Training for Food Aggression

** Do not ever allow young children (8 and under) alone with dogs and food if they have previous behavior of food aggression. 

This is never a good thing or cute or whatever excuse you want to make of it. Whether you only have one dog or no children, make this stop. It turns into other aggression issues you will not want.

Establishing chain of command is HUGE. If you have children, have the children (under supervision) scoop the dog food into the dog bowl to create that alpha bond with the dog(s) too.

Take the steps below with food (kibble or wet food), treats, bones, etc...

Steps to take:

1. When you feed them, make them pause before rushing to the bowl and inhaling the food (this will teach patience and remaining calm instead of excitement which can become aggression fast)
2. If they growl, immediately take away the bowl, (if it's not safe, softly kick the bowl away and grab it away). Put it up on the counter where they can see it but not reach it
3. Tell them "no" or "naughty" or whatever command you want to associate with inappropriate behavior
4. Walk away from dog and food (making sure they can't get it) for 1 to 5 minutes
5. Come back and give him food again, make him pause a bit before rushing into bowl
6. This time, stand close by ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU CAN SEE HIS MOUTH, LOOK FOR SNARLING, showing teeth, etc
7. If they growl again, repeat steps 2 - 5 
8. If it's not a daily serving off food and the 1-5 minute intervals aren't working, take away treat, bone or toy indefinitely or for one hour or the next day.

Once you've discovered food aggression, here's things you can do:

1.  Sit nearby when they eat, start at arms length and scoot in closer and closer til you're next to them. IF at any point they start growling.....repeat above steps
2. Instead of feeding them with a bowl, put food into your hand and hand feed them. Create a positive bond (don't bite the hand that feeds you type understanding)
3. If you feel it's safe enough, while they're eating stick your finger or hand in their bowl at the edge just to practice that you can interrupt at any time and they shouldn't be scared or threatened.

If you have a dog who has been food aggression, it's best to stay away from buying treats that will last a long time because you are setting them up for failure. Big juicy bones are hard because they take forever to finish and they can take it into a private space and it's hard NOT to guard a bone, it's very primitive.

Lastly, once food aggression is defined, note for eating really fast and throwing up. Some dogs may have been in situations where they had to fight for food or didn't get enough. Eating too fast will upset their stomach. You may want to get a slow feeder which will help pace them. 

Link to purchase: Slow feeder