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Stopping Dog Food Aggression

also see Puppy Aggression

also see Dog Aggression

also see Dog Biting

also see Diet Food for Dogs

also see Dog Training Treats 

also see Puppy Aggression 

also see Dog Aggression

Dog food aggression is an important dog training goal to prevent unexpected injury to yourself and others. Because serious food aggression is extremely dangerous, leading to unprovoked attack, many shelters euthanize dogs that they feel cannot be broken of food aggression easily. The risk of danger from a dog attack is too high, which explains why it is critical for a pet owner to break puppies and dogs of aggression towards other dogs and people while eating.

Stages of Dog Food Aggression

It's instinctive for dogs to guard their food or belongings, especially if they've come from a situation where food was scarce. Dogs have three levels of canine possession aggression:

Understanding Why Dogs Guard Food and Toys

Dog food aggression is instinctive and may show up at any point in a dog's life. Dogs have a natural urge to protect their important possessions, food is top priority to any dog, from other animals and humans.

Often, the object has been taken away from the dog in the past and he's determined that no one will again take it. By acting on instinct, growling and snapping, it's unlikely another animal or person will attempt to remove that food. The dog's aggression led him to keeping exactly what he wants.

Breaking the Dog Food Aggression Habit

The easiest way to prevent dog bites and injury from dog food aggression is to keep mealtimes unexpected. Instead of placing the dog food in the bowl and leaving the dog to eat alone, start hand feeding your dog. Give him one piece of food at a time straight out of your hand.

Feed him at your pace, not his. Keep up this routine for two weeks, sometimes dropping a few pieces of food in the bowl and other times making him eat from your hand.

Because the dog is uncertain where the food will come from, he associates you with the food and realizes he must come to you. You are the master of the food and he only gets it with behavior that demonstrates he knows you are the alpha dog.

Once the dog realizes you control the food portions and frequency, you can start increasing the amount of food placed in the bowl. Sit near your dog while he eats and rather than placing the food into the bowl in one shot, divvy it up into four portions and frequently approach the bowl as he is eating to add more.

Use Treats to Interrupt Meal Times

Add a tasty treat to the bowl from time to time so that the dog is caught off guard. Items like liver, cooked chicken and cubes of beef will appeal to the dog more than his own food. Over time, he'll eagerly anticipate the treat and look forward to you interrupting his meal and removing his bowl as he eats.

 

also see How the Dog Digestive System Works

also see Preventing Heart Disease in Dogs With a Low-Sodium Diet

also see Dogs and Nutrition: Creating a Feeding Schedule

also see 5 Dog and Cat Food Diet Tips From Veterinarians

also see Is Paying A Premium for Natural Dog Food Necessary?

also see How Hypoallergenic Dog Food Can Prevent Intestinal and Skin Problems

also see Diet for Dogs: Five Proven Strategies

also see Recalled Dog Food and Treats 2