How would you handle this behavior?

JillRock96

Last week when my family was visiting, Ava saw my mom slip food to the dog under the dinner table.  Now, at EVERY meal since, Ava says "Good girl!" and throws food on the floor for the dog to come eat. 

Normally I take her tray away for throwing food (because she usually does it when she's mad or because she knows she's not supposed to).  But in this case, she thinks she is doing something that is ok, and she is still eating when she does it (so I don't want to take her food).  Help!

BoxTer

Could you keep the dog away while she's eating? N LOVES to feed her food and snacks to our dog and he has learned to hang around and wait for it so I put him in another room while she eats. Then I let him come in and "clean up" when she's done.

TakYelgif

I wish I had some advice for you but given that she thinks she is doing something good because she saw your mom doing it there really is no way to explain to her that what she is actually doing is bad.

I would however have a nice long talk with your mom prior to her next visit and ask her not to feed the dog from the table.

JillRock96

BoxTer:

Could you keep the dog away while she's eating? N LOVES to feed her food and snacks to our dog and he has learned to hang around and wait for it so I put him in another room while she eats. Then I let him come in and "clean up" when she's done.

Unfortunately it doesn't matter if the dog is in the room or not.  We usually close the dog in the living room while we're eating so she doesn't beg. Ava even did it at a restaurant last week, then looked at me confused, like "why didn't my puppy come running?"

Have to say that is a good thing about having a dog, though -- cleanup after dinner is MUCH easier, lol.

Christakim

Maybe tell her the dog is full and that it's not good for your tummy to eat when you are full.  Two birds one stone??:P

emiannie

Christakim:

Maybe tell her the dog is full and that it's not good for your tummy to eat when you are full.  Two birds one stone??:P

This sounds good.  I was going to say to tell her that sometimes puppy gets sick if she eats too much people food so we shouldn't give it to her.  Maybe even have Grandma call Ava and tell her she feels bad for making puppy's tummy upset when she visited.  

lolalillie

While it is not a bad behavior, it is an unwelcome behavior.  It stinks that she witnessed it and is not copying it. 

I would be nice but still tell her no and that we don't feed the doggy our food.  Maybe have her "help" give the dog her food and reinforce that it is food for the doggy.  Then when she is eating, say food for Ava.

Hopefully she will eventually forget but I too would have a chat with my Mom.  My FIL did that when we had our dog and it drove me nuts that we would tell him not to feed our dog and he still did!

LucyPevensie

I'd discourage it - repeatedly telling her "Ava is eating right now so no feeding doggie!" or whatever, but I wouldn't punish her.  She saw  your mom - she thinks it's cool - it will take a while for her to figure out - "oh, mom would rather I not do this."

Or - you could do what I do and pretty much ignore it -  and just be glad you have dogs to eat whatever gets thrown on the floor.  LOL!