So any examples of greedy pets that beg shamelessly at the dinner table? Or steal from the kitchen counter? Or do you deal with angels every time?
Had a Vizsla that had an amazing reach up to a window sill in the kitchen I thought was untouchable.. lost half my Shepherd’s Pie..
He only got away with it once though!
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My first dog was at grannys for a petsit.
When I came to pick her up, she sat with her hind legs really spread out, and her tummy as big as if she was expecting any minute now. And with a really guilty - and bloated - look.
Granny told us that the little dog had managed to counter-surf for the whole package of ground beef for dinner. And sort of inhaled it…
No dinner for you, Missy! 
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Guilty as charged! Bulging tummy can’t be easily hidden .. I know from experience! Ha ha!
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In our family people bring their dogs to holdiday gatherings. The dogs greet my spouse like he’s their long lost rich uncle. They know he’s a soft touch.
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Just last week, we were visiting our in-laws. My one sister-in-law baked a pretty cool cake creation for our little nephew turning 6 - some kind of superhero saving someone from a tall building (whatever makes a 6-year old happy). The other sister-in-law left their dog unattended in the house for a bit while enjoying the family gathering outside. When it was time to collect the cake from the dining table, for the big singing and candle blowing event, the cake was GONE, completely missing. Only some crumbs on the floor. Hmmm. You can just imagine the words between those sisters…and the disappointed little 6-year old. And the dog looking very guilty/innocent/confused/happy…
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First evening of a new sit our dinner ( chicken ) just out of the oven was devoured by the two cats whilst I turned my back for a second !
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This guy sits next to our kitchen table for every meal and we don’t mind. We even keep a rug for him to plop down on, so his rear end doesn’t get cold on the tile. He knows when meals are being prepared (or more often, when takeout is being plated) and he usually gets to tableside before us.
We always set out little dog treats for him and dole them out during our meal, so he gets to “dine” with us. Sometimes we give him bits of human food, too — say a few tiny bites of smoked salmon, roast chicken or steak. We’re careful to avoid spices, garlic, etc., that could make him sick.
He’s well mannered. He knows to just be there, no begging needed. And once we say, “No more,” he usually wanders off to one of his beds to chill.
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Come dine with me.. what a lovely way to defuse the possible battleground with his treats on the table. Awesome psychology! Family dining supremes!
The guys I’m sitting now get treats before bedtime.. like a handful each! They run up the stairs to bed! The power of food!
Straight to bed and I wake them in the morning for walkies as they are experts at chill! Never had such easy pets, what with the dog flap and walks from the door.. I feel a bit of a fraud.. like a nanny looking after college students!
But maybe this is about how things should be
I’m loving angels instead!
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Yikes! That’s horrendous!
We made a Christmas cake iced and Yuletide decorations. Went shopping in town and invited friends back for cake.. the dog had eaten a big chunk and licked around quite a portion of the rest.. so slithers all round. Lucky Christmas cake is notoriously fattening don’t you know!
Couldn’t punish the dog till after the guests had left! I was fuming! Ha ha! Let them eat cake!
He did leave a bit .. he must have had a cast iron stomach to keep it all down! I’m grateful for that too!
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Sounds like a great sit. Most of my sit dogs have been low maintenance, fortunately.
A recent one got very few treats and they were just his normal kibble — I followed his humans’ guidance. He’d show himself into his kennel every night for one piece of kibble and he’d happily get out for one piece of kibble every morning. A sweet dog all around.
At home, our dog is a rescue who was returned and sat unwanted for months at the shelter, because he has serious issues. Despite that, he’s got some great traits, including never trying to steal food and never chewing what he’s not supposed to.
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And by that time I’m sure he had forgotten all about it and didn’t know what you were up to!
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We dined off that story! Hey I’m a food opportunist! I think we were a perfect match!
I got where he was coming from! He just got there first!
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I have sat my favourite Lab quite a few times now. She is a golden for sure. Every morning I come downstairs and open the child gate she greets me with a wagging tail and bared teeth! She’s a smiler, explained the owner, when I was first introduced to “Sheba”. Yes she is quite a dame, Queen! She sleeps in the kitchen / dining area. The kitchen cupboard handles have hair elastics to keep them shut.. raffia placemats are a favourite for Sheba and they have to be put away.
Of course I forgot one time.
Sheba took the mat to her bed and left it there in perfect condition. She saved my bacon. We have bonded so beautifully.
The owner asked if I could sit her again recently , “ because I can’t think of anyone I’d rather choose.”
Sheba has four sons now. She will be the best mum in the world. The owner slept on the sofa near her and helped her birth the boys through the night. I would have gladly done the same, but I was busy on another sit.
. I’m invited to visit when I can. It’s hard thinking of visiting 4 nuggets when you know they are never coming home to me. I’d take all 4 , if I could! The owner and my wife know this very well. Which is why I have to pet sit to deal with my addiction in a manageable way!
But the owner is keeping one of the boys, “ Sam” and I know I will be pet sitting mother and son in the future. Life is good. Very good.
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My first cat was a sandwich thief.
My second cat was a donut thief.
My third cat was an undercover coffee sipper and dog food thief.
My current cat will shamelessly claim a glass of water as hers.
My first labby learned to open zippers to get into gym bags where he knew we kept popcorn baggies.
Hehehe. Thank you for the laugh and the walk down memory lane 
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I had made some scones and was sitting outside with friends but left the clotted cream on a table. I went to look for it and couldn’t find it anywhere. I later realised the dog had eaten it all. Thank goodness she wasn’t ill
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The clot thickens!
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On one cat sit, one of the ‘angels’ regularly nicked veggies as I was chopping them. Favourite was bits of bell pepper.
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Was it red bell peppers @Dace?
I had a cat, Scarlett, who could tell when I was chopping red peppers. She didn’t want to eat them but rub her cheeks on them. I learned to give Scarlett her own portion first so I could chop in peace. She had no interest in any other colour.
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There’s a link between dogs and bells Pavlov’s experiments but I never realized cats were sometimes bell obsessed too! Fascinating that it has to be “red” hot only! Rubbing cheeks with it, well that’s better than what some dogs are more than happy to rub themselves in! Ha ha!
