Food Aggression

blackreign36 · 11-20-2011, 08:54 PM

I heard both answers take away your dogs food bowl when they growl, than i heard dont take it away it will make them more agressive. My GSD is about to be 4 month, she is fine when i put my hand in the bowl, doesn't do anything but as soon as you touch her she lets out this mean growl. Maybe she just doesn't want to be touched and its not food agression, but i dont want this to turn out to be something bad in the long run. i have hand feed her at 8 weeks when i got her.

onyx'girl · 11-20-2011, 09:14 PM

When you feed your pup, let her be to have her meal in peace. You can make her do a command to earn it, but once she has, she should know that it won't be taken away. If you think it is a problem that will manifest into resource guarding, then continue to hand feed her and keep it light/no conflict.
Or you can lay her meal in a track and give her some mental exercise....
When pups are in a litter, there is competition for food, many breeders will separate them during meal time, but I think if the pups have to 'fight' for the right to eat, they may value a meal that much more.
Don't make her feel she has to fight for her nutrition.

**Cassidy's Mom** · 11-20-2011, 10:59 PM

I don't think anything good is going to come from taking her food away when she growls. She's certainly not going to learn not to growl if you do that, but she may learn that her fears have been validated, that you can't be trusted around her when she's eating. And if that happens, the growl may escalate to a bite. She's probably exhibiting some body language before the growl that shows she's uncomfortable, but you aren't recognizing it.

How long did you hand feed her for? Does she enjoy being touched at other times? Would she be okay with you touching her while hand feeding her? Desensitizing her to touch while you control the food vs trying to touch her after you've given her the food might be something to try. Or, you could just feed her in her crate and not mess with her while she eats.

danehdee · 11-23-2011, 02:08 PM

My dog has food aggression as well and we have worked with 2 personal trainers about it. Our trainers think he had to fight for his food or was abused by the previous owners before we got him.. he was quite a bit underweight when we brought him home too.
Hand feeding isn't an option for us - by about the third serving he gets demanding and will bite.
We couldn't touch our dog after he ate for a while (he is 9 months now)

Some people say the more you fight it the worse he will get and I think that it somewhat true. We will make him do a command sit - stay - come - before he eats but when we go to grab his bowl - he will show teeth, and has attacked. He can smelll fear like no other. So that is something I have to work on.

An option for you that has helped me is putting a long leash on him before feeding - have another person pick up the leash after feeding - hold the leash tight - and u take the bowl away. Always watch your dog for signs of aggression and correct quickly. Time outs work or slamming a book on the table. U have to show him you are not scared and in charge of when he eats, and u can take the bowl away when ever u want when he is done eating.

We did another technique as well - it has worn off but if you would like I can message it to u

Ahhh good luck!

We are still working at it.

southernfiction · 11-23-2011, 03:00 PM

This might bring the house down on my head, but Rule 1 at my house is: Nobody growls at Mama. I am seriously loud about this issue. (I'm talking about puppies here, not adult dogs, or strange dogs.) I stand over the perp and become a nightmare of "How dare you!" "Not in my house you don't!" and anything else loud that makes it perfectly clear that I do not like being growled at. Five to ten seconds' worth. Never have had to repeat it.

I make a practice of removing food bowls for a few seconds whenever I want to.

Lilie · 11-23-2011, 03:27 PM

I have three dogs. Not one of the dogs will growl at me or anybody else while they are eating. If I stand over my GSD while he is eating he will stop eating and sit. He wasn't taught to do this. He just can't figure out why I'd stand over him while he is eating.

Once I give food, I leave the dogs alone. It's their meal. It belongs to them. I don't want it. I feed my GSD where ever I am. I've even fed him his evening meal in my bedroom as I was folding clothes. If I'm sitting outside, I feed him next to me. If I'm in the kitchen, he is fed there. I don't go touching him, or brushing him, or petting him while he eats. It's his meal. I can walk by. I can move him over (he is a big boy) if he is in my way. It's my house, but it's his meal because I gave it to him.

