Cubby use to be trained to sit in front of us while we eat and not even look at the plates while we were eating. We never ment to train him to do this. He must have learned that the licking the side of daddy's plate = water bottle and no plate to lick. Now when we eat he gets on the arm of the couch and sniffs the plate. After we are done eating we set the plate down, point at it and call Cubby over. If you set it down and don't call him over he will not touch the plate. My whole family shares their plates with their pets. My BIL"S don't agree but who cares he's my cat if you don't like what I serve food on then don't come her complaining that you are hungry.