Stop Food Aggression In Dogs
Food aggression has two forms
1. Your dog is aggressive about food with other dogs
and/or
2. Your dog is aggressive over food toward people.
Unlike other forms of aggression which can have many causes, food aggression exhibited either towards other dogs or people is mainly about pecking order and dominance.
Food aggression usually begins subtly and the initial signs, such as body tensing and ears held back and down can be easily over looked.
It is not advisable to allow small children to feed dogs unsupervised, at any time. If you dog has exhibited any aggression over food only allow adults to feed the dog.
Click here for the best guide to solve your dogs food aggression problem
Food aggression toward other dogs
Food aggression between dogs is almost always about pack order and not an obedience or dog training problem. Your dogs will determine which dog is the dominant animal.
The dominant dog may not be the one you think should be top dog. If you favor, that is greet first and feed first the less dominant dog you send confusing signals about position.
If there are fights over food, feed your dogs separately out of sight of each other until you are able to resolve the issue. Careful observation of your dogs behavior towards each other should help you determine which is the dominant animal.
If you are still not sure you may need professional advice about the natural order of you pack. Despite what you think and feel, it is very important that you as the owner confirm the order by greeting and feeding the alpha dog first.
Always attach the leash of the alpha dog before the secondary dog when preparing for a walk. Once a clear heirachy is established, most dogs will be able to eat peacefully together.
If the food aggression has been severe enough to warrant separate feeding, once the pack order has been established slowly reintroduce the dogs to feeding together. Start with the dogs in sight of each other but separated by a barrier.
As things settle down the barrier can be removed and dogs moved closer together at feeding time.
Food aggression towards people
Food aggression towards people is usually also, a dominance issue. You need to take control of feeding time.
Feed you dog only after you and your family have eaten. The dominant animal always eat first. Only provide food at feeding time, although you can use small treats as training rewards
Have you dog in a “down- stay” or “sit” position while you prepare the food. if necessary put the dog on a leash and have someone else hold the leash with the dog in the down stay or sit position so that you have control until you are ready to allow your dog to eat.
Hold back a small portion of your dogs meal, when he has finished the first portion and licked the bowl. He will look at you expectantly. Return him to the “down- stay” or “sit” position and put the in remaining portion then give him permission to eat.
Another method is to approach the bowl while he is eating, at the first hint of aggression throw such as body tensing, throw a small favorite treat into or near the bowl. Work your way towards the bowl giving a treat as he dog allows you to approach closer.
Over time your dog will see you approaching his food bowl as a positive thing the aggression will disappear.
Click here for the best guide to solve your dogs food aggression problem