Who Gets to Eat First- Man or Dog

Many pet owners put their dog on a pedestal. Sometimes, they even take care of their dog's needs before catering to their own needs. If you're one of these people, you would probably feed your dog before you eat. Some trainers argue that owners must eat before their dog does. Because dogs are descendents of wolves, they somewhat inherently understand how to live within a hierarchy. Therefore, it is crucial that your dog knows who the leader of the household is. It might be too late if your dog is older, but if you have a puppy you can still let him know who is boss. Demonstrate to your dog that you are at the top of the hierarchy during mealtime. By showing your dog that you eat first and him second, you are establishing your authority. This way, he sees you as the leader of the pack. You can also use this to your advantage by getting your puppy to eat wherever you want him to. If he bugs you around the dinner table or breakfast nook, you can show him that his place is to eat in the kitchen (or wherever you want). Do this by putting his bowl of food down wherever you desire him to eat. If he eats his food then your work is done, but if he hesitates, take the food away for a while and bring it back later. Next time, your puppy will remember that if he does not eat whenever you are allowing him to, he will have to face the consequences of staying hungry for some time. Having a set schedule for when and where your puppy eats will also assist you in knowing when to take him out. Also, by showing your puppy that he has to eat wherever and whenever you place his food, he will probably avoid begging for your food while you are eating. Many dogs tend to whine for chicken scraps or meat. If you give into his whining now, this behavior pattern will only get worse. You can put some pieces of chicken into your puppy's bowl, but do not feed him while he's crying for it at your table. This will only result in him thinking he can get anything he wants by whining.