Food aggression occurs when a dog snarls, growls, or moves his body between you and his food bowl while eating. Remember that you are the boss, because you are the provider, not a threat. If you laugh at or ignore the bad behavior it will only serve to positively reinforce it.
First thing’s first. When do you feed your dog? Is it before or after the family meal? Feeding the dog first puts it in his brain that he is the alpha dog. The reason is that in the wild, the alpha dog gets first pickings of the kill. Don’t give your dog first pickings! Feed the family first, make sure none of your family members feed the dog from the table, and after the people meal comes the doggie meal. This is absolutely the first tangible step in changing the behavior.
While getting your dog’s meal ready, make him sit or lie down for the entire preparation time. If your dog does not know how to sit, click here for a great video to help you teach him.
Put your dog’s bowl on the floor with the food in it, and stand at a comfortable distance from him. Stay there – do not move forward on the first day – and over time, take one step closer during feeding times. Flick treats in the general direction of the bowl while the pet is eating.
When the bowl is empty (and it is not meal time), put one of your dog’s favorite treats in the bowl. Do it each time you walk near the bowl, and the treats combined with your presence will gain a positive connection. You can also hand-feed treats and once the dog takes the treats from your hand calmly, pet his head and talk softly while he eats.
If your dog is aggressive toward other dogs during feeding time, you must separate them when food is put down. Simply put the aggressive one in a room by himself and shut the door.
You can change your dog’s behavior by changing the way he thinks about you and food. Be firm, kind, and consistent.
