Dog Food Aggression
Posted on September 9th, 2010 Written by +Brian Benson Email Author
Dog food aggression is a common problem that many pet owners deal with. While this is so, food aggression among dogs can also be corrected through training either by the pet owners themselves, professional dog trainers, or professional animal behaviorists. It is crucial that dog owners address this type of problem as early as they can as failure to do so can lead to a lot more serious behavioral problems. Early intervention and training is also recommended to keep this unpleasant dog behavior from developing.
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Canine Food Aggression Defined!
There are many different types of aggression in dogs, from dominance aggression to fear aggression. Food aggression is just one of the most common types of aggression.
Dog food aggression is a behavior that most dogs exhibit when they become too much territorial with regard to their food, making them bite, snap or growl at people and other dogs. This happens every time people or other dogs go near their food bowl. Dog owners should never take this type of behavior for granted as this can be potentially dangerous both to them and to other people as well.
Contrary to what many people believe, food aggressiveness among dogs is not really breed-specific. Dogs of different breeds have a huge potential to develop food aggressiveness, most especially if they weren’t trained out of this behavior while they were still young. Fortunately though, there are certain ways to cure or correct this type of behavior.
Causes of Food Aggression
Food aggression among dogs can be caused by a variety of factors. Knowing what causes food aggression can be very beneficial. This way, dog owners will know what to do and what not do to keep this behavior from developing. Below are some of the most common causes of food aggression.
- Just like in the wild, dogs tend to protect and secure their food from other animals or even man. This is because they don’t know when they will be able to get another one nor will they be able to get food again.
- Dogs start to see their owners more of a threat than a provider. This happens when owners would often take food away from them for whatever purpose, either just to play with them or tease them.
- Various studies have shown that there are certain types of food that cause aggression among dogs. Particularly, ingredients in most commercial dog food, such as soy protein, food color, and sugar, can cause dogs to be more protective about their food.
- This type of behavior tends to develop if owners fail to establish a good dog-owner relationship or was unable to communicate with their dogs as to who is more superior between them.
- The kind of environment where dogs are can also cause this type of behavior. Lack of socialization, dogs being spoiled too much, excessive punishment, being exposed to frequent teasing can also cause dog food aggression.
Symptoms of Food Aggression
There are certain ways to determine pets are getting a little bit protective about their food. The following signs will help dog owners determine whether their pets are starting to develop canine food aggression.
- dogs move their body around in order to hide their food bowls or to keep them away from people or from other dogs
- dogs bark or growl every time people and other dogs come near them or food bowl; in some instances, dogs would bite people
- dogs bare their teeth every time they feel threatened or someone attempts to get their food bowl
- dogs keep an eye on people while eating
- dogs stop eating when people get near them and watch them out of the corner of their eyes
When dogs have developed food aggressiveness, they tend to become protective of their food and hide them from people and dogs. It is crucial that dog owners are aware of these symptoms or any other sign that is not funny or cute. Ignoring such signs and symptoms can lead to a more serious problem, which includes attacking other dogs and people.
Food Aggression Among Dogs
Just like wolves, which are actually known as their ancestors, dogs have hierarchical order, which means there will always be a leader in a pack while the rest will be followers. If there are other dogs in the household, this sure is a possibility. There will always be one dog in the household that will stand out as the leader. Also known as dominance aggression, this is actually when being aggressive about food starts to develop. The leader of the group expects to be fed first and be given the most attention.
Here are ways on how pet owners can determine the alpha dog, or the leader of the household dogs.
- steals and guards the toys of other dogs
- always take the main sleeping area and considers it as their territory, not allowing other dogs to come near it
- mounts other dogs
- challenges other dogs
- runs ahead of the other dogs, even pushing them aside, when entering the house or a room
Correcting Food Aggression
While the key to correcting dog food aggression is knowing what causes the behavior, the following methods can also help dog owners further prevent the development of food aggression or even correct it. Note that the sooner pet owners realize the problem, the easier it is for them to solve or correct the behavior. Below are ways on how to correct food aggression among dogs.
- Never punish the dog. Contrary to what many dog owners believe, dogs should never be punished if they display food aggression. Doing so, such as hitting or yelling at dogs, will only make them feel insecure and be more protective about the food.
- Feed the dogs separately. This is highly advised to those who have more than two dogs at home, most especially large dogs. Put them in different areas, cages, or rooms during feeding time.
- Remove the food bowl after they’ve eaten and never leave the food uneaten the whole day. This should be done not just to prevent the dog from being aggressive, but also to ensure they won’t eat leftover food that may already be contaminated or spoiled.
