Aggression around food

[WillT]

My 12 month old lab dog(neutered) , is becoming very aggressive around food, when he’s being fed or if any1 comes near him while he eats, or if he picks up anything that he can eat he’s turns into this angry growling n teeth on show etc, Any method to stop this? B4 it gets worse or he bites,

 

[deerstalker.308]

Not a fan of asserting one’s dominance on dogs, much preferring passive learning and subordinate pack members and never reaching that stage but he needs to be told and you need to be in charge. He thinks he is Alfa male and that’s not right.
Take his food off him, constantly, interrupt him at your convenience and make him wait. Any sign of aggression needs tackling head on if you are talking about a learned habit and not one caused by unknown history (rehomed dogs where you don’t know the triggers or what’s caused it are a different ball game altogether). If any of my dogs growled or showed me their teeth they would soon find out they were not top of the pecking order, and before anyone jumps on me, I’m not talking about a hiding, although I’d far rather that than have them bite someone and need to be put down! A rolled up newspaper across the nose or an assertive scruffing and sent to their bed minus food as an example. I once got growled at by my spaniel of many moons ago, long since gone, I grabbed him and growled back at him, took his food off him and used a growl, it’s a language they understand.

 

[rem284]

What I do and I never had any issues is:-

Dog from puppy. Bowl of food held up high near my face. Wait until pup works out it has to sit and look into my eyes. Food then put in front of pup but if pup attemts to do anything other than remain in the sit position then I return to standing upright with bowl held near my face. Pup has to wait until bowl is on the ground, I stand upright and it LOOKS into my eyes When this happens I give command "eat". Once the pup is eating I gently praise the pup and stroke it's body. I haven't felt the need to remove the food part way through the process but I think I could easily do it. I believe that this trains the pup to look at you, wait for a command and avoids food aggression

 

[Tim.243]

My 12 month old lab dog(neutered) , is becoming very aggressive around food, when he’s being fed or if any1 comes near him while he eats, or if he picks up anything that he can eat he’s turns into this angry growling n teeth on show etc, Any method to stop this? B4 it gets worse or he bites,

Have you tried feeding him by hand out the bowl but being above him. Sit him up wit you having the bowl and feed him a bit at a time, when you give him the bowl it is his so don't

 

[WillT]

Thanks for the reply gents, We know his sister is very much the same when it’s come to food (we know the owner of her) at the moment I’m feeding him like Tim.243 suggested little bits by hand, which works, as he’s focus on me, he will sit and wait till he’s told he can eat

 

[Covert]

Met a guy years ago who’s nickname was Button’s,
Asked if his monicker was something to do with the character in the pantomime Cinderella.
Was told no, he had acquired the name from his appalling table manners, he ate his lunch like his chocolate Labrador , Button’s.

 

[Drum123]

Ive just taken in a 10 month old cocker dog, bought as a therapy dog for a disabled lass ( dont get me started) , handed in to a charity because he was been agressive toward her around food or indeed anything else he saw as 'his'.Was going to be put down as deemed not safe to rehome.I was offered him but i had my doubts . I ended up with him on an understanding that i could hand him back if he was a total basket case.
First morning i had him i gave him a chew , i put my hand down near his face and the little **** nailed me through the back of my hand.We had strong words.
After he realised that baring his teeth would bring even more punishment he now, reluctantly, gives me anything i choose to take from him. You need to assert yourself , the sooner the better because he now sees you as his little bitch and it will end up in you been bitten.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Yes, agree entirely, a lot of the advice above is great as early training and habit forming but if the dog has developed his own mindset and thinks he’s boss he needs to be reminded of the hierarchy and pack order in short shrift or become yet another statistic sadly, a dog that bites (with the exception of those trained to) is not right.

Ive just taken in a 10 month old cocker dog, bought as a therapy dog for a disabled lass ( dont get me started) , handed in to a charity because he was been agressive toward her around food or indeed anything else he saw as 'his'.Was going to be put down as deemed not safe to rehome.I was offered him but i had my doubts . I ended up with him on an understanding that i could hand him back if he was a total basket case.
First morning i had him i gave him a chew , i put my hand down near his face and the little **** nailed me through the back of my hand.We had strong words.
After he realised that baring his teeth would bring even more punishment he now, reluctantly, gives me anything i choose to take from him. You need to assert yourself , the sooner the better because he now sees you as his little bitch and it will end up in you been bitten

 

[long_range_rob]

To be honest you are wise to keep your hands away from me whilst I’m eating too.

 

[Lancaster]

I agree with advice above, he needs to realise that he isn't the Alpha male.
Another way to reinforce this is never let him go through a door or gate in front of you, make him sit, open and go through the door/gate, and then call him through.
He will learn his place in the pecking order.
If you have a other half, make sure that she also applies these rules.

