Aggression around food

[Dogtra UK]

Not a great fan of taking a dogs food off it as giving it the food in the first place is also a show of dominance.
But I’m also not a fan of them showing aggression towards me and I’ll clamp down in that hard.

Dog wouldn’t have a bowl or a regular spot or time to eat in the house. I’d feed it every last biscuit by hand and make it do something like a down stay where it’s in a submissive posture over and over.

But I do think interrupting dogs eating is a recipe for disaster even if you can do it as I can with mine. I just don’t.

 

[Kjf]

Not a great fan of taking a dogs food off it as giving it the food in the first place is also a show of dominance.
But I’m also not a fan of them showing aggression towards me and I’ll clamp down in that hard.

Dog wouldn’t have a bowl or a regular spot or time to eat in the house. I’d feed it every last biscuit by hand and make it do something like a down stay where it’s in a submissive posture over and over.

But I do think interrupting dogs eating is a recipe for disaster even if you can do it as I can with mine. I just don’t.

I agree , the point is though

You SHOULD be able too interrupt , if the need arises, ( House hold / garden chores/ life etc etc )

Kjf

 

[Tim.243]

Not a great fan of taking a dogs food off it as giving it the food in the first place is also a show of dominance.
But I’m also not a fan of them showing aggression towards me and I’ll clamp down in that hard.

Dog wouldn’t have a bowl or a regular spot or time to eat in the house. I’d feed it every last biscuit by hand and make it do something like a down stay where it’s in a submissive posture over and over.

But I do think interrupting dogs eating is a recipe for disaster even if you can do it as I can with mine. I just don’t.

I used to handle my ferrets with there food, defrost a 1/4 of a rabbit in the fur and then run my hand around them as they ate....had a few nips as they were young but payed off when sliding your hand past the ferret to pull a couple of rabbits up a stop end...
It is a good thing to be able to take a dogs food away as feeding raw muntjac ribs front legs I take the last small bit away.....

 

[potshotpat]

Get a cat, there nasty whether your feed them or not. On a serious note a dog would only get a chance to go for me once. It wouldn't get a second go.

 

[Kjf]

I used to handle my ferrets with there food, defrost a 1/4 of a rabbit in the fur and then run my hand around them as they ate....had a few nips as they were young but payed off when sliding your hand past the ferret to pull a couple of rabbits up a stop end...
It is a good thing to be able to take a dogs food away as feeding raw muntjac ribs front legs I take the last small bit away.....

I've just given r ball bags a frozen roe hock., to cool.him down ,

Enough son I said , taken out of his mouth , as he got to the last bit , the hoof ,( he could eat it all and has done in the past ) the hoof was then given to the terrier ( the terrier was waiting patiently for it )

Pack.order , I TOLD the terrier when she could have it ,( she knew not to mither the big lad )

Ie , off me , the BOSS

 

[Kjf]

Get a cat, there nasty whether your feed them or not. On a serious note a dog would only get a chance to go for me once. It wouldn't get a second go.

It wouldn't get to that mate, especially your own dog

Because ......

It has been trained and socialised

The basics

Kjf

 

[potshotpat]

Correct my dogs are trained and socialised. They read the book on the basics. We all get on together and they know I'm the boss.

 

[Kjf]

I know our comments on training sometimes sound harsh

But ,,,,, tidge n todger ( my shadows ) are living the dream ,

Next to me, totally at ease and chilled / behaving as part of the family ( because that's what they are )

But they are still............

Dogs ( consitancy is the key ) no point training when you feel like it , keep up the training , and all will be well .

But this doesn't happen over night ,

 

[Dogtra UK]

I agree , the point is though

You SHOULD be able too interrupt , if the need arises, ( House hold / garden chores/ life etc etc )

Kjf

I agree, you should be able to interrupt but I’ve met some people who do it far too regular.
I’ve never trained my dogs to take food off them but I can take food off them because food is not the only place where I will assert my authority.

This is Luna my current Malinois. But I have had some quite tough Malis and rarely taken a bite unless in protection training.

 

[Kjf]

I agree, you should be able to interrupt but I’ve met some people who do it far too regular.
I’ve never trained my dogs to take food off them but I can take food off them because food is not the only place where I will assert my authority.

This is Luna my current Malinois. But I have had some quite tough Malis and rarely taken a bite unless in protection training.View attachment 261299

Shes a cracker,and that's the difference mate ,

Attack dogs , and game/ hunting dogs , it depends on what....

They ARE TRAINED for

Training is KEY ,

But we are there masters

They have to have an " on and off switch "

No matter what we ( the master) train them for

 

[T.eddie]

I'd also suggest hand feeding, it's can be messy and a pain but is a good way of showing there's no need for the aggression. Also when feeding stroke the pup so it gets used to someone being close and touching while eating

 

[Keith Edmunds]

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

Good answer - that is exactly what I would do in this situation. I have never been in this situation as I have never had a dog doubt my place in the pack. This advice and other advice will only work if the dog knows that you (and humans generally) rank above dogs in any pack. They have to adore you and respect you in equal measure.

