I’m sure most pet lovers know that food-aggressive dogs rarely have a chance of being adopted. Some experts actually believe that a dog that is aggressive with food, or aggressive in any way, will eventually turn against the family that owns it. While there is some truth to this, to be sure, there is honestly more panic in the situation than anything else.
Let me be clear before continuing. I understand the reasons why a shelter will not adopt an animal with this problem. Liability is the biggest in this crazy and extremely litigious world we live in. And few people understand or have what it takes to handle and rehabilitate an animal with this canine behavior problem.
Dogs, in truth, are predators and should be respected as such. Early symptoms of food assault include staring or staring, like steel, without blinking, at the plate of food or a piece of food that is dropped. Other symptoms are body blockage or stiffness when you approach the dog’s food, growl or snap. You also have to inhale the food, or just look at it and eat nothing.
Okay, so your dog has some of these signs. What should you do about it?
Obviously you need a professional to guide you through this until you have it under control. Being bitten by a dog is not fun and it is not worth it. Believe me, I speak from experience. Humans hold a grudge. (Dogs don’t). You don’t need to break the trust between you and your best friend, and he will easily feel your insecurity. It’s simple: you don’t trust them, they don’t trust you.
This is what you should do. At first, put the dog on a leash that gives you maximum control over him. Have your dog walk on his heels towards the food and look at YOU, not the food. If you allow your dog to be in front of you, look at the food, or approach the food without letting go, you are telling your dog that he does not need your permission to eat, which means HE is in control.
Take a close look at the dog’s body language. If your dog becomes tense, stiff, or even the slightest bit fixed, remove it immediately. Bring him back only when he’s calm. It is common for dogs to dig in or complain. These are only temper attacks and should not be tolerated.
Don’t forget, from the beginning to the end of this exercise: Your attitude and demeanor should be calm and firm. If you get angry or fearful when dealing with an animal in a dominant or territorial state of mind, they will bite you. The predator in them sees that as a weakness.
This can take up to an hour the first time you do it, or your pet will refuse to eat for a few days. But if you hold firm, the problem will go away soon. Again, if you have a food aggression problem with your dog, don’t hesitate to seek help and don’t try to fix it on your own.
