Counteracting Food Aggression

[StaceyB]

My 4.5month Old Pup has started showing signs of food Aggression whan I give her bones. I gave her a turkey neck yesterday and she growled at me when I scratched her on the back, I said "No" in a very big voice and then she was ok when I patted her a minute later; but then she had it at the back door (outside) and the cat was sitting on the other side of the door watching her and Gypsy tried to attack the cat, if it hadn't been for the security door I think she could have done some serious damage, I yelled at her and took the bone (which she didn't challenge) and then gave it back to her a minute later.

Gypsy has never had a problem being around the cats with her normal food.

I don't know if I did the right thing by taking the bone away for a minute and I would really like some advice on how to stop this behaviour before it gets worse.

ETA - She's had bones before, and she usually just wags her tail and ignores me when I walk past her and pat her. When I've given her pigs ears I sit with her and she is fine if I take them out of her mouth and give them back to her (in an attempt to stop this problem before it even started)

Edited October 14, 2007 by StaceyB

[JackieW]

Some dogs consider bones extra special for some reason. One of my dogs does and he gets them every day, it's not like it's some special treat . You might find some of these articles helpful - http://www.k9events.com/behaviourR.htm#resource

[BlitznBear]

From day 1 we have always given our dogs their food and at any time take it from them, make them sit and wait 20 secs then give it back to them, they must sit and wait patiently, then they can then have it back, same with bones, we have always sat around them while they chew there bones, pat, scratch and rub there heads while they have a good munch on their bones and be able to take their bones away.

Blitz will come and have a cry and ask us to go get his bone off Bear after he's stolen it from him, he's a bully.. without any fuss we can take their bones from them, no worries.

I think what your doing so far sounds like your pretty much on the right track, I would take the food off her for longer to start with say maybe 5-10 minutes.

I hope this helps.

[StaceyB]

Thanks Guys, JackieW those articles are great! BlitznBear tahnks for the tips, I used to sit with her when she had her dinner and move the bowl around and pat her, I think I'll have to start doing this again!

[Poodle wrangler]

HAve a look at Triangle of Temptation (TOT) in the Training subforum- pinned to the top.

Great program, takes only 5 minutes to do and you have to feed your dog, anyway!

[percyk]

i have kids

so i think its really important that all of our dogs give up their bones

i just cant have a dog that is possessive of food or toys

so with all of them we make them sit b4 we give food or anything

and we do take food away from them

i know there are others here who have a differing opinion but as alpha i still see it as my job ( and the kids) to school any dog we have to give up what it prizes ...for our sake and the safety of the dog too in case one day its taken something dangerous

so persevere...

say the dogs name

tell him to give

then move in to take the bone away

hold it for a few seconds then give back and praise

do this a few times each 'bone time'

if the dog is big or quite snappy do a trade...with another bone or treat

i havent had to trade as yet cos the dogs were all pups

some dogs give it up easily..others are more tenacious but i dont like the idea of having a dog that thinks it can bite just cos its protecting a prized object

id never allow the kids to tease of course but its important for me that they too can be safe around a bone chewing dog

[StaceyB]

PercyK, thats what I'm most worried about too, Gypsy being around kids when she has a bone - and obviously it's unacceptable for her to behave that way with me aswell!

I sat with her when she had dinner last night and stroked her back, she was a bit snarly at first and each time she was told off, but by the end of the meal she was happy to eat while I played with her ears. I'll just have to keep it up and do that when she has a bone too.

[Poodle Mum]

When sitting with her whilst eating start adding extra treats to her bowl rather than punishing. You want her to think that when huamns are approaching whilst she is eating they are going to maybe bring extra special stuff.....not remove stuff!

Nedd to feed lots more bones, especially turkey necks if thats what you are going to give her. This will de value the bones & necks.

If growling doesn't improve........don't feed turkey necks!

I would never allow my kids to remove food from a dog whilst they are eating, you just setting some dogs up for failure.

[StaceyB]

Thanks Poodle Mum. I don't have kids myself, but I am worried about other peoples kids who may not know any better. I wouldn't leave them unsupervised, but it only takes a seconds for something to go wrong.

I really want her to be comfortable eating around people. she is very obedient and is happy for me to do just about anything with her, she also pretty good with other people.