How to Avoid Food Aggression In a Puppy

Food aggression can be very dangerous even in a small dog and becomes very nasty if your dog is big. Good feeding habits need to be trained to the dog while it is a puppy, when it first comes into your household.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• puppy
• dog food
• feeding dish
• treats
• patience

1. Start be making sure that feeding time is definitely a set time. In other words, do not just "leave food out" for the dog to eat at will. You cant train good eating habits when you are not present to physicaly set the food down in front of the dog.

2. 
   make the dog sit by holding the food bowl up

   When you are ready to feed the dog, get the dog to settle down and wait for the food. Do not set the food down until the puppy has sat down in front of you and is waiting. This can be accomplished very simply in a small puppy, simply hold the food bowl up above it's head and it will automatically sit back and look up. If the puppy doesn't sit, position yourself so that the food bowl is being held up directly above his head, he will have to either back up or sit down and look up to see the food, it is an almost automatic response that he will sit down and look up. When this occurs, set the food bowl down in front of the puppy.

3. 
   keep your hand near the food bowl

   After the puppy has sat down, place the food bowl down in front of the puppy and keep your hand nearby.

4. 
   pet the dog while he is eating

   While the puppy is eating, stir the food and add a treat into the food, and pet the puppy while he is eating. Let him know that only good things happen while he eats.

5. In review: Feeding the puppy on a regular basis and making him sit before eating, messing with his food while he eats, and teaching him that you are the person in charge while he eats...these are the beginning steps to make sure that your dog will be gentle and non food aggressive towards people.

Tips & Warnings

• When you add the tasty treat into the food, you can also pick the bowl up, add the treat , and set it down again in a different spot. This helps to reinforce to the dog that YOU are the one in charge.
• These steps outlined are for young puppies. If your dog is an older dog and already may be showing food aggression, seek a trainer and get professional help.

Resources

• training dogs
• show dog training book

[wiccanocte]

on 4/2/2009 Great advice!!! I've used that method myself when training a new puppy, and I know it works!!

[sanderdoe]

on 3/2/2009 Thank you so much for this great advice. We just got a new puppy who becomes very vicious when he is eating something he likes. He's little now but I"m worried about what will happen when he gets bigger. So I will put your advice into action immediately! Well done!

[DenaEBolton]

on 1/18/2009 Great advice. My daughter trained her now 200+ lb Husky/St. Bernard mix well. He will gently take food from your hand instead of gulping down half your arm. 5*

[showpup]

on 1/18/2009 Solid advice, Newfy. I have coonhounds and they will lean towards being food aggressive if you aren't on top of things like this. 5 stars