 

[Tim.243]

Good answer - that is exactly what I would do in this situation. I have never been in this situation as I have never had a dog doubt my place in the pack. This advice and other advice will only work if the dog knows that you (and humans generally) rank above dogs in any pack. They have to adore you and respect you in equal measure.

I have had to feed Chip by hand for the last 2 weeks as he was quite unwell, also give him water with a syringe as with the collar and being unwell it was the least stress to keep him hydrated. Wash his wound with salt water clean his eyes and around his mouth/gums with fresh water....
I have always used the clippers on his feet from a puppy same with Toby who seems to like it as he sits and puts a paw up when I switch them on. If you need to check for grass seeds (as I do) then it is easy to keep clean than some matted mess.

 

[Buchan]

Is he guarding any thing else? I agree with the person who said "I growl if you take my food away" but less so with the rest of the advice regarding dominance and "bossing" the dog. Our understnding of dog behaviour has moved away from the dominance/submission aspects and while I don't agree with some of this (such as gaining a dog's consent before doing anything - seriously) there is merit. Not least that we are not dogs and cannot know, exactly what is going on. That means it's all to easy to get it wrong. Clouting the dog while it's eating could lead to escalating the issue, as the dog is doing what's natural so it can't understand what's happened, but may well escalate the growl to a bite.
So if he's fine with everything else, I'd personally start with adding food to the bowl (or dropping it by the food) so he doesn't see you as a threat, but a benefit.
If you have young children, then I'd seek advice from a good behaviourist (ask your vet) before you take advice from us - including me!

 

[Covert]

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,

Been watching this thread with interest.
Unfortunate that the dogs has got this far, needs addressing asap. Lab dogs around that age normally start to grow a pair and can be stroppy.
If it was mine I would reinforce dominance by sitting , waiting , eye contact, lead work, praise and rebuke with voice etc.Best trainers I know are very quiet and calm around dogs , no need to shout, lots of eye contact Firm believer in rewarding from day one with food rewards, small prices of dog food or ideally small prices of dry liver, kidney, heart when dog leaving returning to kennel , recall, reinforcing name, sitting etc.
Would start giving treats for a day or so or until dog responding well. Initially sit dog and allow to eat on command talk to dog encouragingly and use foot to move dog bowl around. Safer on fingers. Get him to sit pick up bowl move it then resume feeding on command. Normally do it any way helps with steadiness especially if going to be a peg dog. Lots of praise of good and griff voice if bad.
Dogs aren’t broken or trained just conditioned.

 

[Dogtra UK]

It’s amazing how many people don’t believe in dominance and pack hierarchy.

Many moons ago my job was to source the top Malinois stud dogs in Holland to cover working line females and for the pups to go into police work.

I was lucky enough to mix with some of the top European dog trainers.

Anyway back to studs. My criteria was that it must be healthy. Proven that it can work and a true alpha dog. If you believe there is such a thing.

Generally the dogs would be owned by well known names in the Dutch KNPV community. Often they were Dutch police dog handlers or police officers / security personnel.

I would ask why the dog was not their operational dog or that it has only gained its PH1 title. ( A but like a working test with biting etc). Tge answer was generally that one of them would have died trying to get any further!

Alpha dogs if they exist don’t do as they are told or they might do but they are looking for an opportunity to nail you. Because they want to give you instructions and make you do obedience and agility.

 

[Heym SR20]

What really gets me is the number of people who are walking around with really aggressive dogs on those long stringy extendable leads. “Oh its a rescue dog so poor little thing”.

No its a wet owner that needs to be strong with a mutt that has never known love and respect.

 

[Buchan]

What really gets me is the number of people who are walking around with really aggressive dogs on those long stringy extendable leads. “Oh its a rescue dog so poor little thing”.

No its a wet owner that needs to be strong with a mutt that has never known love and respect.

and a chest harness that guarentees the dog can pull even harder

 

[nicowilson]

and a chest harness that guarentees the dog can pull even harder

Earlier this year I was knocked over by a fat chocolate labrador that bounded up to me. I landed on my binos. Fortunately they were fine (I was lucky - they are my best pair). Took me a few minutes to come to my senses and stand up. It was hard not to swear at the dog's owners as my wife knows them. My chest was bruised. It was about a fortnight before I could sleep at night without ibuprofen.

What was the first thing I noticed about the dog? It had a chest harness on.

 

[Alex88]

But you're all forgetting that chest harnesses are vital for avoiding injury that slipleads can cause ....... Chris packham told me so