"Learn How To Prevent
Dog Food Aggression"

If your dog (or puppy) is already showing signs of food aggression, you can learn how to remedy food aggression in dogs here.

How To Prevent Dog Food Aggression

• Split your dog's food allocation into two and feed him twice each day - morning and early evening.
• Always ask your puppy to 'Sit' or 'Down' before you begin feeding him. Your puppy should be asked to work for his food - we all know there's no such thing as a free lunch!;
• Don't allow him to eat until he's been released from your command. This exercise will help your puppy to learn discipline and control, and will also help to reinforce your status as pack leader or the 'alpha dog'.
• If your puppy doesn't eat his meal within 15 minutes, (as if!), I recommend that you remove it. Always put his bowl away, out of sight, between meals; if he can't see his food bowl, he won't have anything to guard, will he?
• Stand over or sit by your puppy while he eats, and practice approaching him a couple of times during his feed to de-sensitize him to your presence.
• Stroke your puppy when he's eating, then add a treat - perhaps a piece of chicken or liver - to his dish. Do this a couple of times during each meal.

  Important Point:

  Never stroke a puppy or a dog that is already showing signs of dog food aggression as it could prove to be dangerous and you may be injured.

• Occasionally drop a tasty titbit into his dish as you walk by him while he's feeding.

  The more often you and your family do this, the better as he'll begin to associate your presence (while he's eating) with a pleasant experience!

• Don't always feed him in the kitchen - feed him in other areas of your home and garden too.
• If you feed your dog food from your plate it will only teach him to hang around the dinner table and scrounge or beg food from you - more importantly, it can trigger dog food aggression.

  It's best to place your dog away from your dining area while you eat - you can save any scraps for his food bowl.

The above pointers should help to ensure your puppy gets used to having you around at meal times and should teach him that you are the source of his food; you do not take it away from him.

Your aim is to have your dog accept that you are the alpha male (not him) and reassure him that you are no threat to his food, ie you're not going to steal it from him!

Nor should he feel threatened by your approaching him while he's feeding; he should view your approach (and presence) as a pleasant experience.

Important Note:

If your puppy, or dog, begins to display signs of dog food aggression, (or any other type of aggressive dog behavior) we recommend you consult a dog behavioral therapist before attempting to address your puppy's food guarding problem.

If you'd like to learn more about how to fix dog food aggression you can follow the link to this great website.

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