Feeding dog from the table

[Dogchatname]

So I started this bad habit, totally my own fault, I couldn't resist his 'I'm starving' face. It's become really annoying now though, as he constantly jumps against my leg when we have dinner (or food/snacks at any time).

He leaves everyone else alone as they refuse to feed him.

There's no doubt that the fact he is small went in his favour as I wouldn't tolerate a large dog pestering me to the same degree.

I take full responsibility for creating this problem, but my question is, how can I stop him kindly, or gradually, without resorting to locking him out of the room. Doing that seems a bit mean as it was my fault he does this. I have tried feeding him at the same time as our meal, but human food is tastier to him.

Give him a really nice long lasting smelly chew like a pizzle stick or a frozen licky mat/stuffed kong

That's a good idea! I've got some kong cheese squirty stuff and a kong.

Give him an alternate command.

DH gets pestered by the dog (and the cats) because he feeds them all at the table, whereas I never give them anything except in their bowls or in snuffle mats etc. I've taught our dog to settle down on the sofa while I eat meals.

Does yours know a "settle" or "bed" command? You'll have to get up numerous times at first to reinforce the command but eventually it should sink in.

No he doesn't know those commands, although they'd be good for him to learn. He's only 5 months old and although pretty smart he's very stubborn!

We had this problem with out pup. He's 17 months old now and he knows that when we eat, he sits in his arm chair. When we've finished he gets a few leftovers brought to him in his chair but if he's pestering under the table he gets nothing. It took a lot of perseverance. I was up and down like a yo yo for a few weeks, telling him 'chair' and getting up and patting the chair but it paid off eventually.

For Christmas day, when I new the smells of turkey and different people in the house would be far too exciting, I did him a little portion in his bowl so he ate that while we were eating and the he did sit in his chair while we finished.

I just need to figure out how to get him off the armchair now 😆

I would start by picking the place you want him to settle and using the word "settle" or "bed" whenever he goes there voluntarily and treat him for doing so. You can do that throughout the day.

Then at mealtimes, tell him "bed" and he should go there. If not, you can use a lead or house line to lure him up there with a treat. You'll be up and down a lot at first but it should click eventually 😊