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