Does your dog suffer from food aggression? Failure to to correct the behavior can lead to a deadly or dangerous situation. Sure, your dog may be gentle and well mannered most of the time, but as soon as food enters the picture, they turn into a wild animal with no sympathy for the "thieves" trying to take their treasure. As a dog owner, you should be able to touch your dog's food and hang out near their bowl without receiving any devious stares or growls. If you catch your dog sneaking off with their treat in their mouth and their tail and ears hanging low, you may have a food aggression problem. So, let's take a look at why dogs develop food aggression in the first place.
You've Lost Your Role As Leader More often than not, a dog develops food aggression because they don't view you as the leader of the pack. Why is this important? Out in the wild, wolves and feral dogs roam in packs. The leader, or alpha, gets their fill of a meal first. The remaining pack members get their share afterward. If Fido doesn't view you as the alpha, they'll instead view you as the thief who is trying to steal their meal away.
Tips to Correct the Problem Any kind of aggressive behavior exhibited by your dog should be corrected immediately. While it's always a good idea to keep any toddlers away from the dog while they're eating, you should never have to fear your dog, whether they're eating, playing or gnawing on a bone. If your dog is very aggressive, it's probably best to get in touch with a local trainer that can work closely with you. Otherwise, here are some tips on how you can reverse the behavior:
Establish a feeding time and stick with it. Choose a time of day that is quiet to allow the dog to eat in a peaceful, calm environment. Trying to feed the dog while the kids are rushing off to school will only create stress and put Fido on edge. If they can relax, and eat in peace, they will be less inclined to be aggressive.
Begin the process by leaving an empty dog bowl when it's time to feed. Make sure that food only reaches the bowl because you put it there and that your dog sees this. Your dog will begin to see that you are the only one that supplies the food. Begin by delivering only handfuls and only adding more after the first handful has been eaten. They will be practically begging you to hang around their bowl.
After your dog is okay with you handling their food and being near their bowl, you can then begin giving them a full bowl of food. Make sure that you only give your dog the full bowl after you've given them a sit or stay command. The food should remain untouched until you give the command for them to eat. Telling them, "Okay," should suffice.
To help reinforce your authority, try calling your dog over while they are eating from time to time. Don't forget to treat them each time they follow through with the command.
Remember, it takes time to change a dog's behavior. Give each step two weeks before moving on the next. Some dogs may need more time, so don't rush the process. Be patient and diligent! If things get out of hand, or you have difficulty resolving the situation, contact a certified dog trainer for help.
You've Lost Your Role As Leader More often than not, a dog develops food aggression because they don't view you as the leader of the pack. Why is this important? Out in the wild, wolves and feral dogs roam in packs. The leader, or alpha, gets their fill of a meal first. The remaining pack members get their share afterward. If Fido doesn't view you as the alpha, they'll instead view you as the thief who is trying to steal their meal away.
Tips to Correct the Problem Any kind of aggressive behavior exhibited by your dog should be corrected immediately. While it's always a good idea to keep any toddlers away from the dog while they're eating, you should never have to fear your dog, whether they're eating, playing or gnawing on a bone. If your dog is very aggressive, it's probably best to get in touch with a local trainer that can work closely with you. Otherwise, here are some tips on how you can reverse the behavior:
Establish a feeding time and stick with it. Choose a time of day that is quiet to allow the dog to eat in a peaceful, calm environment. Trying to feed the dog while the kids are rushing off to school will only create stress and put Fido on edge. If they can relax, and eat in peace, they will be less inclined to be aggressive.
Begin the process by leaving an empty dog bowl when it's time to feed. Make sure that food only reaches the bowl because you put it there and that your dog sees this. Your dog will begin to see that you are the only one that supplies the food. Begin by delivering only handfuls and only adding more after the first handful has been eaten. They will be practically begging you to hang around their bowl.
After your dog is okay with you handling their food and being near their bowl, you can then begin giving them a full bowl of food. Make sure that you only give your dog the full bowl after you've given them a sit or stay command. The food should remain untouched until you give the command for them to eat. Telling them, "Okay," should suffice.
To help reinforce your authority, try calling your dog over while they are eating from time to time. Don't forget to treat them each time they follow through with the command.
Remember, it takes time to change a dog's behavior. Give each step two weeks before moving on the next. Some dogs may need more time, so don't rush the process. Be patient and diligent! If things get out of hand, or you have difficulty resolving the situation, contact a certified dog trainer for help.
About the Author:
Dog behavior is an issue that has to be worked on all of the time. When looking for information on stopping a dog from digging I realized that my dog training is really fun.
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