"Pot Lickers"

[labman]

I have always fed my dogs table scraps and let them clean out pans etc. I just adjust their main diet with it.
Never had much problems with weight gain or any other health issues.But it seems most peaple don't do this.Of course i don't let them eat choc. or onions or anything like that.Wanted to hear other points of view on this,thanks

 

[Dekka]

I have 5 pre-rinse cycles lol. Mine get to lick pots, plates etc. And IMO as long as you eat healthy your scraps are better than most dog foods..... (and no onions, chocolate, raisins, etc..as you say)

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Cider does it.. I don't let her have every plate though. I only have one to eat it all, lol. (for another 2 hours squee!)

 

[Fran27]

I usually don't let them lick plates, and they don't get scraps unless there's not enough left for another meal - which is rarely. If there is a little bit left because I made too much food, I'll give it to them, but it's rare.

Boris will occasionally go lick the pans and plates on the stove or counter though

 

[BostonBanker]

Well, Meg's not allowed to lick the plates or pans because it bothers the other people in the house (not me), but if there are leftovers on the plate that are okay for her to eat, I usually just scrape the plates off into her bowl.

I agree that most of what we eat is probably healthier than most commercial dog food.

 

[Beanie]

Auggie gets no people food at all (though I firmly suspect my dad slips him cheetos and potato chips.) It's not health reasons or anything... just that I don't want him to because I don't want him to learn that me eating = table scraps later therefore PESTER ME WHILE EATING.
My sister's dogs learned that after she and her (now ex)husband were done eating they got to lick the plate/eat the leftovers... so now if they're around while you're eating they will stare you down. Happy will whine and cry at you while eating, complaining for you to hurry up and share your food with him already. =P It's even worse with potato chips or cheetos, which my dad would throw down to them.
Auggie has gotten bad about the potato chip thing because my dad "drops" chips on the floor. (Drops. Right.) So now if you're eating anything out of a bag or a box, like a cheeto box, he'll start orbiting around you looking at the floor. Argh. X_X It drives me crazy.

But as long as your dogs aren't turning into little pests over it, and your being healthy about it, I don't really see a problem with it. I think a lot of people struggle with the weight gain problem because they lose track of what the dog is being fed from the scraps... like if there are four people in the family and they're all feeding the dog a little here and a little there, you know? Or they're just not smart with it and don't give the dog a bunch of scraps in the first place.

 

[Maxy24]

My cousin does this and it bothers me SOOO much. Nor because she does it but because she is then mad that the dog sits there begging and actually jumps up while her kids are eating and takes their food. Obviously it's a behavior that should ot be allowed but what does she expect will happen if she does that? If you do it and your dog does not beg then it's fine.

 

[Dekka]

Its easy not to have them beg. Give them the pots and dishes away from the table. Mine do 'beg' they sit quietly and watch you eat. But I think it stems from 2 things. My child is a messy eater (comes by it honestly) so they have learned if you are patient, food falls from the sky. And for obedience I have done a lot of watch me activities. So they have learned that watching (staring) is a desirable activity.

 

[Maxy24]

You should see her dogs though. I was eating there and the dogs actually put there front paws up and pulled the food down from in front of her kids (ages 4 and 1) and walked off. Max begged too, but he just sat there quietly.

 

[juliefurry]

Mine get table scraps and lick the plates. If I make something with meat or veggies and there is a little extra they get the meat and veggies mixed with their dinners. They like it and they always begged for food (even before we started doing this). At first I wouldn't give scraps because I didn't want them to learn to beg but they begged even before we gave them scraps so I figured what the heck but now atleast Hannah knows she lays down for the meal and she gets what's left. The other ones still get in your face.