I don't see any reason for you to test your dog while it's eating. Don't linger in her space. If you are walking by...walk by. Let her know that you don't want her food. By lingering in her space you are telling her that you'd really like her food back. I'm not saying avoid her while she is eating, I'm saying don't make a big deal out of it.

IMO it's like you asked her to sit, gave her a treat for doing it correctly, then sticking your hand down her throat to get the treat back.

**Cassidy's Mom** · 11-23-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danehdee

We will make him do a command sit - stay - come - before he eats but when we go to grab his bowl - he will show teeth, and has attacked.

Why are you grabbing the bowl away from a dog who has been showing resource guarding behavior over his food for a long time?

Don't you think that might make it worse? He's protecting his food because he doesn't trust you not to take it away......and then you try to take it away, confirming his fears. It might just be time for a new approach.

chelle · 11-23-2011, 06:38 PM

Shoot, where were all you when I was getting my behind kicked on the other thread about food guarding?

As I recently discovered sort of the hard way, there are many opinions on this issue.

Due to feeling a little bruised, I won't say anything

but you might check out this post:

how to prevent pup from being food protectve

... and a search will turn up a great many more results...

codmaster · 11-23-2011, 09:05 PM

Or you can make a game out of taking his bowl of food away for a couple of seconds and then giving it back to him all the while talking to him in an excited tone.

Under NO circumstances can I let my dog growl at me! Other than maybe a serious painful injury of course.

Just cannot be allowed to happen (and never should if the dog is raised properly (assuming that you got him as a little puppy).

And never has except for one instance from one seriously dominant male 9mo one time.

danehdee · 11-24-2011, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassidy's Mom

Why are you grabbing the bowl away from a dog who has been showing resource guarding behavior over his food for a long time?

Don't you think that might make it worse? He's protecting his food because he doesn't trust you not to take it away......and then you try to take it away, confirming his fears. It might just be time for a new approach.

I am not grabbing his bowl during feeding - i'm trying to take it away after he is done eating or he will lye beside it guarding it. As soon as the bowl is off the ground and out of sight his mind clicks and is no longer is his guarding mode

11-20-2011, 08:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
blackreign36 New Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 12	Food Aggression I heard both answers take away your dogs food bowl when they growl, than i heard dont take it away it will make them more agressive. My GSD is about to be 4 month, she is fine when i put my hand in the bowl, doesn't do anything but as soon as you touch her she lets out this mean growl. Maybe she just doesn't want to be touched and its not food agression, but i dont want this to turn out to be something bad in the long run. i have hand feed her at 8 weeks when i got her.

11-20-2011, 09:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	When you feed your pup, let her be to have her meal in peace. You can make her do a command to earn it, but once she has, she should know that it won't be taken away. If you think it is a problem that will manifest into resource guarding, then continue to hand feed her and keep it light/no conflict. Or you can lay her meal in a track and give her some mental exercise.... When pups are in a litter, there is competition for food, many breeders will separate them during meal time, but I think if the pups have to 'fight' for the right to eat, they may value a meal that much more. Don't make her feel she has to fight for her nutrition. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

11-20-2011, 10:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 24,959	I don't think anything good is going to come from taking her food away when she growls. She's certainly not going to learn not to growl if you do that, but she may learn that her fears have been validated, that you can't be trusted around her when she's eating. And if that happens, the growl may escalate to a bite. She's probably exhibiting some body language before the growl that shows she's uncomfortable, but you aren't recognizing it. How long did you hand feed her for? Does she enjoy being touched at other times? Would she be okay with you touching her while hand feeding her? Desensitizing her to touch while you control the food vs trying to touch her after you've given her the food might be something to try. Or, you could just feed her in her crate and not mess with her while she eats. __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

