Dogs are natural scavengers, and it’s normal for them to try and find ways to access food. However, as humans, we consider it rude for a dog to put paws on the table, and it’s even worse if a dog tries to take food.
Prevention
Training is not an immediate fix; it takes time! In the meantime, we need ways to prevent your dog from stealing food.
You could crate your dog during mealtimes. This means your dog won’t have a chance to put his paws on the table or take food. While he's not learning to stay off the table, he's also not learning how to steal. Another option is to use a gate to confine your dog to another area, preventing him from accessing where you eat.
We also want to ensure your dog isn’t having fun checking out the tables on a regular basis. This means keeping tables clear or preventing access to those areas.
Use Food Puzzle Toys to Keep Your Dog Busy
We can replace the behaviors of scavenging at the table with a more appropriate scavenging option. Many types of food puzzle toys require dogs to nudge or paw a toy to knock out dry dog food. You can provide this option at mealtimes to keep your dog busy while your family has dinner. The food in the toy will attract your dog to the object and give him something to do.
Teach Your Dog to Settle on a Bed or Mat
One effective solution is teaching your dog to stay on a dog bed during meals. Here’s how to train this behavior:
- Train at Non-Meal Times: Start by training your dog to go to a bed or mat when there is no food around. Reward your dog for staying on the bed.
- Add Sitting at the Table: Once your dog is comfortable staying on the bed, sit at the table without food and reward your dog for staying on the bed.
- Introduce a Snack: Gradually introduce a snack for yourself while your dog stays on the bed. Keep these sessions short initially.
- Progress to Mealtime: Gradually increase the duration until your dog can stay on the bed for the entire mealtime. This process will likely take at least a few weeks.
Some families find it helpful for one person to work on this at the side of the room during meals. The dog is on a leash, so he can’t join dinner and is getting support and rewards for staying on his bed. Then, the family members will switch roles so that everyone gets a chance to eat.
Leave It Training
Your dog can learn to leave objects in your hand and then on surfaces. This can be useful for teaching patience during mealtimes.
The challenge with mealtimes is the length of time. It’s easy to teach a dog to have patience for 5 seconds. Teaching a dog to have patience for 20-30 minutes is more complex, but the same activities are an excellent starting point.
By preventing access to food, keeping your dog busy with food puzzle toys, and teaching them to settle on a bed or mat, you can reduce the chances of your dog stealing food from the table. Consistent training and patience will help your dog learn appropriate behaviors during mealtimes. If you need additional support, consider reaching out to a professional dog trainer.
