Comments on: Dog Food Aggression: Why Is My Dog Aggressive With Food?

By: Doggy Dan

Doggy Dan — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 08:28:58 +0000

In reply to Laura.

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By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 13:55:56 +0000

I have an almost 3 yr old female golden retriever who was spayed. We have struggled with multiple trainers on handling her food aggression. I can put her food bowl down but I have to back away immediately. You can’t touch her or go near her. She will growl and try to bite. I do make her sit before I put it down. Sometimes she will give me her paws and spin around. I’ve tried changing her to raw food… didn’t help. I’ve tried calming treats. And now she’s also gotten super protective over me and nipped me at the groomer’s pretty good

By: kathleen Brown

kathleen Brown — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 03:50:25 +0000

We have had our 1-year-old female Chessy, for 2 months She absolutely inhales her food. We have a “slow-feeder” dish, up on an 8-inch stand, but she takes seconds to eat (twice a day) the recommended amount of kibble plus, blueberries, raw green beans, and chopped zucchini. She waits to be told to eat, most of the time, We eat our dinner before we feed her and eat a biscuit out of her dish before putting it down. Her weight is right on and she has been checked for worms/parasites. Is there any way we can slow her down? or is this ok to let her eat like this? She doesn’t growl around her food.

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 23:52:49 +0000

In reply to Candy.

Hi Candy, it’s important to deal with this type of behaviour calmly and consistently. Scalding a dog or telling them off can often just add energy to the situation, meaning that a dog becomes more defensive or they find it difficult to learn the lesson clearly. You have a few option here….you can place your dog in their crate or in another room when you are eating or you can teach them to respect boundaries around the dining table. Leaving a leash attached to your dog’s collar around meal-times will make it easier to manage his behaviour….essentially if he invades your space too much or it getting a bit ‘pushy’ then without a word take up the leash and move him further away from the table. Work on a ‘3 strikes and you’re out’ rule, meaning that if he continues to space invade then he will be removed from the room altogether. It is vital that you remain calm and I would absolutely limit verbal communication or eye contact….he will learn what is required of him much better if he has clear space to think. Hope that helps! Doggy Dan

By: Candy

Candy — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 00:30:25 +0000

My now 9 year old rescue, ( we got him at 10 weeks) is becoming aggressive towards my husband at dinner time. I won’t have guests because of this. He gets fed at 5pm, and we don’t eat until after 7. He tries to park himself between us , and I’ve been bad over the years giving him scraps from the table. Tonight he snarled at my husband when he went to pull out his chair to sit (counter height). We yelled at him, and put him in the bedroom , why is he now getting aggressive for food? I think my husband needs to start feeding him and walking him, but that’s not realistic. Once we let him out, he’s calm as can be. He will sit, lay down, and wait, when I feed him, even after I put the bowl down. He eats every meal like it’s his last. Eats junk on the ground, constantly hunting for more. He’s NOT underfed.

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Thu, 21 May 2020 22:47:24 +0000

In reply to Leah.

Hi Leah…Retrieving stolen items from a dog is something bets done with minimal fuss and attention. If your dogs has something he shouldn’t then calmly remove the item…without saying anything or making eye contact. Another option is to offer an item your dogs is allowed to have and exchange it for the item he shouldn’t have. You could also teach him a ‘leave it’ command, which is best practiced at times when eh doesn’t have a forbidden item in his possession. When it comes to bones…..make sure he is left alone when eating these items. They are considered a high value resource and some dogs will defend these items instinctively. Best…Doggy Dan

By: Leah

Leah — Thu, 14 May 2020 14:26:55 +0000

Thanks for this interesting article. We have some aggression issues with our 5 month old pup, but it is mainly aggressive behaviour around possessions, for example – a bone or a favourite toy – or something he has stolen which he knows he shouldn’t have! We have two young children and he is particularly bad with this around them. Any advice you can offer would be much appreciated!

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Fri, 31 May 2019 03:29:15 +0000

In reply to Sarah.

Hi Sarah,
When some dogs or puppies feel like they are controlling when we give them affection, it can lead them to also then directing exactly where we pat them. Essentially if your dog approaches you and initiates you giving him affection then he may feel he can direct where and how you pat him. Try this, and I know it will be emotionally hard to do, if your dog tries to get you to pat him or give him affection just ignore him until he gives up and walks away…at which point you can then call him back to give him a fuss BUT the important difference is that you are the one who initiated that interaction (not him). It may mean that he will be happy for you to pat him wherever you like, but if he does start to growl, then I would immediately end the interaction so that he learns growling means affection will stop. Best, Doggy Dan

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 23 May 2019 01:53:36 +0000

I read this article because we have 6 mth old pup who had serious food aggression. Although it’s not completely gone, it is much improved using these methods.
Another issue we have is understanding our pup. He seems to love a cuddle and will come up to get cuddles whenever he can but when you rub his back, legs, head he makes a growling sound and quite regularly bares his teeth. If you stop rubbing, he will grab your hand and harass you to continue but if you keep rubbing he will swing his head around as if to bite. I’m confused and would welcome any assistance with this issue.

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Tue, 21 May 2019 02:36:58 +0000

In reply to Lily maddalone. Hi Lily, If your dog is trying to grab food out of your hand then it may help to plan ahead and pop her out of the way until you are done eating. If she mainly does this when you are eating food at her level, say on the couch or coffee table, then I would recommend sitting higher up at a table to eat. If she starts to harass you then ignore her but if she continued or is way too pushy then calmly (calm is key!) remove her from the room to help show her that the behaviour will backfire on her. f you are consistent then she will quickly learn to use a little more self control. Best, Doggy Dan

By: Lily maddalone

Lily maddalone — Sat, 18 May 2019 11:09:39 +0000

My dog is not aggressive about her food. She is aggressive about trying to get my food out of my hand while I’m eating anything.

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 00:16:14 +0000

In reply to Marge.

Hi Marge,
The reason that some dogs prefer to eat when their owners are in the same room is so the dog can keep an eye on them and make sure they are safe. Many dogs feel that it’s their responsibility to keep their family safe and alive, and that means knowing where they are at all times. Even if a dog is hungry they may feel that it’s far more important to make sure their human is safe, rather than let them out of their sight and eat. There are certainly things you can do to help your dog relax and enjoy his food when you are out of the room, maybe take a look at my membership website for guidance, its a $1USD trial for 3 days..and we do cover how to help picky eaters as well! All the best…Doggy Dan

By: Marge

Marge — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 17:41:41 +0000

I do not have anger issues with my dog eating my issue is that he will not eat unless I am in the room with him I have tried telling him to eat I have tried leaving the room but I still have an problem getting him to eat when he does eat he does eat all the food so I do not have to pick it up for him, I also have a female dog that is a grazer I wonder if I should start to pick up her food if she does not eat at feeding times?