Food Aggression (Hand Feeding Stopped Working) - Page 2

A local OB trainer, also a GSD breeder and Schutzhund trainer, was sued for killing a dog he "hung" at one of his all breed OB classes. The dog suffered a collapsed trachea.

your right stephen you are inexperienced. these are not pet dogs, and there are enought dogs in resque that were alowed to do whatever they wanted. This is a problem, because it starts out with the food and then develops into more until you can't even walk into the room that the food is in. or be in the house when the dog is eating.

yes blitzen that can happen. And I tell people that when I work with the dog. usually the dog is on his way to be put to sleep. the owners can't handle the situation. And if they would have worked with the dog correctly then it wouldn't have been that bad of a problem, this could have been solved as a puppy. I will not do this with a dog tht the owners do not compleatly understand that the dog could die.

Actually I make them sign a release befor I will work with the dog. I had one out here for OB class last week, and he went after me just for touching him on his back. We talked about it, the owners and I, and he will be worked differently next week, and they are prepared for what will and could happen. I would never string up a dog without the Owners permition.

This guy didn't have the owner's permission, he was using him as his "demo" dog. I saw him do it numerous other times with no ill effects to the dogs. I often wondered if the dog had been wearing a pinch instead of a choke maybe he might not have died? Dunno.

Hanging a dog ?? -- just goes to show the lack of experience son professed trainers have -- this teaches the dog -- well what do you for oneself think -- on the quick QT -- one needs to change tyhe picture/outlook of this dog --- why is this so complicated for the professionals -- novices i can understand -- so why can't one make it to the dog's vantage to calmly ,in a self-controlled manner desire to take food without having to punish the dog ?? we make a dog 'out' on a bite in agressuion .. yet there seems to be a heck of a time just to teach the dog manners -- and one more comment -- without being on a high horse -- not with intention of sarcasm .. but i shoot straight from the hip ... if you cannot teach a dog [ and it should be taught manners .. not a question of leaving the dog alone -- that shows lack of control and a dog's lack of self control -- .. do you let a dog bite because it feels like it and ..oh well just walk away ?? please folks ] then IMO you really have no business ownong a GSD or training Sch or calling yopurself a trainer !! whether it is my personal protection dog , my pet cpompanion or ring sport dog -- they do not do .. *** without my consent , direction , or permission .. even exiting/ entering my home or vehicle .. all freedoms and resources should be under the auspices of the owner -- and one more comment -- would you ever ever let one of your children snatch / wisk something away from your hands .. or do you teach manners and that it is in the child's interest to be mannered and polite?? --

Stephen, if you check back in Jack's earlier posts, the dog was guarding the food bowl well after he'd finished eating, and would challenge anyone who walked by the general area--so it was a problem that needed to be addressed, and the reason that Jack started the hand-feeding. This wasn't a case of wanting to screw with the dog's food just for the hell of it...

hexe --yes good to stick to the original problem -- this makes me chuckle a bit -- not the problem -- but the complete ineptitude that i see -- goodness folks -- food guarding -- come on --one of the easiest situation to clean up [ i.e fix] !!

Thanks Hexe.

What a big issue over a small problem! I mean this is a basic rank issue. A person of experience understands this, and knows the only way to fix this problem is by dominating the dog through obedience. The obedience control must occur in the situation where the aggression is shown. The dog must understand that the behavior is not correct. By leaving when the dog shows signs of aggression is actually reinforcing the unwanted behaviors. The dog lacks the ability for deductive reasoning and so does not understand that growling makes him miss a meal. We must understand canine behavior and psychology to raise good dogs. The knowledge of operant & classical conditioning, positive reinforcement and imprinting must be understood. Ryken, Het, Alabama K9 makes show they have some knowledge. The others are not experience I can tell. If there is no other problems, I mean none, the aggression is only with food and you are the only person around the dog I would let the dog be. Het method is extreme but I bet it would work, because the dog is been correct immediately upon exhibition of the aggression. Ryken sums it up it all about the pack leader. A dog will not bite, growl or show other dominant behavior to the alpha (should be you) unless this is in high drive exercise sometimes in obedience training but mostly in protection training. This aggression is because of frustration.