Food Aggression

Question
This is a stray poodle mix, about 7 to 10 yrs old. He has severe cataracts but if you touch him while feeding he snarls, snaps, and growls at you.  We also have a cat and when telling him "NO" to cat food he will take 4 steps and snarls and growls at you and then proceed to eat. My daughter found him 2 months ago in a rain storm and he has shown aggression with the food mostly, however, he also has growled at her husband when he comes to the bedroom at night mostly when all the lights are off.  If they go together not a problem.  He loves car rides, wants to be beside you, loves walks but he does have these severe issues which are not acceptable.  He has bitten my daughter.  It is like he goes into a rage and can't get out of it and when it is over he looks so sad. She has put him on anti-anxiety medication but that isn't the answer although I am not taking him off it. I am sure the fact that he can't see doesn't help.  Oh, one more thing, when she found him, he was 5 lbs underweight, matted, and not neutered. He has gained 2 lbs, she had him groomed and neutered. If he snaps at my husband he is out of here but he so much wants to be loved.

Answer

Hi Arden,

Rather than telling the dog "no" when it comes to him eating the cat food (which he proceeds to do, anyway) move the cat food to an area where the dog can't get to. It may be helpful to put the catfood in a room that has a child-gate set up in the door. A cat can easily jump over the gate to get to it's food or litterbox, yet it blocks the dog from having the chance to eat the food.

Many dogs, even those raised as puppies can have the kind of food aggression issues you've noted. It's not going to stop, and somebody may eventually be bitten. A very simple cure for this is not to bother the dog while he's eating. Put his food down, and leave the room.

It's also very common for dogs with cataracts to growl when something happens that they didn't see, as this dog does when somebody walks near him when the lights are off. To the dog, who may be soundly sleeping, it's an utter surprise. Knowing the dog has vision problems you need to adapt your behavior. Try walking heavily, when you enter a dark room, to let the dog know somebody is coming, or to simply turn on the light.

Biting any people isn't acceptable, and anti anxiety medication wouldn't help with that. Perhaps there is more going on than you've written. To get a handle on biting or snapping you should contact a dog trainer, who can evaluate your dog.  There is no substitute for the help of a live-and-in-person professional. Your vet or local boarding kennel may be able to give you a referral to a dog trainer.

Best of luck,

Patti