My dog won’t let guests eat in peace

I have a two-year-old golden retriever. She barks every time guests are served food, and it annoys them no end. How do I get her to stop?
—Neha

Hi Neha,

Indeed, your dog barking at guests especially when they are eating can be embarrassing. I assume that your dog is otherwise friendly with them and is not particularly uncomfortable with their presence, but is just barking when they are eating.

This kind of behaviour is indicative of what is generally called as a demand barking. Usually, when the dog wants something, he will ‘demand’ for it by barking until he gets it. It could be his meal, his play or just attention. But let us not blame the dog. Difficult as it may be, this is a habit that is accidentally taught by us and reinforced unknowingly every time we oblige to his bark.

Think back carefully to see what happens in your household. Do you have a habit of feeding him off the table, when you eat? Does he bark and demand to get your attention when he needs something? Have you taught him that if he barks relentlessly he will get what he wants?  He is using this learning in his favour to get attention or maybe food from your guests.

The obvious solution to this is to stop giving in to his demands. Establish a good mealtime routine and do not feed him randomly. Ignore his demanding barks. This can be difficult but it is important for him to unlearn his behaviour. Maintain consistency in your correction. Do not try to verbally negotiate with him or coax and cajole him. This will only add to his excitement and make matters worse. Work with him on some basic training to establish better obedience. Reward him with praise, treats and affection when he behaves.

Another aspect that you can do is to give him something to do as a distraction. Invest in some good food dispensing toys or chew toys that you can use to keep him occupied. Give it to him before he starts barking in such a way that he is occupied. This will be a positive experience for him to behave around guests.
(If you need some tips to train  your pets, write to pets.faq@gmail.com)