As a poodle breeder, I'm no stranger to being surrounded by a pack of dogs gazing at me with that overwhelmingly adorable yet pathetic stare that pooches tend to display either at the dinner table or any time a morsel of food should appear. It's important to keep in mind that even if a dog is not jumping and whining, that loving stare is considered "begging."

Begging is a learned behavior which is usually unconsciously reinforced. Many of us see our pets as members of the family, so it's extremely natural for us to want to share with them. Although it gets annoying to have a pet begging at the dinner table, we have a tendency to block it out and let it continue. One minute we might yell, "Stop begging!" at the guilty dog, but the next minute we feel bad and feed him something. This is exactly where the problem begins.

The moment you give in and offer your pet even a morsel of food, you're reinforcing begging behavior by teaching the dog that if he hangs in there and has the patience to wait, he will be rewarded with a taste. Dogs can be very patient: some will jump and whine and carry on, but many will just sit, stare and wait.

Dogs are pack animals, and in their natural habitat the social order would be ranked in a hierarchy with the leader of the pack -- known as the "alpha dog" -- dominating. Pet owners should be aware that "the pack" instinct remains intact even in domesticated dogs, and that they must take on the alpha role in order to discipline their pets. Once you firmly establish that role, you can more easily take control of bad habits.