Well, I hope I can answer this without the computer crashing.
We finally found out last night -- they were raised on human food. We've been painting the living room and got Chinese. This is the first time Annie has show any interest in anything. She wanted that food! They have NO idea what dog food is aside from dry. Poor Annie can't eat dry because she is almost toothless and her mouth is full of stitches. The poor thing is eating when she is so hungry she can't stand it. Since I've always provided food that was delicious to tempt malnourished dogs to eat this breaks my heart. But she won't eat any "real food" human or dog.
I don't dare use a squirt bottle since Toto is still afraid he's going to be hurt. His barking is funnier than annoying because he's so little. Widget is a different matter. When she barks it's piercing and really loud. I'm sure she wonders why she gets fussed at and we just laugh at him.
I actually don't mind begging. I enjoy watching them get creative and think up ways to get me to fork over treats. Some of the funniest moments have been watching them thinking of something that will work and then carry out their devious plan. My favorites so far have been my Joe, a beagle-doxie who would stare a hole in me until I looked at her and then she'd looked at the ceiling pretending she was never interested at all. And a big collie who would just plant one foot gently on my leg until I noticed her and then snap that leg tight against her chest like a salute. Of course the little one who come up when I read a poem about a blind dog and was in tears. He let me hug him -- and stole my sandwich! LOL
So the food follies continue here but they are at least eating something. I really thank everyone for their stories. I'm learning something new every day here.