[Cesare Borgia]

While i am eating i tend to make my dogs stay back a ways and wait until i am done, they have began to understand that if they leave me alone they will get a treat when i am done eating (sometimes a small scrap of what i was eating or a dog treat). Typically one of my dogs "Sam" will not bother me much and will find a spot to lay down and wait, the other one "Shiloh" seems to be more persistent, i assume it's because her Beagle part is more dominant in her.

Anyhow, my method is that when they get too close i will stand up and walk towards them and make them back up as i tell them "Back off", when they are the proper distance i will sit back down and resume eating, Shiloh tends to inch her way towards me by doing a belly crawl and then going to a sitting possession when she gets close enough, when she does that i will normally use my foot and move her back to an acceptable distance.

My question is this, when i do this, she tends to nip at my foot in what i can only describe as a playful way, almost like it's a game to her, if i didn't know any better i would say she was just trying to get the last word, she never actually bites me, it seems like she does this just so that she gets the satisfaction of not backing down and losing face, some of the time i can't help but chuckle when she does it.

She used to do the same thing when i would punish her for other offenses, if i had to send her to her dog house for something or if i took something from her that she was chewing on she would make a small snapping motion with her teeth but never actually attempt to make contact, only when i would point my finger at her and tell her "no".

Is this a problem or is it just my dog doing the equivalent of "Talking back" like a teenager would? normally it's very subtle.

 

[TooneyDogs]

You're looking at this backward. When they're in their spots away from the table is when you give them attention...praise for doing as you asked. You're giving all the attention (pushing with for your foot/standing up/looking at them/moving them back) for getting out of place and yes, you're getting attention in return but, for the wrong thing.

 

[RandStrauss]

Ignore the belly crawl until she crosses the line. When she does, go back to your "Back off" routine. Be consistent. Don't shove her around with your foot. Seems like missed signals to me.

When done with the meal, if she's good at that moment, reward her for her attentive patience with a treat. I wouldn't give her food from your plate unless you've moved your plate to a different place, such as the kitchen sink. Treats should be kept in a place other than the dinner table, preferably close to where you want your pup to stay.

I've done similar things with my Chewie and he never bothers anyone at the dinner table. (until my mother-in-law decided to feed him a scrap from her plate and it took two weeks to fix that one. I was briefly considering making everyone sign a "how to behave around pets" agreement before entering the house)

 

[Cesare Borgia]

Ignore the belly crawl until she crosses the line. When she does, go back to your "Back off" routine. Be consistent. Don't shove her around with your foot. Seems like missed signals to me.

When done with the meal, if she's good at that moment, reward her for her attentive patience with a treat. I wouldn't give her food from your plate unless you've moved your plate to a different place, such as the kitchen sink. Treats should be kept in a place other than the dinner table, preferably close to where you want your pup to stay.

I've done similar things with my Chewie and he never bothers anyone at the dinner table. (until my mother-in-law decided to feed him a scrap from her plate and it took two weeks to fix that one. I was briefly considering making everyone sign a "how to behave around pets" agreement before entering the house)

I always wait to treat them until i get into the kitchen where they get their usual treats, they have learned the exact sound one particular cabinet makes when it is opened ( where i keep the treats) and somehow can tell it apart from the others that make the same noise, as soon as they hear it open they barrel into the kitchen knowing i have a snack for them.

I can open all the others cabinets and they ignore it, its hilarious how they can distinguish the snack one from all the others, even from the other side of the house.

 

[LibertyEagle418]

While i am eating i tend to make my dogs stay back a ways and wait until i am done, they have began to understand that if they leave me alone they will get a treat when i am done eating (sometimes a small scrap of what i was eating or a dog treat). Typically one of my dogs "Sam" will not bother me much and will find a spot to lay down and wait, the other one "Shiloh" seems to be more persistent, i assume it's because her Beagle part is more dominant in her.

Anyhow, my method is that when they get too close i will stand up and walk towards them and make them back up as i tell them "Back off", when they are the proper distance i will sit back down and resume eating, Shiloh tends to inch her way towards me by doing a belly crawl and then going to a sitting possession when she gets close enough, when she does that i will normally use my foot and move her back to an acceptable distance.

My question is this, when i do this, she tends to nip at my foot in what i can only describe as a playful way, almost like it's a game to her, if i didn't know any better i would say she was just trying to get the last word, she never actually bites me, it seems like she does this just so that she gets the satisfaction of not backing down and losing face, some of the time i can't help but chuckle when she does it.

She used to do the same thing when i would punish her for other offenses, if i had to send her to her dog house for something or if i took something from her that she was chewing on she would make a small snapping motion with her teeth but never actually attempt to make contact, only when i would point my finger at her and tell her "no".

Is this a problem or is it just my dog doing the equivalent of "Talking back" like a teenager would? normally it's very subtle.

I think I started that, with the foot biting. I let her bite my boot sometimes, (just to play) and ever since, she always goes for ppls feet when they try to get her to move away with their foot..