My dog barks when we're at the table, help!

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

I currently have a 2-year-old dog; he's lovely but absolutely obsessed with food.

When he was a puppy, my mum got into the bad habit of teaching him to give his paw at the dinner table in exchange for a little scrap.

This hasn't happened (at least not when I'm around) for nearly a year now.

However, he now barks at almost every meal; he gives his paw and barks louder and louder. I give him a firm 'no' and try to ignore him, but nothing seems to work.

So I usually end up luring him away with a titbit and putting him in another room.

The thing is, I'm going away on holiday and staying in a hotel with him next week, and I'm really worried that I'll need to find a different solution...

Thanks for your help.

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    • ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    No, no, what I said was: I've tried ignoring him – I've tried telling him no.

    The problem is he just won't stop; he can carry on barking for half an hour even if we ignore him.

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    You say you’re ignoring him, but telling him 'no' at the same time is a bit of a contradiction. You really mustn’t give in by giving him food, even in another room. During your next few meals, ignore him completely: don’t talk to him, don't look at him, and don't touch him. After the meal, give him some attention if he’s calmed down. He’ll eventually stop.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Haha yeah, I've tried melon skins (he likes gherkins) or veg.

    That’s the thing, he only listens when there’s food involved; I get him to lie down, I sit down and he’s straight back up again!

    :/

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    Kikaah
    Kikaah Icon representing the flag French
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    What I used to do with my dog when I was at the dinner table was give him something he hated, like a gherkin or some mustard; that way, he stopped coming over just in case I gave him something nasty! ^^

    Alternatively, you could give him the 'down' command and make him wait away from the table until you’ve finished your meal, then give him a little scrap as a reward for waiting so well.

    The great thing about your dog is that he’s very food-motivated, so you can teach him loads of things using treats ^^ good luck!

    Translated from French

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