Begging – How to easily change this behaviour
By Scotty Valadao – Friends of the Dog - Canine Behaviourist
By Scotty Valadao – Friends of the Dog - Canine Behaviourist
.
Should we allow our dogs to beg? Personally, it is not a habit I would encourage as it can get out of control with the dog getting really pushy and nudging you, barking, whining, demanding food - and in general becoming a total nuisance, especially when you have visitors. However, this is a personal choice.
Begging unfortunately, tends to escalate. What also happens is that if the dog does not get the desired result the nudging, pawing etc can escalate and a gentle paw placed on your leg can become a paw digging painfully into you or scratching your leg for the expected food. Let’s look at it from the dogs point of view – the behaviour worked in the past so why not now?
If you tend to push the dog away, shout at it etc, all you are doing is inadvertently reinforcing the behaviour you don't want - attention to a dog is attention, whether it is positive or negative.
If we are not consistent with saying 'no' and do give in to constant demands for food, we are reinforcing the habit of begging unintentionally, and without realizing what we are doing. In dog training reinforcing behaviours on a random basis is very powerful to get a dog to keep on performing a particular behaviour, and will definitely not cause the behaviour to stop – think of us humans at a casino using a one-armed-bandit – because we occasionally get reinforced by some winnings, we continue playing!
A rather extreme example of this is with a Rotti I worked with many years ago. As a pup the Rotti had figured out that if it pawed the fridge, its obliging humans then opened a door and gave him a treat. However, it is one thing for this to occur when the Rotti is a cute few kilo’s and totally another scenario when the Rotti weight 58kg and has gouged a hole in the fridge!
So let’s presume that the begging has become a problem, how then do you go about rectifying this habit?
There are often suggestions that you get the dog involved in something else or put him in a separate room, however, our thoughts on this are that the dog is just being distracted onto something else - you are not actually changing the begging behaviour.
Yes, it is a good idea to train a dog to lie in the room in a specific location, however, this is much easier to train after the procedure below has been undertaken. The below takes patience and total consistency, but it is the quickest way to change the behaviour around - dogs learn by experience and the dog figures out what behaviour works and what doesn't. It is essential that all people in the family are consistent as well. If you do have a situation where the behaviour has not yet been changed, and are having guests, rather supply the dog with a delicious chew toy and put it in another area - you can continue the training at the next meal.
Dogs like structure and routine and if you give the dog his dog food at two meals daily (adult dogs) at regular times, he will know exactly what to expect and be less likely to scrounge for extra as his needs are being met and he knows that the food will be forthcoming.
Here are the things not to do:
What you may find also happens is that the behaviour initially improves and then after a few days will again worsen. Don’t worry, this is what we term an ‘extinction burst’ and if ignored will quickly stop. Realize that from now on ‘no’ means no and don’t give into your dog.
From my own point of view I also don’t like to feel guilty when those beautiful brown eyes are staring at me appealing and the dog is drooling - rather I enjoy how happy my dogs are when I pop a few pieces of our food into their food bowl. Good luck!
Begging unfortunately, tends to escalate. What also happens is that if the dog does not get the desired result the nudging, pawing etc can escalate and a gentle paw placed on your leg can become a paw digging painfully into you or scratching your leg for the expected food. Let’s look at it from the dogs point of view – the behaviour worked in the past so why not now?
If you tend to push the dog away, shout at it etc, all you are doing is inadvertently reinforcing the behaviour you don't want - attention to a dog is attention, whether it is positive or negative.
If we are not consistent with saying 'no' and do give in to constant demands for food, we are reinforcing the habit of begging unintentionally, and without realizing what we are doing. In dog training reinforcing behaviours on a random basis is very powerful to get a dog to keep on performing a particular behaviour, and will definitely not cause the behaviour to stop – think of us humans at a casino using a one-armed-bandit – because we occasionally get reinforced by some winnings, we continue playing!
A rather extreme example of this is with a Rotti I worked with many years ago. As a pup the Rotti had figured out that if it pawed the fridge, its obliging humans then opened a door and gave him a treat. However, it is one thing for this to occur when the Rotti is a cute few kilo’s and totally another scenario when the Rotti weight 58kg and has gouged a hole in the fridge!
