"I am, however, the only one who the dog leaves alone at dinner since I am the only one who *never* gives her table scraps. At least I eat in peace on the nights I am there"


My point exactly. You need to be trained. I know to tell my dog "No!" and then when he sits and looks at me a certain pathetic and desperate way, I am supposed to give him the food he wants. It took him some time to break me and teach me this, but I eventually learned.