AIBU - Why should'nt I feed my dog titbits from the table?

[DoodlePegs]

DH and I strongly disagree on this one, but I can't articulate why I feel the way I do about it.

The background:
DDog is a 13 week old large breed puppy.
I do the majority of the training and dog care (I enjoy the training, and do not work full time.)

What are your 'table rules' and why?

For me it's:

Mugging of small children
Overeating (unless you adjust their rations accordingly)
Seeing all food as fair game - so snarfing chocolate/Christmas cake/chicken bones etc and getting ill/dying)
Drooling/snatching/growling during mealtimes.
Getting under your feet when cooking.

MuttDog is fabulous. We never fed her from our plates/table when eating but would always leave her a bit of whatever it was that she had after we'd finished. Within a very short time (weeks) you could leave a plate next to her on the sofa, walk out of the room, and she wouldn't even look at it. Although she will attach herself to DD if icecream is being consumed

Conversely my friend had 2 large breed dogs that would paw you, drool and put their heads on the table during a meal and more than once they stole the joint/chicken off the side or table - most noticably at a large family celebration when they took a whole leg of lamb and hoofed it into the garden. Her smaller dog was just as bad but would bark bark bark bark bark until you gave him whatever it was you were eating.

I'm looking after my nieces JRT this weekend. I've fallen over her three times in the kitchen so far. Today she got such a kick (accidentally) that I was scared I'd broken her ribs . She came right up behind me as I was taking a tray out of the oven, I nearly stood on her and managed to kick her when I was trying to right myself. She got splashed with boiling juices as well (as did I)

You've got the right idea OP, you need to get them on board too.

So ideally I wpuld go for no food what so ever until at least 10 minutes after a meal, to avoid the humans eating = I get fed.

Realistically that is not going to work, so how about staying in your bed = reward, and its ok for the reward to be chicken!

Will that avoid the puppy dog eyes , mugging and slobber? She can already do this when its just me eating.

Well I did it the first way, but maybe if you make her bed the place she is treated - even if you have to do it before you sit down to eat, then she will go there automatically?

Does the dog have a crate? Maybe she could be crated at mealtimes with a tasty kong to keep her occupied?

I forgot mine ever had a crate! But yes, we did that when I couldn't manage training at the same time - had a two year old when we got him.

I haven't read all the answers so may be repeating
My reasons for not feeding at the table are:-

Not all human food is suitable for dogs
I don't like dog slobber on my lap during meal times
I use food for training and feeding from the table would not be teaching anything positive except to hassle me at mealtimes
I have six dogs I would be mugged and starving myself

My dog just gradually got the message, we tucked our chairs in, crowded him out and he realised that he wasn't even getting a glance of attention and settled himself elsewhere. Usually we feed our dog before we eat....I know my trainer thinks this is wrong but I don't like the thought of a hungry dog while I'm eating, it just seems unnecessary.

Aside from all the behavioural issues detailed above, which are very valid reasons, but have been covered, you will be unbalancing the diet. Large breed dogs especially should be fed a balanced diet, which should be restricted to ensure slow, steady growth to avoid joint problems later on. Human food invariably much more calory dense than dog kibble. Ask your vet (nurses usually do puppy sorties and nutrition clinics for free) for advice.
I have seen far too many large and giant breed dogs over the years with degenerative joint disease far too young or exacerbated by crappy diet and being overweight, and it's heartbreaking because it is so avoidable.

I feed my dog and kitten treats from the table.
My dog NEVER steals food, she might very occasionally stand up (not touching the table) to see what is there but is swiftly reprimanded.
The kitten is a bit more naughty and will try pinch food from the table or people eating.
She is slowly learning however that food only comes when she is on the floor...

I feed my dog and kitten treats from the table.
My dog NEVER steals food

Yours may not but there are plenty dogs that might/would and it isn't a great idea to risk it, especially when there are children around.

But surely you train them not to..?

My dog probably would snatch food out of people's hands and help herself to dinners on the table if she had never been taught not to but whenever she has tried anything naughty she has been disciplined.

She knows to wait politely for treats and if she doesn't she knows she will be told off and put away with no food so she behaves.

But surely you train them not to..?

Well yes. In an ideal world everybody would train their dogs beautifully....

I am not trying to suggest my dog is faultless, she isn't, what I am saying is that if you don't want your dog snatching food off kids you teach them that you won't tolerate it and doing so will result in them being disciplined with no food.

Dogs are highly food motivated, if they perform a behaviour and get food, special food that it's owners eat no less, they will very quickly learn to perform that behaviour.
And if them doing something bad, like lunging towards your hand, trying to take food etc results in a stern telling off plus no food, they quickly learn to be polite and patient!

And if them doing something bad, like lunging towards your hand, trying to take food etc results in a stern telling off plus no food, they quickly learn to be polite and patient!

My 2YO terrier gets a stern telling off every time I find her on the back of the living room chair looking out of the window. She doesn't do it when I'm in the room but it doesn't stop her if I'm upstairs. She gets off if she hears me coming down the stairs.

Dogs can be very different from each other. The fact that one can be trained not to steal food isn't an indicator that it's a good idea to feed all dogs scraps from the table.