Feeding my dog from the table

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JamesPeterson

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#1
This may sound wierd but I feed my dog on my kitchen table. I was able to train him to stand on hi back legs and eat with his front paws on the table. I don't feed him like this all the time but it is a cute trick when we have company over. It really freaks out our guests to see a 130# great dane eating with them on the table. :D :eek:
 

iky

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#2
lol! i can imagine the site of a great dane eating at the table. I like to feed Codi, my 6 month husky from the table, but the vet always and i mean always has an issue with this. He says it teaches the dogs bad manners and it spoils them and they dont want to eat their food. I know Codi pulls that trick of not wanting to eat his dog food.
 
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#3
Iky, I use the act of sharing my food to reinforce bonding and position with the dogs. They learn that I will share the last bite, but nothing before, so they are resigned to not begging (Kharma's in the process of learning - that face! LOL). The food comes from me, it's a special treat, and they have to wait until I am finished. Just like an alpha in a feral community.

I guess Buddy doesn't get the table food in order to make sure his system doesn't get chemically out of whack? How's he doing?
 
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#4
dogs eat dog food, humans eat human food can we please to the law here people. and i agree it teacews them its ok and they are bad mannered
 
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#5
shazyswimmer said:
dogs eat dog food, humans eat human food can we please to the law here people. and i agree it teacews them its ok and they are bad mannered

can u rephrase that cuz I dont understand what "please to the law here people" means

I feed my dogs scraps from the table cuz like Renee said. They know they only get scraps at the end of the meal. It keeps them from begging during the meal.
 

avenlee

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#6
I feed my dogs table scraps after the dishes have been cleared and I'm cleaning up. They totally understand this process and hang out in the kitchen waiting for it. I think its not right to feed them at the table.
 

lunarturn

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#7
I also give my puppy some leftovers from my meal after I am finished with it. I used to give it to her while I was eating, and it turned into a nightmare, because in her dog mind jumping on me and asking for food as a normal thingy! Now ( after some rehabilitation time!!!) she is pationetely sitting and waiting while I am done... no jumping, no drooling... well.. maybe a little, but not all over me at least !!!
 
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#8
I agree that it's best to give your dogs treats after you are finished eating (I'm guilty of it everyday!) but I do want to mention some potential problems that could come from feeding a dog on your kitchen table. By allowing your dog to be at the table eating level with you, you could really be confusing the dog and creating a potentially dangerous situation. I'm not sure how old your dane is and what other sort of rules, limits and training he has, but allowing him to get away with human priveledges could cause him to test his place in your "pack" so to speak. He may be fine now, but there could come a day when he could challenge you for the spot of alpha. As an example, I took in a dog from a woman who had raised him from 8 weeks to 2 years. She cooked for him and he had his own seat at the table. Of course it was cute when it was younger, but as he matured and hormones came into play, he started to challenge her. This dog really had no limits. He was allowed on the furniture, allowed in the bed, fed whatever she ate, etc. Well, at 2 years old he started growling at her if he didn't get his way and eventually it led to nipping. She became so frightened of the dog, that she could no longer keep him. I took him in and took him back to basics. Strict obedience and very clear rules and guidelines. I make him sit or lay down and wait for his dog food. I can take his bowl away from him while he eats (toys also) He is not allowed on the furniture (he has his own dog bed) , etc... It took about 6 months of consistant training to really get him pointed in the right direction. I still would not place him with someone who wasn't knowledgable about dog behavior, but he is a pretty good dog overall. He just needed to learn where he stood in the pack. If he had stayed in the situation he was he may have seriously injured someone. Again, I don't know your entire situation, but felt it was important to mention the potential risks of allowing your dog to be equal to you.
 
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#9
Carrie, I'm so glad you mentioned that about taking the food dish away when the dog is eating. It is so important to be able to interfere with your dog's eating at any time. You should also be able to take food (or anything else) directly out of your dog's mouth.

It hysterical to see the look on someone's face if they see me fishing around in a Fila's maw to find what's been picked up that shouldn't be in there. My hand literally disappears in there sometimes! :D
 

RD

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#10
Eh, my dogs get whatever veggies are left over from our meal, I mash them up and feed it to them.. On a rare occasion Ripley or Dakota will get a piece of cooked food from the table if they are behaving well.
 

Debi

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#11
We fed Addie from the table while we were eating. My hubby loved giving her bites. My vet also had a ROYAL fit....NO HUMAN FOOD EVER!!! Well...we didn't see the harm. She does sit like a true lady and takes her bite well mannered. BUT, when Hammie came along..we decided two dogs during dinner were just a bit much. So, they aren't even in the house while we eat. After dinner I give them leftovers if it's something they can eat. Hammie has no clue....just that sometimes his dog food is extra yummy. That's nice...he never begs or even pays attention when I'm eating (he's usually in at lunch time). OK..so my conclusion is this........Addie is now a bit of a pain if she's inside and we are eating...Ham could care less. So, I'd say give them leftovers........but I'd rather not from the table. IF Addie thinks we're eating......she'll be a monster, so afraid Ham will cut in. Meanwhile....he truly has no clue and doesn't care. I adore my pups....but actually at the table........no, thanks. :) And I'm an all time spoiler. lol
 

Kathy74

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#12
We eat at our island so it's higher up than a table. The girls wait patiently sitting at our feet, hoping to get something (which they usually do!). The only problem is when we get up, there are 2 big drool-puddles on the floor! Serene looks so dainty if you give her something on the end of a fork, b/c she delicately slides it off and eats it! If we're having something they can't have, we just have to say "back off" and they go lie in the hallway till we're done.
 

iky

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#13
Buddy takes the food, although you are right, we do try and limit it to what he gets just so his diet is messed up...Codi is like a vacumcleaner, he eats anything and everything, from onions to potatoe peels, oranges, and fruit or veg...
 

avenlee

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#14
We have to be very careful with what we give our dogs. Our Westie seems to have a very weak stomache and if we give her ANYTHING remotely heavy like, dairy or spicey in the least, well .... I'll have a big carpet cleaning bill... and my Cocker Spaniel ... anything spicy or like pepperoni like, you wouldn't be able to stay in the same room with her, and she usually sleeps with us :eek:
 

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