Bulldog Obesity How to Handle Food Begging and Manipulation

Dog Begging for Food? How to Deal with Begging Dogs

Is your furry friend staring intently at your meal, offering you those irresistible puppy eyes while drooling? It appears you have a pooch thats begging!

Just like humans, dogs are highly attracted to good smells. You may have cooked up a delicious meal and found your dog sitting and eyeing your meal, and may even attempt to pounce to get closer. Its definitely a behavior to fix.

Begging behavior is absolutely not one to accept and ignore it is a sign of lack of authority and manners on your part as well. Furthermore, its a sign of improper upbringing and conditioning.

However, do not worry! Well explain everything behind the begging dogs, how to prevent such tendencies, and most importantly, how to stop it.

A Begging Dog: Why?

Hate to be blunt, but youve unintentionally taught it.

Its easier to accept that dogs begging behavior is innate, however, it is a learned behavior through conditioning. Over time, your dog takes notice that pawing, barking, whining or a simple gaze, catches your attention.

Although, some dog lovers do teach their dogs to beg, in exchange for a food reward. The danger of such conditioning lies in your dogs inability to recognize what to beg for and what not to. Eventually, your dog will beg for whatever they desire with no distinction.

If youve responded to their begging behavior repeatedly, your dog is aware that their begging behavior is effective.

How to Teach A Dog Not to Beg

Lets face it, its easiest to prevent a problem than to fix it.

Undoubtedly, the best prevention is restricting access to your food and table. While you prepare and sit down for meals, you may keep your dog away with a baby gate, a cage, or a leash with chew toys for distraction. However, this does not teach control and solely takes care of elimination.

Ideally, youd like to teach and condition controlled behavior.

The best way is to start from day 1. From day 1, never give your dog food scraps straight from your plate. If you wish to share some leftovers, set it aside, and place it in their bowl after you eat. We understand the temptation induced by their puppy eyes, but stay strong! Youre doing it for them as well.

If youre currently in the progress of training your dog, a handy trick to teach is the stay command. In the event, youd prefer physical distance from the food and table, condition the stay command on their mat or preferred spot. It may take some time, but its worth it!

But it gets real when we address how to stop your dog from begging.

How to Stop Your Dog Begging for Food

Sometimes, its just too late and the damage has been done.

Although dont worry, weve got a few tricks and tips for you. According to DogHealth, proven tips are as follows:

1. Complete cut-off: Starting right now, do not feed them table treats while youre eating. It may be tough with those seducing eyes, but do not give in!
2. Limit access: During meal times, enforce physical distance as you prepare and eat your meals. While theyre in restriction, make sure to leave them a chew toy to keep them company!
3. Stick to a Schedule: You can opt to synchronize your meals! Although, the important aspect is keeping your location and theirs, separate. If you wish to share, add it to their bowl never directly from the table!
4. Counter-condition: If your dog begs for food or your dog begging for a treat, state a command that counters the dogs begging for food. Examples are fetching or lie down. Additionally, you could use the stay command to keep distance as well.
5. Earn & Reward: Applicable in almost every aspect, your dog must learn that they have to earn their reward. You can achieve this by only providing rewards after reaching a calm sit-stay scheme.
6. Punishment is Ineffective: Loud volume commands and statements will not help! These only result in confusion and potential stress on your dogs part.

It may take some time to fix a conditioned behavior such as your dog keeps begging for food, however, with patience and time, this can be reversed!

Additional Tips: Puppy Begging

In addition to the six core steps, here is a few additional tips to get started.

Arrange a hierarchy of treats: low, mid, and high. For easy commands, such as sit, settle for low-level treats. On the other hand, for complex conditioning, like if they stop dog begging, offer high-level treats such as meat. Although, keep in mind to never feed on the table!

If your dog persists to bark and whine in addition to your dog begging for food and treats, visit articles on barking and whining to address the behavior.

In the event of misbehavior, a time-out area may help your dog. The sole requirement of the area is to create a form of confinement. After you spot an ongoing begging behavior, lead them to the time-out area to stay for a couple of minutes, and then set them free. Repeat this process every time they misbehave.

The Final Verdict

Adjusting your dogs begging behavior may seem challenging to the extent of preferring to ignore and accept it.

If youre caring for a puppy, insuring to stop the dog from begging can be done with conditioning over time and patience.

However, its evidently a different story once your dog starts begging on a regular basis. Full disclosure, reversing such behavior is a challenge but its far from impossible!

The most important thing is to keep the steps and tips in mind, and apply them regularly! Get ahead of it and learn how to teach your dog not to beg.

Patience and time are the keys.

Take care, dog lovers!

Featured Image Source: Misael Moreno on Unsplash

How To Stop Begging Behavior In Your French Bulldog?

We all know what our mealtime looks like. We end up with a little batpig sitting next to our feet giving those puppy-eyes look. And even though theyre not supposed to get any of our food, sometimes theres just nothing better than throwing some scraps to let them feel that extra taste! But let me tell ya this could cause huge problems in your Frenchie. Begging behavior in your French bulldog can lead not only to obesity but also to some severe health conditions. We dont even have to mention your ruined time for lunch or dinner.

How To prevent begging behavior in your French bulldog?

Every dog should learn good eating manners. Seeing your Frenchie begging for food every time you sit to eat can be really nerve-wracking. To prevent begging behavior in your French bulldog, weve provided you with the following tips. This might be the best way to stop the pet parent-dog relationship from becoming one where your pup relies on food tokens in exchange for compliance.

Theres nothing worse than a Frenchie that wont leave you alone. Dogs follow their owners everywhere, begging for attention and making noise with every step they take (or bark). It doesnt matter how much of an annoyance it is- when these petite pups see food coming towards them in any form, theyre ready for anything.

The main reasons why begging behavior in your French bulldog may be harmful

Encouraging begging behavior in your pet is bad. Thats how they could mix it with rewarding and think they actually do something desirable. On the other hand, a situation where a dog is looking at your plate and counting your bites knows to be very unpleasant. Your friends and family dont have to find such situations adorable. Another reason why you have to prevent begging in your Frenchie is stealing. Stealing food from the table or anywhere else maybe sound great for your pooch, but in fact, there is a great danger of being poisoned. Note that dogs can eat something toxic or bad for their digestive system.

Tips to prevent begging behavior in your French bulldog

Your dog needs to be fed, so develop a feeding schedule. Dogs like routine and find it comforting when they have an established time for their meals! For most dogs twice daily works well as long as you give them some love in between feedings (and dont forget about those tummy scratches).

Choose a cozy spot for your Frenchie

Make sure you send your pooch to his favorite place for chilling right before your meal. To succeed in that routine, you have to reward your dog with treats when he arrives at his safe place

Stay consistent

We all know how much French bulldogs love food. However, even though theyre known as greedy eaters, you should stay consistent in teaching/fixing their behavior. Make sure everyone in the house is on board with stopping begging. Its hard for one person to encourage it while others arent because then, theyre just confused about life at home.

Choose the appropriate location for feeding

Dogs should eat their meals in quiet and calm places. You should not choose your dining room, but a spot where your Frenchie will stay focused on his tasty bites.

Ignore the begging behavior in your French bulldog

We all know how hard it is to say no when your dog begs for food. However, the most important thing you have to do is to ignore him. Otherwise, your pet will think hes doing something desirable and will always beg for more during your meals. We know how hard is to resist those begging puppy eyes, however, its important to stay strong and ignore your pet. Just think of what negative attention could potentially teach them? If you feed your Frenchie during your meals, he will continue doing that in the future. Therefore, stay consistent and gradually teach him that begging doesnt work.

French bulldog toys can keep your pooch off the table. They will occupy his mind and make him think about how they work. For example, you can give your dog to play with an Interactive UFO Toy For Frenchies.

Block access to the table

One of the best ways to keep your pup from begging at dinner time is by blocking access with baby or pet gates. You can also place your dog in a separate room so he doesnt have an opportunity to make noise while youre eating!

Is your Frenchie always hungry?

If your dog has just finished his meal and he still wants to eat, then you should start considering changing his diet. Maybe your dog just doesnt get enough calories to satisfy his activity level and needs.

My French Bulldog Is Begging: How to Deal with a Begging Dog

When you have a French bulldog it's very difficult to resist those big eyes when they are staring at you. No doubt, French bulldogs have very charming personalities but one common behavioral issue that most French bulldog owners face is begging. Their irresistible pouts and soulful eyes make it difficult to ignore their plea for food. In this blog, we will discuss the reasons why French bulldogs beg and how you follow some effective strategies to deal with this behavior. By following these strategies you will have the tools that make sure that mealtime is a pleasant and peaceful experience for you and your furry friend.

