Dogs and Resource Guarding: Simple Methods To Solve the Situation

Canine possession aggression, commonly known as food aggression, can sometimes lead to a violent or dangerous situation if left untreated. A dog may be well behaved and affectionate for the most part, but once food is brought into the picture, they turn into an aggressive, unpredictable beast. As the leader of the “dog pack,” you should have the right to walk up to your dog’s food bowl and even touch their kibble without a snarl or peep. Does your dog snatch up their treat and run off with their ears and tail hanging low? If so, this may be a sign of food aggression and the problem should be addressed immediately before it gets out of control. You may be wondering, “Why do dogs develop food aggression?”

You’ve Lost Your Role As Leader More often than not, a dog develops food aggression because they don’t view you as the leader of the pack. Why is this important? Out in the wild, wolves and feral dogs roam in packs. The leader, or alpha, gets their fill of a meal first. The remaining pack members get their share afterward. If Fido doesn’t view you as the alpha, they’ll instead view you as the thief who is trying to steal their meal away.

Fixing the Problem In general, aggressive behavior should be addressed and corrected immediately – regardless of the reason. Of course, it’s always a good idea to keep small children and toddlers away from a dog while he or she is eating no matter what. However, you as the owner should never be afraid to go near your dog’s bowl or stand near them while they eat. If you have a particularly aggressive dog, then it may be a good idea to call in a professional dog trainer for help. If not, these tips should help get you on the track towards a calm, friendly dog.

Establish a feeding time and stick with it. Choose a time of day that is quiet to allow the dog to eat in a peaceful, calm environment. Trying to feed the dog while the kids are rushing off to school will only create stress and put Fido on edge. If they can relax, and eat in peace, they will be less inclined to be aggressive.

Start out by leaving an empty bowl on the floor right before feeding time. Any food that touches that bowl should be put there by you and your dog needs to see you putting it there. This will help ensure that your dog understands that you are the one that provides the food. Start placing small handfuls of food into the bowl. Don’t add any more handfuls until the previous one has been eaten. After awhile, your dog will be more than happy to have you near their food bowl.

After your dog is okay with you handling their food and being near their bowl, you can then begin giving them a full bowl of food. Make sure that you only give your dog the full bowl after you’ve given them a sit or stay command. The food should remain untouched until you give the command for them to eat. Telling them, “Okay,” should suffice.

To help reinforce your authority, try calling your dog over while they are eating from time to time. Don’t forget to treat them each time they follow through with the command.

Please bear in mind that changing a dog’s behavior is not an overnight process. Give each step two weeks before moving on to the next one. For some dogs, the process may be even longer than that. That’s okay! Just be patient and encouraging to your dog. If at any time you feel threatened by your dog or feel you have lost complete control, don’t be afraid to call in a professional dog trainer to help you alleviate the problem.

This site is my blog in which I write about my wisdom of puppy training for free. This article is a great place to begin for anybody who is new to training a dog.