food aggression

[jessiegirlsmom]

We are enjoying our new addition - Jessie (10 weeks) and I cant believe how much she has grown in 2 weeks! I have read some about food aggression but not in detail. Our last golden was veryprotective about her food and I don't want to have that repeat behavior. I have been wiggling my fingers in the bowl but I don't know how to react to any growling/nipping that may occur. I have been telling her "good girl" and patting her while she is eating but I want to be sure I am doing all that I should! At what point should I have my children (5 & 12) participate in this training? Thanks - Donna

[SteveR]

I'm of the opinion that many of these food aggressions start very early on as the puppies vie to feed off Mom. In the case of your 10wk old you're doing the the right thing, maybe instead of just wiggling fingers you reach in and hand feed some so she knows your intentions are good. I would have the children involved now. Not a real chance for anyone to get hurt from a 10 wk old pup.

[happygold]

I agree with SteveR...perfect time to address the issue and prevent problems.And it's a good time to involve your children.
Here is what has worked for me:
Sit down with the food bowl on your lap.Let pup get used to that.(You can do this with or without dinner in it.)
Occasionally drop in some super treats.
Do this till pup is ok with that, then go to putting hand in bowl with food in it(feed from hand)add a few super treats to hand.
Eventually go to picking up bowl while pup is eating and put some super treats in it and return to pup.
If at any stage she objects go back to prior stage, start over.Your pup can learn that your/kids approach to food bowl is a positive thing.
Would avoid the patting while eating at first...and would let kids watch you from nearby at first before involving them in actual food handling till she is totally ok with you doing it.
Do regularly for first year and occasionally after that.
Dogs can get in the habit of eating alone,undisturbed...and this is sometimes where problems begin.
You can carry this concept into object exchange.Ie:remove playtoy and give treat or better toy..
Good luck with your furbaby!
Anna

[SweetDaisyDew]

Should you start with taking away a favorite new bone right away? I did with Daisy. She has shown food aggression towards other dogs but never towards me.

[happygold]

Re: new bone...I don't know.My feeling is 'yes'.When I got Jack, at 5 mos, I began the above which I learned from having a very 'guardy'Malamute.And I occassionlly repeat it to reinforce it.This week I got him his first raw bone and does he love it!He only gets to chew it for and hour or so a day(then back to the freezer as I'm trying to adapt his system gradually).
Anyway,he lets me take it away...I exchanged a cheese treat for it the first few times...I ask him to 'drop'...
I think we should be able to teach our pups that we can have whatever we want that they are holding.I have to had to ask him to drop many dead fish,a moles paw and many other savory items. These are harder/different than the bone...and I have had to get pretty creative to avoid having to take a big old fish carcass home with me after our outings.lol..
Anna

[jessiegirlsmom]

Its me again. We have been doing the finger in the bowl thing and Jessie (4 mths) leaves almost everything we ask (socks, toys, sponges etc) without a problem until today. I gave her her first pig ear. She was very protective. I gave her the leave it command with her right next to me and she nipped/growled at me. I told her no growling and had her sit and I gave it back. We did this a few times - leave it, growl, nip, get it back and she actually began sitting in my lap and chewing! After 30 seconds or so I did it again and she was like a different dog. Teeth showing, growling, attack mode and she actually bit me. It was a side of her I had not seen! I took it away from her for now because I am not sure what to do next but I know I don't want that kind of protectiveness to continue. Many thanks for your suggestions!

[newbabyzoe]

Zoe did the exact same thing - she never showed aggression with her food bowl but the pigs ear did it. She bit my husband as well one evening when we were working with her.

It takes a LOT of work to get them to understand you dont want it and they need not growl. For her - I allowed her to chew it on (or next) to me and started somewhere farrrr from the head. Just petting her...talking to her in a calm soothing voice...and moving slowly closer to her head. She would kind of start to growl and I would change the tone of my voice to a deeper "Nooooooo"...and it would turn into a whine. Once able to pet her on her head I would move to her eyes and nose until I could eventually touch her nose and the pigs ear without her taking my hand off. I took a hold of the ear while she kept chewing.

It seemed once she would chew on the bone while I was holding it helped a lot. She realized I wasnt going to take it - as well as I gave her an anchor to get those tough pieces off she couldnt hold on to it tight enough for.

Keep working with her...be patient...unfortunately it's in some of their nature to have to fight for food...especially the especially delicious pieces. It's definately (as mentioned above) something you have to do at an early age when they can't do a lot of damage. As well as something that needs to be reinforced every now and then.

[Harshy]

I agree with teaching her now and including your children and anyone else in the household that might get close to her while she is eating/chewing on something. Harley was very protective of her treats and at 10 weeks old snapped & growled at me when I tried to take away a treat that she had been chewing on for awhile. I immediately said NO and grabbed the top of her mouth so she couldn't bite me and pulled the treat away. Then I told her in a calm voice OK and gave it back to her. I repeated this 3 or 4 times right then. (Grabbing her mouth, taking the treat, waiting a short time and giving it back to her.)She seemed to get it right away and only showed bad behavior one more time after that (about a month later)when she was testing out a "new" kind of treat. I did the same thing then and I haven't had a problem with this since. Harley is 10 1/2 months now and I can take anything out of her mouth - food, treats, sticks or toys! I also taught her to let go of things (ease her grip)when I say "thank you" to her.

[kencubilo]

I also agree that the pups get this behavior from sharing mom when young.Don't laugh but the first thing I do with a New pup during feeding time is actually get right down with it at the feed dish, I also for the first few weeks constantly pat the pup while eating. Never be growled or bitten yet. My two girls are now 6 months old, If I give them a fresh bone I can take it away from either one with no problems, however let one of the pups try to take it away from the other and I have a 4th of July early. Luckly now both are gaining respect for each other and a little little growl from one to the other is all that happens. I have gotten a little off track here. Its never too early to start working with the pups on these things.

[goldenjack]

"Don't laugh but the first thing I do with a New pup during feeding time is actually get right down with it at the feed dish, I also for the first few weeks constantly pat the pup while eating."

Hi, Ken. It sure sounds like you are very pro-active with your dog's! That'a a great idea. Iiiiiiiiii like it. <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/happy.gif" />