Dogs with serious food-guarding issues are a problem and can be difficult to correct. Food-guarding is an instinctive behavior with cannines, mostly observed with dogs who also have an aggression problem. But it is also sometimes exhibited by dogs who are otherwise well behaved family dogs with no other signs of aggression. Dogs with serious food guarding behavior are a potential threat if approached while eating a meal.
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Behavior noted in some less serious food guarding situations include your dog will simply tense up a little or become rigid if approached. They may even continue eating, but the body language will be tense and uncomfortable.
Signs that the dogs aggressive behavior is more severe include things like the dog quickly eating the food, the dog staring at you with a deliberate, intense look with a rigid posture, a curled lip, perhaps even snapping at you or snarling. All of which could lead to a real bite or attempt to inflict harm.A dog that exhibits these behaviors has a confused view of your role. You are the food provider. If properly trained this dog would understand that you are the pack leader and have the alpha role in this relationship. Food is one of the greatest pleasures in a dogs life. The instinctive nature of a dog is to be a scavenger. They have a disposition to eat almost anything. Since food is such an important aspect sometimes the dog becomes a bit mixed up. Dogs that food guard need to be trained and reminded what role they have in the relationship and what role you have.
It is possible for dogs to develop food-guarding traits anytime. It is much easier to correct this behavior when just puppy's. Many adult dogs have this problem when meat is involved with the meal. Meat has an intrinsic value to some adult dogs so they will behave in ways they wouldn't other wise behave. It changes their perspective leading to aggressive behavior. A short-term solution is to leave the dog alone when they are eating. This will temporarily solve the problem and prevent a problem. But this solution requires that the humans play by the dogs rules. This is no way to keep a pet or train a household dog, particularly if you have young children in the house or have friends with young children who visit.
A couple of suggestions for trying to correct this problem:
- Place the food dish in an area where you can be near at all times. Don't avoid going near the dog when they eat. This only will further ingrain the 'entitlement' of solitude when eating.
- Don't intentionally create a disturbance or invoke a negative eating experience.
- Go about your normal routine and business so they become accustomed to activity and the presence of humans.
- Approach the dog from time to time and in a very calm manner add a favorite food to the dish.
In the more severe and serious cases you may have to actually put the food dish away for a period of time and hand feed the dog. This will take extra time and tremendous patience. While doing this don't allow or encourage any poor behavior such as grapping the food aggressively. After you have prodded the dog to gently take food from your hand you can reintroduce the food bowl. Start by adding only a small portion of the meal. Once that is gone and a few moments have passed add another small portion. This will teach the dog that you are in control of the food and that meal time is a pleasant bonding experience. Overtime, gradually give larger portions in this training session and ultimately you will be able to give a normal amount at each feeding.
You can also reward your dog with a treat after each meal to encourage appropriate eating habits until the food guarding behavior is corrected.
