| Dog food aggression is one of those dog behavior | | | | essence what this does is to lock you and your dog |
| problems that is difficult for us humans to fully | | | | into a battle of wills. Your dogs next move will most |
| understand. It just doesn't seem to make sense that | | | | likely be to step up his level of aggression to counter |
| your dog would consider you a threat to his/her food | | | | your action. |
| resource. I mean you gave him the food in the first | | | | Dog Food Aggression Training TechniquesFirstly, be |
| place, and if you feed your dog's the same kinds of | | | | careful. If you believe your dog poses any real physical |
| foods that I do, it's not all that appealing anyway!But, | | | | threat to you or family members I'd advise getting |
| what is your dog thinking?If your dog glares at you, | | | | professional help. Speak to a professional dog trainer |
| snarls, growls and positions himself between you and | | | | or animal behaviorist.Below is a list of training |
| the food he is actually saying to you "this is mine, go | | | | techniques which could help your dog overcome his |
| away, find your own". He is basically telling you that he | | | | dog food aggression. Remember all of these |
| considers himself as the leader or alpha dog in your | | | | techniques are designed to work towards |
| household. Dog food aggression (sometimes called | | | | reconditioning your dog to enjoy having you around |
| canine possession aggression) is a dominance issue, it | | | | anytime. Mix it up, show your dog who is boss. |
| is serious and needs to be addressed immediately, it | | | | Hand feed your dogs, even stick your hands into your |
| won't just go away.We've all made the mistake of | | | | dogs bowl while he is eating.Stroke and pet your dog |
| laughing and even encouraging our feisty little dogs | | | | while he is eating and at the same time talk to him in a |
| when they first display the "cute" signs of dog food | | | | calming tone. All you are doing at this point is showing |
| aggression. Don't fall into this trap! Food or toy | | | | your dog that it is a good thing for you to be |
| aggression in dogs should never be tolerated as you | | | | around.Stand at a distance your dog is comfortable |
| never know when it can escalate into something more | | | | with, then gradually reduce this distance over time. You |
| dangerous for you or a family member.Why Does | | | | can flick a few treats in (or near) the bowl as you |
| Your Dog Display Dog Food Aggression?Canine | | | | slowly reduce the distance.Put your dogs bowl down |
| possession aggression can be triggered by any | | | | with nothing in it, your dog will look back at you as |
| number of factors but in most cases it can be | | | | though you are crazy. He'll then literally beg you to |
| attributed to one of these common causes: | | | | come over and fill his bowl.Feed your dog as normal |
| Your dog is desperate for this food, in his mind he | | | | but hold back a few pieces of his meal. When he is |
| doesn't know if or when he will get more food. | | | | finished licking the bowl, he'll look back up at you, then |
| Therefore he protects or guards his food, just like he | | | | you can come over and give him the remaining |
| would have done in a pack situation in the wild.Your | | | | food.Drop a few of your dogs very favorite treats into |
| dog may begin to see you as someone who is | | | | his bowl each time you walk past it. After a while of |
| always taking good stuff away. He comes to view | | | | this your dog will welcome the sight of you |
| you more as a threat than a provider (you've got to | | | | approaching the bowl.When your dog is eating, call him |
| turn this thinking around).Dog food aggression can be | | | | over to you, when he gets to you reward him, make it |
| part of the general confusion regarding who the leader | | | | worth his while then let him back to the food |
| is in your owner - dog relationship. Often it is not an | | | | bowl.While you are preparing your dogs meal put him |
| isolated incident, it's something you need to rectify.It's | | | | in a down-stay or sit position, only release him from |
| possible that your dog doesn't even understand that | | | | your command once you have put his bowl down. By |
| his dog food aggression is unacceptable behavior. In | | | | doing this you are controlling meal time and establishing |
| such cases there is an obvious communication | | | | (or re-establishing) your role as your dogs leader.Work |
| breakdown between human and dog.General Rules | | | | with another family member on this technique. Put your |
| For Correcting Food Aggression In Dogs | | | | dog in his collar and leash and have him sit with your |
| If your dog is directing his aggression towards other | | | | helper while you prepare the food. When you are |
| dogs the best solution is to simply separate them at | | | | ready release your dog and allow him his food. Again |
| meal times. Feed them in different rooms or in their | | | | you are controlling the situation.Try the "Trade Up |
| crates.Involve all of your family members in this dog | | | | Method". What you do is take away the food or toy |
| food aggression training.Take control of feeding time. | | | | your dog is guarding, and replace it with something |
| You control the time and place of dinner time - own | | | | better. You can use an obedience command such as |
| the food!Make your dog earn any food. Just simple | | | | "give" or "leave it" to encourage your dog to release |
| tasks like sit or a down stay is fine.Make it clear to | | | | the precious resource he is guarding. You then take |
| your young puppies that it's good to have people | | | | this resource (the food or toy) and give the trade up |
| around when they are eating. If you do this from day | | | | item to your dog. Once your dog has finished with the |
| one you will almost certainly prevent dog food | | | | new item, you can then give back the resource you |
| aggression problems.If you encounter dog food | | | | took away. This technique proves to your dog that he |
| aggression it is a good idea to feed your dog after | | | | will receive something great for giving something up, it |
| you and your family eat. This again is a throwback to | | | | will recondition his thinking.Every time you are with your |
| your dogs pack mentality where the alpha dog or | | | | dog have him in a pinch or prong collar with a leash |
| leader of the pack (which is you) eats first - your dog | | | | attached. Whenever he displays any signs of dog |
| will understand this technique.Don't let your dog "win" | | | | food aggression you immediately administer a |
| the food through his growling, this would reward the | | | | correction to your dog by snapping on the leash. What |
| very behavior you are trying to eradicate. Don't bully or | | | | this does to your dog is build a negative association to |
| intimidate your dog though, it's much better to make | | | | the act of his food guarding antics.Chris Smith is a |
| him actually like having you around at meal time (follow | | | | dedicated dog owner and creator of how to train your |
| the tips below to achieve this).Never respond to canine | | | | dog the right way yourself at home - try these latest |
| possession aggression with aggression of your own. In | | | | cutting edge dog training techniques. |