Those eyes say it all: "Please give me some food already!" Photo: 123rf.com
All creatures beg for food; it's born into us to cry, whine, chirp or otherwise tell our mums we need to eat.
When dogs are just born, their eyes are still too delicate for light. They are shut for about 10 days to two weeks. In that time, the little pups utter shrill squeaks as they move about, looking for their mum's milk.
As they grow older and start to walk, they yip for food, for attention and for love. Adult dogs who are no longer nursing will mimic puppy behaviour for certain things. They might do it to persuade a friend to share food, to persuade a mate to pamper them, or to convince an angry dog to sweeten up.
As we think puppies are cute, pet dogs have been selected for generations to keep their puppy behaviour. So when adult pets dogs act like pups and beg, it's very much natural and also inbred.
If you're not keen to share your lunch, behavioural training will help. It's a simple three-step approach.
First, make sure your dog is well fed. Two meals a day, plus a treat, is usually sound for an adult dog. Feed their breakfast and dinner just before you have yours.
Second, be kind. Your pet can't help itself, so yelling and shouting will just scare them. And if you hit them, don't be surprised that your pet becomes afraid of you. Violence is a no-no. Just be cool, calm, and follow step three.
Third, be consistent. That means never sharing your food. If you don't share, your pet learns not to ask. If you give food sometimes, the message your pet learns is that persistence pays. So never ever give in to the big eyes.
Do this from the start, and within a few weeks you should have a dog that is dying to share your food but who has given up asking.
Adopt Me
Panda is 11 months old, female and in excellent health. This elegant lady is chockful of character.
Photo: Cheah Siew Yenn
Panda loves food, attention, and lots of playtime. She is also a good watchdog and will be a lovely companion.
Interested adopters, please contact Yenn in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, at 012-938 5968.
