Food Guarding

[waybev]

Hi All

My 12 wk old Blue Heeler is really good with his food as in he sits and waits until told to eat, I can put my hand in his bowl without a problem although he does move around to try and move me on, If I give him a chicken neck or wing as a lunch time treat he will eat it out of my hand , but after I give it to him he moves off to eat and if I go to take it back he tries to put it all in his mouth or swallows it to stop me from getting it, he doesn't growl but wont let me get it again, any ideas on what to do as I don't wont him swallowing his food whole if he has something I don't want him to eat

[Nekhbet]

teach him a swap game. Its normal for dogs to bolt their food if you interfere too much they think they're going to lose it!

Have two chicken wings, offer him one and when he takes it, hang onto it but offer him the other and say 'give'. When he lets go and takes the other let him go eat it in peace. Do this every time for food and treats, he will learn that there is no loss if you say 'give'.

I do the same thing with toys for my dogs and they end up throwing things at me in no time since they know something better is going to come of leaving it ;) we have dogs at dog club leaving fresh raw bones in a session, no correction and no force. They can walk over them since they know they will be rewarded by something equally tasty from their handler ;)

Edited August 25, 2011 by Nekhbet