We do not have a problem at all leaving. They have a doggy door to an outside fenced yard but we lock them in the entry when we leave - hubby is paranoid that someone will steal them. We paid $1500 for the dad ( BTW all are fixws now LOL) AND we live way out in the country with the road about 100 feet from the house so I doubt that anyone would snatch them, but hubby lubs his Waya-boy. LOL Anyway, it is when we come home that they throw fits. It is getting better and would get better fater is he (hubby) would not be as excited to see them as they are us. LOL Hubby also complains that they only sponge off him when we eat. I told him thatr is because HE FEEDS THEM!! He says "but I taint wesist" LOLL This is from a big 62 YO man who when we were married almost 40 years ago did not like dogs or cats much.
If you ignore them at meal time they won't beg. Since we feed raw our dogs don't get human treats and they usually play or just lay around and wait for us to finish dinner and then get excited because they know they get to eat after we eat (part of teaching them we are the alpha's in the pack, not them)... Do you watch Dog Whisperer?