[SandysDaddy]

I would've been just as shocked as your guest, too. There are a lot of things my dogs are allowed to do- but, eating off my plate isn't one of them. Especially since I have two big dogs that spend a lot of time indoors. Goodness- if they learned they could snag some food off my plate... It would be gone within minutes. Not to mention the sheer horror that would be on my face if I were eating a chocolate cake and one of the dogs snagged it while my head was turned. It teaches bad manners. I don't want my dogs begging anyone- guest or someone that lives here- at the dinner table. So, when they do, they're reprimanded. I feel that letting them eat off my plate would just contradict that. I cook for my dogs- that I do. But, they have their own meals at their own time. They know better than to beg me for my food- and, in return, I don't eat theirs. Seems fair enough to me.

Though, I must admit, I have shared spoons and forks with Sandy. But, she knows better than to actually lick the spoon or fork. She grabs the food and pulls it off without ever actually touching the silverware. And, I only do that in my room. She's learned that that's the only place she gets tablescraps. And, even then, she rarely gets them.