Food aggression? how to prevent it?

Slyfuturedobydad · 04-07-2008, 07:34 PM

hey all, was wondering whats the best method to prevent food aggression starting with a pup?, want to make sure my doby doesnt grow up to have the "fight to the death" behavior for his toys/bones, thanks!

**ReDobie4xtina2** · 04-07-2008, 08:02 PM

Follow the Nothing in Life is Free method ...NILIF

Also, You can hand feed to teach gentle hands and it helps to slow them down so that they chew thoroughly.

Another thing you can do is to pet him while he is eating and be quick, consistent, and firm when correcting him if he should growl or bare teeth.

Good Luck!

Slyfuturedobydad · 04-07-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReDobie4xtina2

Follow the Nothing in Life is Free method ...NILIF

Also, You can hand feed to teach gentle hands and it helps to slow them down so that they chew thoroughly.

Another thing you can do is to pet him while he is eating and be quick, consistent, and firm when correcting him if he should growl or bare teeth.

Good Luck!

thanks!, i will do that, the last thing i want is a food aggressive 80lb dobey male on my hands..

!

**lyngr** · 04-07-2008, 08:43 PM

I let my kids throw cheese or other yummy things in the dog's dishes as they walk by. The dogs associate their feet near the bowl with something REALLY tasty!

Patches Mom · 04-08-2008, 01:22 AM

I have always petted mine when they were eating and sometimes pop a tasty treat in the bowl.I have always removed things from their mouths sometimes trade for a treat or sometimes give it right back to them. Never had a problem with agression while they were eating or chewing on a item.

2RescuedDobies · 04-08-2008, 01:43 AM

My little girl was food aggressive. Didn't surprize me as she had no training the first year of her live. We consistantly followed the nothing in life is free idea. She had to sit for her dinner and wait for the command to eat. Any growling was followed by either a penny can shaken, sharp no, or a spritz of water from a water bottle. She got the idea pretty quickly. Also we fed her in a separate room from the male. And then slowly began to move her back into the kitchen.

**Red_Storm** · 04-08-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patches Mom

I have always petted mine when they were eating and sometimes pop a tasty treat in the bowl.I have always removed things from their mouths sometimes trade for a treat or sometimes give it right back to them. Never had a problem with agression while they were eating or chewing on a item.

That's pretty much what we did with Storm and it worked really well. She sees me as a source of food and not someone who is gonna take her stuff. It kinda helped that I share about everything with her. It's funny because if I am laying in bed or on the couch she will actually bring food or treats and lay them on my chest trying to share with me. I've usually eaten already so I give them back

Having a Minpin that was bite sized for her I was kinda concerned about the food aggression thing at first but it worked out good.