Puppy Food Aggression

**Chris Loverseed** · 12-21-2011, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Julie Kopunovich

what kind of conditioning have you actually done with the pup to get where you got? It happened for a reason. You should not be putting your hands in the dogs bowl they do deserve peace while they eat and I think it's a rediculous thing when people do that. Yes they should be tolerant but jesus you would snap too if someone kept mucking around in your favourite food!

If your pup is to have fresh stuff then give smaller bits and have some in each hand. Only on remaining calm does the pup get them and when he's really good send him to his crate with a chewy bone that only lasts a few seconds. He doesnt have time to aggress and he's been given his high value food in a controlled manner. It's normal with pups considering many breeders put one big bowl down for them and the pups learn to get rough to get more. If you want to get your pup off a bone offer some raw meat to it. You want the dog to learn that you taking the bone is a swap NOT a loss on command. You will find your dog relaxes more around items and you walking past as there is always an opportunity for reward, not that you're coming past to randomly take it for a reason your dog doesnt understand. Yes if my dogs lunge out then thats a different story with me. But just a growl and acting like a pup, well who's meant to be the smarter of the two? I dont any problems with any of mine stealing or holding onto high value items if I tell them to drop it.

Hi Julie, I don't put my hands in his food bowl or plan to as i would hate if some1 did that to me, But i got to the stage where if I wanted to I could, just by using positive reinforcement.

I can call him away from a bone no problems and send him back to it etc, and have done the hole swapping thing, not once have I ever taken something from him and left him at a loss... His biggest issue was with chicken wings but now hes fine with them, he has just started acting out of place around his food bowl and im at a complete loss with it and trying to understand why as when ever I have been near him while hes eating its always been a positive experience.

**Shane Johnson** · 12-30-2011, 07:18 PM

Every body has their on way of doing things.Personally I touch my dogs from day one all over when they are feeding.I do put my hands in the bowl.The dog learns my voice my touch and I am no threat and I dont want to take their food but by the same token I will take it away at anytime if I wish as I am the master.I am the hand that feeds and they will learn that they dont bite the hand that feeds or they dont get fed.I have always done it and never had a problem bar 2 dogs and one is one I have now and still a pup but she has learnt.I have taken her food away while she is eating.Make her sit again an wait til I give it back.Done as Jeff suggested and given small portions and waited til she stops and sits and start again.She has learnt not to bite me or she wont get fed.If you dont eat you dont shit and if you dont shit you die.I dont tolerate it and have given the odd slap with an open hand.I probably created the situation in the first place feeding her around other dogs and the aggression was directed at them and then me.It is now under control.What works for some might not work for others but I should be able to touch my own dog wether he is eating or not without fear of getting bitten.Just my 2 cents.

**Vendo Vincent** · 12-30-2011, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Shane Johnson

Every body has their on way of doing things.Personally I touch my dogs from day one all over when they are feeding.I do put my hands in the bowl.The dog learns my voice my touch and I am no threat and I dont want to take their food but by the same token I will take it away at anytime if I wish as I am the master.I am the hand that feeds and they will learn that they dont bite the hand that feeds or they dont get fed.I have always done it and never had a problem bar 2 dogs and one is one I have now and still a pup but she has learnt.I have taken her food away while she is eating.Make her sit again an wait til I give it back.Done as Jeff suggested and given small portions and waited til she stops and sits and start again.She has learnt not to bite me or she wont get fed.If you dont eat you dont shit and if you dont shit you die.I dont tolerate it and have given the odd slap with an open hand.I probably created the situation in the first place feeding her around other dogs and the aggression was directed at them and then me.It is now under control.What works for some might not work for others but I should be able to touch my own dog wether he is eating or not without fear of getting bitten.Just my 2 cents.

I agree Shane, totaly. I do the same and for the same reasons. I find that it works for me. Not every feed but enough for them to know.

**Chris Loverseed** · 12-30-2011, 07:43 PM

I like your thinking Shane, thanks for the advice,

He has gotten better again, but I haven't used any physical force as I'm worried that might escalate the behaviour/ make him worse.

It was just really odd, he was bad at the start so i worked with him a bit and did scruff him a few times then and rewarded him for good behaviour, he even got to a stage where he would walk up to u with his bone in his mouth then lie at your feet. And then boom out of no where it reappeared and escalated. He has improved again, you can walk up to him while he's eating now tell him to back up and sit pick up his bowl put a few more extras in there and pat him while he eats, wouldn't be to sure how he would be if i just shoved my hand in there or took his bowl while he was eating. He still stiffens up around bones a bit.

**brad T** · 12-30-2011, 10:27 PM

NILF.I would try taking the feed bowl away for a bit and just feeding by hand i know its time consuming but its bonding time too.I had a rott that did this and i took the food bowl and fed like this for awhile never had a problem again also was good for training dog always thought i had food on me.

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