Quote Originally Posted by Jessika
To be honest, you have to be blunt and rude. These are YOUR dogs. Explain that feeding them table scraps, especially from your plate, is showing these dogs are equal to or above you, not to mention teaching them bad habits such as begging. Explain to your FIL that if he wants to continue feeding them table scraps, that's fine, but he will also be responsible for re-training out any bad behaviors that result from it as well.

Also explain that it can be bad for their systems - give them diarrhea. Their systems are much more sensitive than ours. Their food should already be nutritionally complete so feeding "extras" like that can throw off their entire nutrition. It can also lead to obesity, so you should also explain to him that for every table scrap he feeds, he needs to take them for one walk around the block, rain or shine

If you have to come to a happy medium, at least explain to him that table scraps are fine AS LONG as they are moderate, saves them until AFTER he is finished eating, and places them in their bowls before giving them to them.

I had a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge problem with my parents doing that with my dogs when they would dog sit, they thought begging was just so cute, when I would get them back I'd have to re-train their bad habits back out of them... got to the point where I yelled at my mother and said "you know what? FINE! If you don't want to listen to me, do things your way, YOU deal with them from now on, I quit!!" and that these were MY dogs and she may not agree with my methods but she had at least respect me and my methods. And if she treats my dogs like this I'm scared to think of how she'll be when I have kids.... I just really had to explain to my mother that the reason my dogs were so well-behaved was because of consistancy and constant training and if she did not help reinforce that she was untraining them and then SHE would have to deal with the consequences (if they were at her house, etc). She quickly learned not to leave food on the ground, to cover the trashcan, to not feed from her plate, etc.

So just explain to them WHY you don't want them to do it.

If nothing else works, demand they stop, be firm, and put your foot down.

well this is the thing, i have pretty much been as straight forward with them as i can. but i am worried if i get anymore rude or straight forward they will kick us out, they are understanding people, but they dont have very long fuses if you know what i mean. i have told them that i would appreciate it VERY much if they would not feed them human food, but they just wont listen, and i have even called them today and told them that it can kill them or give them pancritatis (however you spell it)! i just dont know what else to do, i wish that i had the money for a doggie day care, but where i live the population is around 900 if that, so there are no doggie day cares around here. and i dont take them places with me unless they can get out, Ie: i dont take them with me if i have to go to wal mart, because i will not leave them outside in the car alone. well every year my fiance and his parents and i go x-mas shopping, and this past year his parents decided to bring them with us! i was so flustered, because i didn't know they were bringing them until we were already on our way, and it was to late to take them back. and they dont understand why i am protective like that, but those are my kids and they were very expensive! you know! i just dont know...