Do you give your dog "human food"?

I'll admit it, I do.  

As I talk to more puppy mamas one of the reoccurring themes is "begging".  It is a real issue and can make dinner time or when you have guests over extremely unpleasant.  And, often, the more treats you sneak under-the-table, the worse that whiny, "but mom...I'd like some too" puppy face gets. 

While some people are violently against table scraps, I believe that everything in moderation is OK.  And, dogs like rules so if you give them "human food" on your terms it can be a very powerful tool.  Here are a few guidelines...

Use it as a treat substitute
I don't advocate dumping a pile of left over mac & cheese with broccoli into your dog's bowl after dinner.  But, I do believe that fresh, human food does have value.  For dogs that are over weight, baby carrots make a great low-calorie treat.  Copley absolutely loves snow peas, blueberries, and carrots.  I substitute these all-natural, organic treats for biscuits you can get in the store.  Cost effective and all-natural.

I like my food too much to share it
In my opinion, dinner time is one of the most important hours in a day for the family or with a significant other.  It is one of the only times you get to stop, relax, and converse about something other than if the email blast went out on time.  You can avoid begging by training your dog to "go to your place".  Copley knows that when I sit down to eat - she needs to go somewhere else and lay down.  I'll either ask her to do a down stay (nice way to practice long down stays), give her a bed, or sometimes she'll get her own special bone to chew on.  Either way, she has her own personal time and I have mine: eating in silence with out a whiny puppy under my feet.

Make it a special command
Every time I give Copley a small piece of rotisserie chicken or cheese, I give it to her in the same bowl that she eats her dinner out of.  This helped her learn that human food is only given in a controlled environment.  A.K.A, don't come looking for it under the table.  I paired the word "madame" with this very special reward.  Over time, she learned to come running when she hears the word "madame".  Honestly, this has helped me in emergency situations.  I can yell "madame" and she'll stop whatever she's doing and come back to me looking for a special treat.

Copley's Recommendations:
Hot dogs
Popcorn
String Cheese
Blueberries
Peas
Chicken
Sweet Potato
Carrots

What are your pups favorite foods? 

P.S. not all human foods are safe for dogs.  Chocolate, Onions, and Grapes are a few of them.  If you aren't sure if an item is dog friendly, consult your vet or trainer.