As mentioned, there are also instances when dogs become too much protective about their food that they even start to growl, snap and bite every time people, including their owners, come near or attempt to get their food. Fortunately, dog behavior specialists and veterinarians believe that this type of behavior can be easily corrected. Below are a few simple techniques.
- Reward dogs every time they display good behavior. Patting dogs on the head or back and giving them treats are common methods to reward them. On the other hand, punishing the dogs every time they commit mistake or display bad behavior is not advised. Owners should never hurt or yell at them because this will only make them all the more aggressive. Instead, owners should remain calm and, at the same time, have an assertive tone of voice when providing directions or talking to dogs.
- Owners should try as hard as they can to reestablish dog-owner relationship. They should make dogs realize and learn that the human is the more dominant in the relationship or is the leader of the pack. One effective method to do this is to have dogs wait for their food. Dog owners should make it a habit to feed dogs when everyone else in the household has finished eating.
- Establish feeding time or schedule and remove their food bowls every after they are done eating; this is recommended with or without leftovers. If the food is left out all day, this sure can encourage competition and aggression among dogs.
- Never play with or tease the dog while they’re eating. Doing so will make them angry and frustrated. This also encourages them to become possessive about their food. Also, children should never be anywhere near the dog while eating. This is recommended especially to dogs who are already displaying severe canine aggression.
- Hand feed the dog with a couple of pieces at a time. This is recommended every now and then. If they attempt to eat the food too quickly, owners should immediately close their hands and say “No” to their dogs. They should only open their hands when dogs have become a bit more patient and have waited calmly.
- When feeding dogs using food bowl, it is recommended that owners place small amounts of food into the food bowl and add a few more pieces after every minute or so. This way, dogs will not only learn how to wait for their food patiently, but will also give them the idea that every time owners get near their food bowls, it means food is about to be given.
- Lastly, owners should always feed the dog and should feed them enough. Hungry dogs tend to be more protective about their food than those who are well fed.
Aside from these, it is also recommended that dog owners bring their dogs to veterinarians in order to rule out medical problems, which may be related to them being aggressive or possessive about their food. Also, dog owners who weren’t successful with retraining their dogs or correcting their food aggression can always seek help from animal behaviorists, who are known experts in stopping food aggression among dogs.
Preventing Food Aggression and Resource Guarding Among Puppies
Just like food aggression in older dogs, resource guarding among puppies is also a common problem. Whether food, chew toys or bones, puppies also tend to be protective about things that are important to them. They bite, growl and snarl at people every time these sorts of things are taken away from them. Fortunately though, there are some ways in which dog owners can start training their puppies to prevent them from becoming aggressive or developing any other unpleasant behavior.
Early intervention and prevention will always be the key to dealing with resource guarding or aggressive behaviors among puppies. Studies show that puppies are more open and receptive to proper training than older dogs. They will easily learn and follow their owners’ commands and are more likely to follow them until they grow old. Here are some techniques and methods that dog owners can utilize in preventing or dealing with resource guarding puppies.
- When puppies start to growl or bite at people whenever they go near their food and other resources, say no to them in an assertive, confident and calm voice. If they do stop, reward them by patting their head and back or by giving them treats.
- Never scare or yell at them when they exhibit possessiveness with regard to their food, chew toys and bones. Compared to older dogs, puppies are a bit more sensitive and they easily get startled every time they’re yelled at.
- Pet puppies while eating. This may not be recommended to older dogs that have developed food aggression, but it certainly is advisable while they are still young. Drop a few pieces of food at a time into their food bowl while petting. This makes them a bit more accustomed to being touched while eating.
- Dropping a few pieces of food or treats into the bowl while they are eating is also recommended. This way, puppies will develop an understanding that people approach their bowls not to steal their food but to provide them more. This keeps them from growling, snarling or biting people who come near them while eating.
- Make them feel who is the more dominant in a dog-man relationship. Set appropriate rules, especially on the feeding schedule. As early as they can, dog owners should let their puppies realize that food and treats are served on schedule. Puppies should be fed after man has done eating.
- Playing an exchange game with the puppies can also prevent resource guarding. This is done by giving the puppies a chew toy and asking them to drop and let go of it. Reward them with a treat if they do. This gives them an idea that if they learn to let go of their toys, they will get something in return. This can also be done using a chew toy in exchange of a bone or vice versa. By doing so, puppies learn how to remain calm and relaxed every time the owner takes their chew toys or bones away.
In Conclusion
All breeds of dogs have huge possibilities of developing dog food aggression. But certainly, there are also ways to train and prevent them from developing such behaviors, as well as ways to correct them. While being mindful of the symptoms and signs of food aggression among dogs can be very helpful, the key to own a good and well-behaved dog and keep them from exhibiting all types of aggressive behavior is to train them while they are still young.
