# Dogs and sharing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-and-sharing/592413>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 12, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-and-sharing/592413 "2011-08-12T03:07:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-and-sharing/592413/21 "2011-08-12T14:59:41Z")

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> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#):
>
> Except, when you see a dog “beg” and you give him food, the dog doesn’t see it that way. The dog sees it as a stare down wherein he’s challenging you and demanding that you give him your food. So if you give him a morsel, he thinks he was successful in his challenge and may try to challenge you again later in other ways (like disobeying your commands.)

I think this depends on the dog’s other training. Our dogs ‘beg’ from a respectful distance (because they know they aren’t allowed on the furniture when someone’s eating), but giving them food has never resulted in behavioral problems.

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**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-and-sharing/592413/22 "2011-08-12T15:05:18Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Except, when you see a dog “beg” and you give him food, the dog doesn’t see it that way. The dog sees it as a stare down wherein he’s challenging you and demanding that you give him your food. So if you give him a morsel, he thinks he was successful in his challenge and may try to challenge you again later in other ways (like disobeying your commands.)

Meh. Cite? I have three dogs and give them various treats frequently, sometimes even after they’ve been watching me eat (which is not a staring contest, I don’t look back at them), and they’re really very well behaved.

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**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dogs-and-sharing/592413/23 "2011-08-12T15:15:10Z")

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> [@Vihaga](#):
>
> I think this depends on the dog’s other training. Our dogs ‘beg’ from a respectful distance (because they know they aren’t allowed on the furniture when someone’s eating), but giving them food has never resulted in behavioral problems.

Not all dogs end up with behavioral issues, no, but I was just pointing out that humans have a really different interpretation of begging than dogs. In some dogs, it can foster issues because they are learning that they can challenge the alpha and sometimes be successful.

We do share food with our dog, but like you, we have very well-established boundaries. Plus, begging is never rewarded. WHen we’re done eating we’ll either share by putting some in his bowl or stepping away from the table

> [@Renee](#):
>
> Meh. Cite?

You can look it up in any number of dog training books or talk to your local dog trainer.

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