Does your dog growl or gets mad when another dog or even a human comes near their food dish? This behavior is called dog food aggression or the tendency of a dog to have dangerous behavior when someone tries to go near their food. Aggressive dogs are really scary especially since they can become more violent if you let them be aggressive all the time. The key to this problem is to find its root cause.
Dog food aggression is an instinct that exists in every dog. The best way to treat this behavior is to understand it and consider what triggers it to happen. Dog food aggression begins when a dog feels threatened that someone or another animal may steal their food from them.
Here are some ways to prevent dog food aggression:
If your dog is showing some signs of dog food aggression, you should move the dog’s feeding area to somewhere that is safer. Observe proper feeding schedule of the dog because dogs usually shows this behavior when they are extremely hungry. Lastly, if you have more than one dog to feed, it is best recommended to completely separate them during feeding time.
You may also gently pet your dog as you set his food dish. Petting while feeding him enables your dog to completely trust you and that you do not mean any harm. This will make your dog feel comfortable with your presence while he is on his mealtime. You may also toss a delicious treat in his food dish every now and then. This will make you dog think that something good will happen every time a person approaches his food dish.
However if your dog has already been exhibiting signs of dog food aggression, the following are some ways to stop this behavior:
To stop dog food aggression, remove your dog’s food dish from the floor in between his meals. You can also put a small amount of food on his dish and when your dog realizes that he still needs more, he will come to you. Doing this method over and over again will make your dog realize that he needs to be in good behavior when approaching his owner so that he can get some food.
If you are brave enough, you might also want to try feeding your dog by hand because it will teach you dog to feel comfortable whenever there is someone is near his food. Eventually, this will stop dog food aggression because this will help your dog maintain self-control.
If any of these methods are not effective, you may consult a veterinarian or an animal behavior specialist.
Treating dog food aggression requires deep understanding on the part of the owner. Never punish your dog because punishment can only make this behavior worse and it is often the cause of dog food aggression to begin with. Be patient with your pet. Let him be comfortable and learn proper behavior through trainings. It is necessary for your pet to feel comfortable with your presence before he lets you come near around his food dish.
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