Episode 012 - Why I Feed My Dogs From the Table (And How It Actually Improves Their Training)

Season #1 August 19, 2025

Show Notes

Why I Feed My Dogs From the Table (And How It Actually Improves Their Training)

In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast, Lorrie Reynolds shares a surprising confession about her dog training routine: she feeds her dogs from the table.

Before you assume that means dogs begging at the table, drooling on plates, or hovering during meals, this episode explains the training principle behind the method.

By rewarding the behavior she actually wants during mealtimes, Lorrie has trained her dogs to stay calmly away from the table instead of begging nearby.

Topics Covered

dog training during mealtime, teaching dogs not to beg at the table, positive reinforcement dog training, rewarding behavior in the correct location, dog training consistency

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Why rewarding behavior while it happens is essential for effective dog training
• How feeding dogs from the table can actually prevent begging behavior
• Why location matters when reinforcing behavior
• How to teach dogs to stay calmly away from the table during meals
• Why consistency and repetition help dogs learn household rules quickly

Episode Overview

Many dog owners struggle with dogs begging during meals. The common advice is simply to ignore the dog or avoid feeding them anything from the table.

In this episode, Lorrie explains a different approach that focuses on rewarding the behavior you want while it happens and where it happens.

Instead of trying to stop begging after it begins, her dogs learn early that the only way to earn food during mealtime is by staying at least six feet away from the table.

During training, dogs are rewarded in their designated spots while the meal is happening. By reinforcing calm behavior away from the table, dogs quickly learn that hovering near people eating doesn’t pay off.

This approach relies on a simple training principle: dogs repeat behaviors that are rewarded. When the reward consistently happens in the correct location, the dog naturally chooses that behavior.

Over time, the behavior becomes automatic, allowing dogs to relax during meals without constant reminders or management tools.

Key Training Concepts Mentioned

• rewarding behavior where it occurs
• using positive reinforcement for household manners
• teaching dogs to stay away from the table during meals
• reinforcing calm behavior through consistent rewards
• building self-control in everyday situations

Key Takeaway

Dogs learn fastest when rewards happen at the exact moment and location of the behavior you want. By reinforcing calm behavior away from the table during meals, you can teach dogs to stay relaxed and avoid begging without constant correction.

Resources Mentioned

Maximum Fun Dog Sports
https://www.maximumfundogs.com

The Agility Playground membership

Start your free 7-day trial here:
https://courses.maximumfundogs.com/2025-bb-tap1-7D

Build Better Communication With Your Dog

If you want to strengthen communication, confidence, and teamwork with your agility dog, check out The Agility Playground.

The membership includes training exercises designed to improve independence, clarity of cues, and connection between you and your dog.

Start your free 7-day trial here:
https://courses.maximumfundogs.com/2025-bb-tap1-7D

Related Episodes

Episode 005 – Five Mistakes You’re Making With Your Dog Agility Training
Episode 011 – Lower Your Training Criteria When Teaching New Skills
Episode 007 – What Are Screw-Up Cookies?

Additional Resources:

Website: https://www.maximumfundogs.com
Shop: https://courses.maximumfundogs.com/shop
Email: [email protected]
Articles: https://www.maximumfundogs.com/articles
The Agility Playground: https://courses.maximumfundogs.com/2025-bb-tap1-7D

Episode Transcript

Lorrie [00:00:09]:
I feed my dogs from the table. I can hear the gasps in my head. Before you start thinking bad thoughts about my dog's behavior, let me explain. I absolutely hate having dogs near me when I'm eating. If you don't mind having your dog hovering next to you, drooling on your pants with his nose on your plate, more power to you. But I can't stand it. In this episode, I'll explain why I feed them from the table and how it keeps them out of my plate. Welcome to the Maximum Fun Agility podcast.

Lorrie [00:00:42]:
I'm Lorrie Reynolds, owner of Maximum Fun Dog Sports. We help both halves of an agility team build their relationships, communication, confidence, and fun in training so that they can joyfully succeed on any course. So why am I feeding my dogs from the table? Dog training starts where it ends. You have to reward the behavior you want while it is occurring and in the location that it occurs. If I want a specific behavior while I'm eating at the table, my dogs need to be rewarded during that time, not after I'm done or before I start the meal. Early on, my dogs learn that if they want any of what I'm eating, they had better not be within 6 feet of me while I'm eating it. We start off easy with me luring and asking them to sit or lie down away from the table and rewarding for staying there as I move back to my seat. It's not an easy process at first, and I end up getting up and down many, many times during a meal to reset them.

Lorrie [00:01:46]:
At this point, I could use a management tool, a crate, pen, or gate, but it's worth it to me for them to learn self control, so I don't mind getting up and down to help them learn what I want. I keep a container of treats next to my plate, (and I haven't mixed them up with my food so far). If the dogs are where they are supposed to be during dinner time, I either get up and reward them while they are still learning the behavior, or I toss each of them a treat once the behavior is well established. There is no treat tossing when I get a new rescue or puppy. We start at the beginning, and I hand feed all of them. If one of them gets up, I ask them to go back to where they were, and if they do, they get a treat. If they don't, I get up and call them over to their spot. Their spots are fluid, although they each have a favorite place.

Lorrie [00:02:40]:
At my mother's house, where we frequently eat together at the table, Onyx's spot is in the bed under the desk. Rainer hops up on the couch, Pixie lies on the living room rug, and Revel either sits next to Pixie or goes into the open crate. At home, they generally pick a spot at least 6 feet from wherever I am eating since we rarely eat at the dining room table together. The bottom line is that dogs do what works. They quickly figure out that coming near the people eating doesn't get them anything except a trip back to where they were. Staying away gets them dog treats and occasionally a small piece of whatever is on my plate. By rewarding them in their chosen spots and giving out frequent rewards when they are just learning to stay away, they pick up the concept easily. The reward comes where the behavior occurs as it is happening.

Lorrie [00:03:35]:
The last dog I brought home only took a couple of days to take cues from my existing dogs and learn what to do at mealtimes. Xephyr was the best at this behavior. As soon as I stepped into the kitchen at my mom's house, he was on the living room rug intently watching for his next reward. So, yes, I feed my dogs from the table, because rewarding what I want when it happens is the best way for them to learn. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast. If you want to build a successful agility team where runs with your partner feel flowing and in sync, join us in The Agility Playground. The Agility Playground is a low-cost membership that meets you where you are on your dog agility journey and helps you propel your team to new heights. You can check out The Agility Playground and join our community at www.maximumfundogs.com.

Lorrie [00:04:33]:
See you next time.