Resource gaurding, food aggression...

[PotterWatch]

I have a dog who has food/treat aggression but only with other dogs. He has no aggression at all towards people over his food. He will drop any treat when asked and will allow any person to be near him or even take his food. Dogs are another matter. Ours dogs have gotten into fights because of his food aggression. We now take steps to avoid him feeling the need to protect his food. We feed them in separate areas and never give treats other than when we are able to be in the same room to keep an eye on things. Small training treats are fine. The dogs can sit side-by-side and take their treats nicely, we only run into trouble if it is a bone or longer-lasting treat that they take and then chew on for a while. I would love to train him out of the behavior completely but at least we are able to easily manage it the way it is now.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Quote:
I agree with River Otter.

 

[teach1rusl]

I too have a dog with food aggression issues (my female golden). Actually, it borderlines possession aggression, but it's most noticable with food. My one cat has been to the vet TWICE due to simply walking bywhen my dog was eating (not trying to eat anything)...once with a hairline break (from the force of the dog lunging) and a second time from her eyelid being torn. The cat is not the sharpest crayon in the box, as it has taken her a LONG time to learn to stay away from this dog/her food dish. Yet I (or any person in my family) can take or handle my dog's food at any time with no visable reaction.
To me, this behavior is NOT normal. I took this dog for all the wrong reasons - much too early from a backyard breeder because I felt sorry for the pup - dumb!!! And I suppose I've partly blamed this behavior problem on that. I hired a trainer to come to my home to work with me and my dog for this issue. And while it has improved, I still don't trust her (the dog). All of my animals (except my chickens) have always had their own eating areas already. So we have just adapted to making sure other animals aren't around when sthis dog is eating. It was touch and go there for a while for me though, as to whether I could accept keeping an aggressive animal in my household, even if it was a "temporary" aggressiveness.
Just advising you to keep an eye out with your cat; don't immediately dismiss your dog's act as a one time event.

 

[lishah2000]

Dogs do communicate about resources, if you watch them and don't scare the warnings out of them. (I had to teach my guarder to give warnings. I WANTED to hear that growl.) My golden was taught from a puppy not to worry about resources. She loves to give and take toys back and forth. It's her favorite game. So if I were to take something from her (food or toy) she thinks fun. No worries at all.

The other dog was the resource guarder. The two got along very well. The golden did guard things from the guarder. But only if he tried to take it. If he changed his attitude and "asked" she willingly gave it up - even if it was something she valued. They often would then "play" the trade game between the two of them. If you watch two dogs who communicate well, you will see the communication. It usually doesn't even involve a growl, just a look. It's not dominance at all, just communication.

That said: both were given a place to eat their food in peace. When they were done, they went to the kitchen until I picked up the bowls, then they got a cookie. They also enjoyed any treats like bones or kongs in private where guarding wasn't necessary.

 

[arabianequine]

I trained my dog for taking food from me/people with the word "easy" she is very gentle. My MIL said so she was amazed a few weeks ago at how big of a dog she is and so gentle with her mouth when taking treats. However she is a bit more quick to take the treats if other dogs are around but not mean just fast to move to them so she gets them first so we are working on "wait" I have her sit and wait till her turn.

My dogs get free choice food for their meals so no need to be "intimidating or physical" during feeding it is pretty much stress free for my dogs they all eat when they want to. There weight is perfect no one is over weight and everyone usually eats at different times. If we have been gone and they are hungry when we get back....I will put down another bowl for the other dog....my older wiener dog thinks she is the boss of all the dogs she growls and won't share the big bowl of food but she is 11 now. I tell her to stop and she does.

I don't see scruffing as violence or physical abuse I see it as a correction to not listening when asked the first time in extreme cases for their safety. Not done daily be any means and only what is necessary to get their attention.

I have seen b*tches grab her pups by the back of the neck for different things and it is natural thing they do to be able to control their puppies and move them.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I don't see scruffing as violence or physical abuse I see it as a correction to not listening when asked the first time in extreme cases for their safety. Not done daily be any means and only what is necessary to get their attention.

Personally I believe this depends almost entirely on what breed you have and what kind of training that pup is going to receive. I have Dobies and GSDs and they are going to be facing schutzhund training. I never "scruff" one of my dogs. I use no corporal punishment of any kind. I believe it is imperative for my dogs to consider me the one person in the world who is safe. A good guy, not a varmint. People who jump out from behind barricades and pop them with stuff are varmints that get chased, barked at, and--eventually--bitten. It is part of their training. Knowing this, I NEVER use any kind of physical intimidation so that they always know that the varmints that DO use rugs, blankets, bats, etc are to be the objects of their aggression--not me.

So IMO how you raise a pup is determined by what you are eventually going to do with him. It is also determined by his breeding. If you have a pup that has working dogs for generations back in his pedigree, you cannot handle him the same way as your hunting dogs or your family pets or your obedience prospects. Breeding tells and it should be respected.


JMO


Rusty​