 

[YoungGun]

I was staying on one of my permissions this weekend - they very kindly put me up. They have a feral setter and cocker, and had a guest staying with a corgie. The owner of latter dog doesn't believe in negative or assertive training...... Cut to feeding time and the corgie has the spaniel by the leg, the spaniel has the corgie by the muzzle and the setter has the middle of the corgie in its mouth. I picked the corgie up by the backside/rump and "placed' it in the utility room. The spaniel, who instigated it, sat there crying with his leg raised - he was "shown" to his bed.

Was surprised how quickly it escalated and wonder how it would have ended if not broken up.

 

[deerstalker.308]

I was staying on one of my permissions this weekend - they very kindly put me up. They have a feral setter and cocker, and had a guest staying with a corgie. The owner of latter dog doesn't believe in negative or assertive training...... Cut to feeding time and the corgie has the spaniel by the leg, the spaniel has the corgie by the muzzle and the setter has the middle of the corgie in its mouth. I picked the corgie up by the backside/rump and "placed' it in the utility room. The spaniel, who instigated it, sat there crying with his leg raised - he was "shown" to his bed.

Was surprised how quickly it escalated and wonder how it would have ended if not broken up.

One less corgi to worry about is hazard!

 

[Kjf]

I agree with advice above, he needs to realise that he isn't the Alpha male.
Another way to reinforce this is never let him go through a door or gate in front of you, make him sit, open and go through the door/gate, and then call him through.
He will learn his place in the pecking order.
If you have a other half, make sure that she also applies these rules.

This is a must ,no dog is tripping me up or coming in or out the house/ car before I say it can , basics

Also fill his bowl ,

Make him sit and stay ,

Tell him to " take it " when u say so ,and then take it away before he gets to it( move it to another area , make the beggar wait )

if he also moves an inch before the command , a sharp " No " then put the food away (or move food to another area) , and do the same 10 mins later,( make the beggar stay , exactly where you told it )

You pay for its food and shelter , you are the boss ,it will eat when you say so , not when it wants to

To be quite honest all the above replies to the post SHOULD be installed from day 1,

Sod having my own dogs being misbehaved or growling at me , a big NO NO

Your and your family are the boss ,

Be a bit mean( no violence, but grip the beggar if needed , your voice should make it feel like the wrath of God has dropped down on it, bollock the dog , good style, but only when it's being a dick lol) it will soon get the message

Just remember , it's a bleddy dog good luck

Kjf

 

[yellow belly]

My gwp as a 10month old decided he didn't want to give up his chew toy one day to my wife and she felt intimated. Soon as I knew I recreated the problem and this time it was me asking to take it, same response and he was promptly put on his back and held at the throat with the shock of his life with me growling and shouting at him untill he stopped trying to fight me. We tried again and he never batted an eye lid at me taking the chew toy, I immediately had my wife do the same and I was ready to show him the error of his ways if he so much as raised a lip or growl. Nothing. I was this hard on him as I have young daughters. My lad is now about to turn 3 and my 18month feeds him is dinner and toddles about the kitchen as he eats and he steps back from his bowl if she gets too close and gives her space. He is the bottom of the pack and will be reminded at any point required. He is also a very much loved family member and treated with respect by my girls!

 

[Alex88]

He thinks he is the boss. Take his bowl away when he is eating occasionally and give it back when he is gentle and quiet

 

[Bo Diddley]

My neighbor Jack Ripper (don't ask) went to visit a local young family that had a Jack Russel dog, the dog was curled up in the only chair not taken. Jack went to brush the dog off so he could take a seat 'don't do that Jack he'll have ya' said the lad, Jack ignored the advice and tried to move the dog, which promptly went around his wrist like a chainsaw. Jack asked if they wanted the dog to be like that... Not really came the reply... I'll sort it out for you then if you want me to... He picked up the poker out of the hearth, hid it behind his leg, and when he went to move the dog again and it went for him he beat the dog until it hid behind the sofa.. no more problems from that dog, sorted in 30 seconds!

 

[Dunwaters]

Whatever bit of advise you chose to follow is your business, but it needs sorting, urgently.
Thats a biggish dog and it’ll do a lot of damage if it carries through on the threat.

 

[jimmy milnes]

Yes totally a dominate dog issue,
As said above, but also no just around food, as the chap says open the door and if he tries to go through before you shut it GENTLY but with meaning on him.
Wait till hes resting in his bed and go up to him and push him out of it an sit in it yourself then make eye contact till he turns his gaze away.
Hows he walk at heel? A dominant dog will try to creep forward in front "taking the leading roll" dont let it.
No sitting on the sofa you stay above it all the time. Top animal will always take the high ground so as to guard the pack from dangerous situations.
Good luck but above all be consistent.
Jimmy

 

[Bowland blades]

There are some very good folks out there who can walk you through the solution to your particular dog .

 

[VSS]

He thinks he is the boss. Take his bowl away when he is eating occasionally and give it back when he is gentle and quiet

Exactly this ^^^
Simple and non-confrontational.
Whenever I get a new sheepdog, or when I used to take dogs in for training, this is what I do.
The last bitch I bought was a bit snappy around food, but it didn't take her long to cotton on and now she's very gentle at feeding time.