not to feed any scraps at the table no matter how adorable your puppy looks.
- Train your puppy to go on the mat on cue by saying "mat" or "place" right before you puppy goes on the mat to get his Kong.
- Training your puppy with the "leave it" command (see Resource) will help teach your puppy not to eat any foods that may be fall from the table accidentally.
Warnings
- Avoid yelling at your puppy for lingering by the table. This actually may make sensitive puppies fearful of you or it actually may encourage the staying by the table behavior, since some attention-seeking puppies find being yelled at rewarding.
- Never give in, and stick to the training program. Should you ever give in at any time and give your puppy food at the table, you will be back to the same problem in no time and the behavior will only get worse.
Writer Bio
Adrienne Farricelli has been writing for magazines, books and online publications since 2005. She specializes in canine topics, previously working for the American Animal Hospital Association and receiving certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Her articles have appeared in "USA Today," "The APDT Chronicle of the Dog" and "Every Dog Magazine." She also contributed a chapter in the book " Puppy Socialization - An Insider's Guide to Dog Behavioral Fitness" by Caryl Wolff.