So let’s presume that the begging has become a problem, how then do you go about rectifying this habit?
There are often suggestions that you get the dog involved in something else or put him in a separate room, however, our thoughts on this are that the dog is just being distracted onto something else - you are not actually changing the begging behaviour.
Yes, it is a good idea to train a dog to lie in the room in a specific location, however, this is much easier to train after the procedure below has been undertaken. The below takes patience and total consistency, but it is the quickest way to change the behaviour around - dogs learn by experience and the dog figures out what behaviour works and what doesn't. It is essential that all people in the family are consistent as well. If you do have a situation where the behaviour has not yet been changed, and are having guests, rather supply the dog with a delicious chew toy and put it in another area - you can continue the training at the next meal.
- Totally ignore the behaviour - do not give in under any circumstances. This may mean a few days of really demanding behaviour from the dog, but if you are totally consistent, the behaviour will stop.
- If the demanding behaviour becomes really excessive, and is still continuing afer a good ten minutes, then time to take it a step further. Firstly, ensure your dog has a collar on at this time, and without talking, shouting or even looking at the dog, stand up from the table and take him by the collar and put him outside the room and shut the door behind you. Wait 15 seconds, and if there is no barking, howling etc, at the end of the 30 seconds, open the door with absolutely no interaction with the dog at all - go back to your seat and to your meal. If the barking, scratching etc does not stop, then stand with your hand on the doorknob, and the second the barking/scratching/howling stops, very quickly open the door for him, with absolutely no interaction, and go and sit down again.
If the dog starts the demanding behaviour again, ignore him completely for about 30 seconds, then get up and repeat the above, this time leaving him for 30 seconds. This is what is called a Time-Out - a bit like the 'naughty corner' for a child - when the child stops the behaviour, it comes back into family life and the incident is forgotten. - The second the meal is over, take a few tidbits, and calling your dog, immediately go and put them in his bowl, praising him. The dog will quickly work out that the demanding behaviour does not work, however, if he is quiet, he gets his person praise and some nice treats. Do keep this up for at least a week or so, ensuring that the new behaviour of no begging is firmly entrenched.
- After being successful at above and the begging has stopped, by all means treain your dog to go and lie quietly on his bed, and, on occasion, really reinforce this nice behaviour by calling him to the kitchen for his treats from the meal.
- Never, ever give the dog food at the table. If you really want to keep your leftovers to give your dog a treat, rather put them aside and feed in the dog’s dish or use them in addition to regular dog food/cubes for training.
- If the dog comes to you and begs for something in your hand when you are not at the table, again don’t give into the dog, ignore him and walk away. By doing this you are not reinforcing the begging behaviour. If a treat is to be given from the hand, then it is on your terms and not the dogs. In other words, call the dog, ask for a behaviour, such as a sit, then reward with the food.
Dogs like structure and routine and if you give the dog his dog food at two meals daily (adult dogs) at regular times, he will know exactly what to expect and be less likely to scrounge for extra as his needs are being met and he knows that the food will be forthcoming.
Here are the things not to do:
- Don't give in and say to yourself 'just this once' - Be consistent. By giving in, you are reinforcing the behaviour you do not want - dogs are opportunists and will always look for the gap.
- One thing you never do with this type of behaviour is to reinforce it by shouting or screaming at the dog – attention is attention to a dog, whether it is positive or negative and will only strengthen the begging behaviour.
- Never use punishment by way of hitting the dog. The only thing that physical punishment serves to achieve is to damage or destroy the human bond and that aggression breeds aggression. So, in addition you may find that you have a dog that will retaliate to being smacked by way of growling or snapping at you.
What you may find also happens is that the behaviour initially improves and then after a few days will again worsen. Don’t worry, this is what we term an ‘extinction burst’ and if ignored will quickly stop. Realize that from now on ‘no’ means no and don’t give into your dog.
From my own point of view I also don’t like to feel guilty when those beautiful brown eyes are staring at me appealing and the dog is drooling - rather I enjoy how happy my dogs are when I pop a few pieces of our food into their food bowl. Good luck!
|
|