barking while we are eating...

[Toni-UK]

Ruby is 6mnths old.for a while when any of the family is eating food on their lap,ruby stands up against the sofa to sniff,(or has been known to snatch food from the plate)and when we tell her firmly "off",she mostly gets down but will bark and bark at whoever has the food,and if any of us tell her quiet,she barks at us too.she is fed before us due to the time we eat our dinner,so its not hunger.are their noses soooo good that everything smells so delicious and she just wants it? btw,we do not feed her at all from our plates or things that we are eating.anyone else with the same problem??

[Karma]

Yup - I posted a while back about Honey doing similar (no barking, but definate trying to get the food).  Unfortunately it is something that most dogs will do - and by having succeeded at snatching food it has proven to be immensely rewarding!!! 
Time, consistence and patience ("off", "leave" and lots of praise) has improved Honey no end - but she would still go for it given the opportunity.... also a bit of distraction (playing tug while eating is a much underrated skill!!!!) initially.

She never barked at us for this, but we did go through a phase about 2 months ago where she would bark at us at the table - we opted for ignoring this, as it was clearly to get our attention, and she soon stopped.

[Top Barks]

Try a teaching a relaxed down on leash or use time out would be my advice.
I think I have posted the relaxed down method on here some where.
http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=42406.0

[Toni-UK]

thanks for the replies,,wonder why she doesnt do this to oh,hmmmmm little moo

[september]

I have to say Roxy is shut in the kitchen if we eat in front of the tv 'cos she sits in front of you inching forward waiting to pounce.  However thats not very helpful training!

[Claire83]

Hi Toni,
Yup i agree with Mark. We've done a very similar thing to what Mark suggests with Roxy. We decided to get her a bed for the living/dining room and have gradually taught a relaxed down stay, with her. That means that just as we're about to eat she is guided to her bed and asked to lie down and stay. When we're finished, and are ready, we release her from her bed. It definately works and am sure if you follow Top Barks (Marks) thread you'll find it useful. 

How is Ruby doing BTW and also how are you? Are you fully mended?

Claire & Roxy. xx

[Toni-UK]

hi claire,nice to hear from you.you wont believe how big ruby has got,she woudnt be yelping if roxy bounced all over her now,she loves a bundle with other dogs.hmmmm,how am i ,well,im a month out of plaster now,but cant walk too far because of swelling,not to mention the discomfort,do you know i still cant believe that happened,it seems like forever ago(may 5th to be exact!)ruby has a lot to answer for,hehe
as you can see by my post,she can be a moo,tho she doesnt bark at pete when he is eating.she has totally become petes dog if you know what i mean,i havent been that involved since the accident with walks,training and feeding,but that is slowly starting to change now.i am going for my first walk with ruby and pete on sunday,but not to fanny on the hill! i will try this relaxed down,she has a doggy sofa(not my purchase,the mother in laws)in the lounge,its just i need someone else to be eating with me,as i cant keep getting up to return her to the sofa if she breaks the stay command.hopefully in a month or so we can all try and get together again,but i will stick to a path!                                  take care,especially round holes!
                                                   Toni

[ludo]

Try a teaching a relaxed down on leash or use time out would be my advice.
I think I have posted the relaxed down method on here some where.
http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=42406.0

This is good advice ... we have taught Dax the relaxed down and it often comes in handy - we don't have a problem with stealing our food or barking because he wants it - we give Dax a Pigs ear or something to chew on most nights when we eat (or he has time out in his crate depending on what treats he has got through in the day) ... he is usually too preoccupied trying to find somewhere to hide his prize to be worried about what we are eating