Reactive When Using Food

[luvsdogs]

My 2 yr old border collie has learned to be food aggressive, not really the right word, by our 9 yr old mixed breed dog. She has learned to give the older dog a wide berth if food is being prepared for them. They are mostly fed separately but on odd occasions they are in the same room with their food or food bowl around meal times. If my cat is in the same room while I'm preparing the border's food she will keep watching the cat & lunge at her to stay away.

I have had a similar problem at my obedience club when I'm using food for training. She's even been protective of her leather article when practising with this & lunged at some or all dogs around. Previous to the food or article coming out she is perfectly fine & friendly to the other dogs.

Tonight I took her to my obedience club for a proper obedience lesson, when I go on Saturdays it's pet dog training, a little agility, scent work etc. Last Sat. she took a dislike to several dogs while we were working with our leather articles. I had to practice the 'watch' with her to keep her mind off the other dogs. She did this really well & we got through the lesson ok.

I haven't done formal obedience work with her before & she wasn't too bad tonight, keeping focus on me while doing heeling. I mentioned her problem to the instructor & she suggested I keep her focus on me at all times while using food for a reward.

We changed instructors & did a couple of recalls, on lead, which were ok then sit & down stays. This is where her problem surfaced. We were next to a golden retriever & she took a 'dislike' to him & kept lunging at him. It took all of my will to keep her focused on me but she managed to lunge & snap at him on a regular basis. The instructor doing this with us was giving me instructions on what to do during the sit & down stays & I was to keep her next to the golden. I also mentioned to her about Tilba's food problem & she suggested I train her without food. After the lessons she was fine with being next to the golden.

So, how do I fix this problem? I haven't done much work with her re: stays & I know I should practice them with her at home in different areas before adding other places & distractions.

[Nekhbet]

are you sure she learned it off the older dog? I've seen a couple of borders exactly like this, came from poor genetics and socialisation as a pup.

She sounds highly anxious when food or articles are around. Before continuing you need to address this problem. Yes work on focus but I would be working with her at a distance from the other dogs. IF she lunges, fail, start exercise again. Maybe a small correction when she goes out to lunge (not verbal) with a martingale would help as well. When she's focussed, praise and food as jackpot. If she lunges, correct, start the exercise again and only speak to her when she's behaving. Letting her play with other well behaved dogs would be a big help as well, she'll be put in her place.

As for the cat at home, Be very very careful she could cause it some injury. Do not let her get away with this behavior at all. You need to start owning the food and articles more, not her. If she lunges at home verbally correct command her to sit. If she breaks, verbal correct and resit until her arse is glued to the ground. I have a method for food problems in another thread I'll find you the link.

[Nekhbet]

use following method

- tether dogs far apart, and I mean quite far

- each dog sits and waits for it's food, no one is fed until they are both quiet

- feed the dogs, and when they are finished remove the bowls completely, wait for them to calm down, praise and do a gentle release (ie dont razz them up)

What you gradually do is as the dogs relax more, move them slowly closer and closer. NEVER tether and allow them to be able to touch nose to nose! You need to make sure you are rewarding for calm behavior, and I mean really chilled out. DO not punish or shout at them if they are excited, just wait until they're both quiet on their tethers and then it's food time.

What you are teaching the dogs is

1) both dogs have the same rules

2) blocking the stealing option

3) to eat with the other one around but conditioning the behavior you want around food

4) The food and bowls are yours to control, not the dogs

[luvsdogs]

Thanks Nekhbet, I'll give it a go. Will have to feed outside though to give them the room they need. This morning while I was feeding the bc the cat was under the table about a foot & 1/2 from the bc who was sitting & watching me, waiting to put the bowl down. She didn't move or re-act to the cat only waited for her breakfast.