Article: Dogs are relatively simple creatures. If they perform a behavior that results in a reward, they will repeat the behavior expecting a reward in the future. If a behavior does not result in a payoff, they will have no reason to repeat it. Some dogs will just sit and look at you, while others might whine at you until they get what they want. If the dog does not get what it wants, it may even bark at you, paw at you, or climb up on the couch or chair to get closer to you to make its point. If you feed them or pet the dog when it does these things, you reward the behavior with a treat or pat on the head. A food reward is a very common payoff, but throwing a ball or giving the dog attention is also a form of positive reinforcement. For some dogs, only one or two payoffs are needed to train a dog to beg. Undoing this training is a matter of removing the reinforcement, challenging though this may be. The most basic and important step in the process of undoing the negative training that has led to begging is to stop feeding the dog from the table. Most people give in every once in a while and give some scraps to their begging dog, and this reinforces the undesirable behavior. Refusing to acknowledge your dog when you are eating is crucial to both preventing a begging habit and stopping an existing problem. No matter how much your dog barks, whines, or stares at you when you eat, do not feed it. Unless you are giving the dog a command, don't give your dog attention by talking to it, or even mentioning its name. No matter how frustrated you get, do not yell at a begging dog. Attention of any kind, even such negative attention, can reinforce the begging behavior. Even making eye-contact with your dog is a form of attention, which rewards the behavior you are trying to extinguish. Even the most subtle attention can encourage the begging behavior.

What is a summary?
Understand the behavior. Don't feed the dog. Don't talk to the dog. Don't even look at the dog.