Understanding Why French Bulldogs Beg

Before you look at the tips to address the begging behavior, its essential to understand why your French bulldog does this in the first place. The common reasons that contribute to these behaviors are.

• Genetic Predisposition: French bulldogs belong to the generation of bulldogs, that were bred for lace workers in England. If you look at their genetic history they have a natural tendency to seek attention for food which makes them a natural beggar.
• Food Motivation: These pups are food-motivated dogs. They have a lot of love for food and treats that drive them to beg for it, as the reward of begging is very tasteful.
• Learned Behavior: French bulldogs are very great at learning and adapting to their new environment. If Frenchie is used to getting food in the past by begging, then they will use this behavior again to get the things they want.
• Social Interaction: French bulldogs are also social pups they love being around family members and other humans. Begging is one of the ways to engage with family members during mealtime.
• Anxiety or Stress: Sometimes, French bulldogs beg because of anxiety and stress. If your Frenchie is feeling insecure and anxious, they might start begging to overcome their anxiety.

Now that you have a clear view of why French bulldogs beg, it's time to explore some effective strategies to deal with this behavior.

Establish Clear Mealtime Rules

Consistency is very important when you are managing begging behavior in French bulldogs. It will be good to establish some rules for mealtimes and make sure that everyone in the house should follow them. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind.

• Make a special schedule for mealtime and make sure to stick with it. This will help your French bulldog to anticipate food time and decrease their need for begging.
• Your French bulldog must have a designated area to eat, such as a mat or specific room, and enforce them to stay there.
• Train your dog some obedience commands and especially use them during mealtime. Reward your pup for good behavior with treats and praise.

Ignore Begging Behavior

Another part of dealing with this begging behavior is to resist the temptation of giving in. No doubt, it is difficult to ignore the begging behavior entirely but whenever your pup begs for food, dont make eye contact with them, or give any attention to them. If you give any kind of acknowledgment, even a negative reaction it will reinforce the behavior.

Use Positive Reinforcement

One of the powerful tools for training your French bulldog is positive reinforcement. Instead that you give in to begging try to reward your pup for desirable behaviors like staying in their designated area or sitting calmly during meal time. Reward them with praise and treats.

Train Alternative Behaviors

Another effective strategy is to divert your French bulldog's attention away from begging. Train them to perform alternative behaviors at the time of eating, such as:

• "Go to your place": Train them about a command like go to your place and let them sit on the bed during mealtime.
• "Leave it": Teach your Frenchie the leave it command and discourage them whenever they approach for food.
• "Stay": Train your pup to stay in a specific area be their room and reward them for this behavior.

Use Puzzle Toys and Food Dispensers

French Bulldogs are very intelligent pups and mental stimulation is very helpful in curbing these begging tendencies. Invest in food dispensers or puzzle toys that make your dog work to get their food. A snuffle mat can really help in engaging your French bulldog so that he wont indulge in begging.

You can hide different treats in the mat and let your Frenchie found it. Not only your pup will enjoy playing with it but it will also keep their mind engaged.

Provide Sufficient Exercise

A tired dog will not do undesirable behaviors like begging for food or attention. Ensure that Your French bulldog gets mental stimulation and physical exercise throughout the day. Playtime, regular walks, and interactive toys can help in burning excess energy, and there are fewer chances of begging.

Avoid Table Scraps

Another common mistake that most dog owners make is to feed table scraps to their pups. While they feel good about sharing their meal with their pups doing this will only reinforce the begging behavior. Avoid giving any human food to your French Bulldog, especially from the table.

Be Patient and Consistent

When you are changing the begging behavior of your French bulldog it will take time and patience. Do your training consistently and dont get discouraged if there are any setbacks. Remember that our dog will take time to learn new behavior and you have to stay patient.

Consult a Professional

If you tried all the strategies but the begging behavior of your pup stays persistent or getting worsens, it may be better to consult with a professional consultant or behaviorist. They will help you in giving guidance and address the issues you find in training.

Conclusion

Dealing with a begging French Bulldog can be a challenging but manageable task. By understanding the reasons behind their behavior and implementing consistent training techniques, you can teach your furry friend that begging is not an effective way to get what they want. With patience, positive reinforcement, and a bit of effort, you can enjoy peaceful and enjoyable mealtime experiences with your beloved French Bulldog while strengthening your bond with them.