11-23-2011, 02:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
danehdee Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 63	My dog has food aggression as well and we have worked with 2 personal trainers about it. Our trainers think he had to fight for his food or was abused by the previous owners before we got him.. he was quite a bit underweight when we brought him home too. Hand feeding isn't an option for us - by about the third serving he gets demanding and will bite. We couldn't touch our dog after he ate for a while (he is 9 months now) Some people say the more you fight it the worse he will get and I think that it somewhat true. We will make him do a command sit - stay - come - before he eats but when we go to grab his bowl - he will show teeth, and has attacked. He can smelll fear like no other. So that is something I have to work on. An option for you that has helped me is putting a long leash on him before feeding - have another person pick up the leash after feeding - hold the leash tight - and u take the bowl away. Always watch your dog for signs of aggression and correct quickly. Time outs work or slamming a book on the table. U have to show him you are not scared and in charge of when he eats, and u can take the bowl away when ever u want when he is done eating. We did another technique as well - it has worn off but if you would like I can message it to u Ahhh good luck! We are still working at it. Last edited by danehdee; 11-23-2011 at 02:12 PM.

11-23-2011, 03:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lilie Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,290	I have three dogs. Not one of the dogs will growl at me or anybody else while they are eating. If I stand over my GSD while he is eating he will stop eating and sit. He wasn't taught to do this. He just can't figure out why I'd stand over him while he is eating. Once I give food, I leave the dogs alone. It's their meal. It belongs to them. I don't want it. I feed my GSD where ever I am. I've even fed him his evening meal in my bedroom as I was folding clothes. If I'm sitting outside, I feed him next to me. If I'm in the kitchen, he is fed there. I don't go touching him, or brushing him, or petting him while he eats. It's his meal. I can walk by. I can move him over (he is a big boy) if he is in my way. It's my house, but it's his meal because I gave it to him. I don't see any reason for you to test your dog while it's eating. Don't linger in her space. If you are walking by...walk by. Let her know that you don't want her food. By lingering in her space you are telling her that you'd really like her food back. I'm not saying avoid her while she is eating, I'm saying don't make a big deal out of it. IMO it's like you asked her to sit, gave her a treat for doing it correctly, then sticking your hand down her throat to get the treat back. __________________ Hondo Von Dopplet L Bauernhof "Hondo"- GSD Lilie's Tug McGraw "Tug" - Golden Retriever Maggie - Mini Dachshund (Rescue) Lonestar - Texas Blue Lacy Funyon, Ashe, Soot - Barn Cats Scooter /1/2 Arabian, Shadow, Katie / APHA

11-23-2011, 03:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
southernfiction Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: central Mississippi Posts: 90	This might bring the house down on my head, but Rule 1 at my house is: Nobody growls at Mama. I am seriously loud about this issue. (I'm talking about puppies here, not adult dogs, or strange dogs.) I stand over the perp and become a nightmare of "How dare you!" "Not in my house you don't!" and anything else loud that makes it perfectly clear that I do not like being growled at. Five to ten seconds' worth. Never have had to repeat it. I make a practice of removing food bowls for a few seconds whenever I want to.

11-23-2011, 06:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
chelle Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 2,863	Shoot, where were all you when I was getting my behind kicked on the other thread about food guarding? As I recently discovered sort of the hard way, there are many opinions on this issue. Due to feeling a little bruised, I won't say anything but you might check out this post: how to prevent pup from being food protectve ... and a search will turn up a great many more results... __________________ Dolly Eskie 6/03 Suri Shiba 10/07 Bailey WGSD/Husky x 5/11 CGC Bailey's brother Tucker (rescue/foster dude) Tiger kitty '96 Information is power

11-23-2011, 09:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
codmaster Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California, US Posts: 4,772	Or you can make a game out of taking his bowl of food away for a couple of seconds and then giving it back to him all the while talking to him in an excited tone. Under NO circumstances can I let my dog growl at me! Other than maybe a serious painful injury of course. Just cannot be allowed to happen (and never should if the dog is raised properly (assuming that you got him as a little puppy). And never has except for one instance from one seriously dominant male 9mo one time.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement