A few ground rules
Pandering to his every need is not a good thing
As your puppy grows, so will his need to assert himself.
Puppies often choose mealtimes as a battle ground. But giving
in to him is a mistake. You need to make sure he knows that you
won't respond to his every demand. You'll also need to get him
to accept you and the rest of the family getting on with life
around him. For example, puppies can become very territorial
and possessive over their food bowl and will make a fuss if
approached while eating. This behaviour can become quite
difficult and anti-social, so you must put a stop to it. It's
not too difficult to achieve, it just takes patience. Follow
the steps below and your pup should develop perfect table
manners.
Less is more
Put a small amount of food in your puppy's bowl and move
away. When he finishes it, return to the bowl and put in a
little more. This will help him to eagerly anticipate your
approach.
Keep him happy
You'll know he's happy when his tail starts wagging as you
get nearer, but now you'll need to get him used to you
approaching while he is eating.
All together now
Now you're ready to put his whole meal down all at once.
Stand, or sit near him and add a special treat to his bowl as
he eats. Speak to him softly and stroke him as you drop the
reward into his bowl. Repeat this once every few meals until
your puppy is totally at ease.
The extra mile
Your puppy needs to learn that people around him,
particularly small
children, can be unpredictable. But he needs to accept
that this behaviour is not threatening. You can help him do
this by imitating a child's behaviour: try stepping quickly
towards his bowl - then drop in a treat. Gently bump into him,
while he's eating, or roll toys nearby - anything to cause a
distraction, but drop a treat in the bowl to reward him for
continuing to eat calmly. Do this every so often, but not at
every meal. If your puppy freezes mid mouthful, growls or
glares at you, stop and try again another time. If this
continues, it's best to seek advice from an animal trainer.
Click here for more information on
Training