Growling over food...good or bad? - Page 1

Hi,

I have asked this question before..... I have always like the idea of getting close to my dogs and touch them or even be able to take a bone from them if I want with out any issues.

I was talking to someone that has great deal of knowledge of dogs and their training... This person pointed out the following....

- Why would you want to take the food from your dog in the first place... My answer : incase a little kid or someone comes close to the dog, dont want anyone getting hurt... Ther asnwer: Make sure you feed him when it is safe to do so, feed in the dogs run or kennel.

- You want the dog to still have that instict to defend what is theirs. (we train schutzhund)

Now I am not really sure, let my dog just eat ....or should I just teach him not to growl at me???

Would love to see your points of view.

Thanks

I cannot ever see that as a good trait for a dog to resource guard from their owner.  Why would I want to take something from my dog?  Because nothing belongs to my dog!  It's a problem in the relationship.  I have 2 dogs here that will be fine with me, but will resource guard to everyone else.  That is understandable to me, because those people do not work with the dog.  If I work with my dog, and my dog defers to me as the leader, why would he guard anything from me?  I am not another dog, I am not on his level.  Another practical reason- dogs get things that they can't have.  What if your dog gets, say, a tasty piece of garbage that will make him sick, or a cooked bone, that needs to be taken away.  However, if you raise a puppy by constantly taking things from them, then you are setting yourself up to make a resource guarder.  You can start when a puppy is young by approaching their food bowl with a treat to add to it, and by holding the bowl while they eat.

I won't tollerate it from my dogs.



>You want the dog to still have that instict to defend what is theirs.

Yes... from -other!- people.

Last time I checked it wasn't the owner trying to remove the possession during item guarding, it was the decoy. I don't care if the dog keeps the decoy away tooth and nail, but I most definately expect to be able to retrieve my item without an issue. Sure training there's training a stand-down command and all, but if the dog doesn't trust me enough to let me take something from him without issue, it's going to affect other things in our working relationship as well; breaking fuss, refusing to out...

I don't care if my dog is possessive over food with someone outside of the household. However, anyone in my household should be able to take something from the dog, and not worry about getting lit up. It's the same with the dogs barking at strangers -- even if they're friends of mine the dog hasn't met yet. I don't mind as long as they hush when I tell them to, but I certainly would not tollerate being lunged and growled at by my own dogs every time I went to go inside the house, their runs, etc.

My dogs never ever growl at me, I don't allow it, they must respect me, and I respect them back, by not teasing them at meal times, like it's a serious time for the dog, but his meal is my meal and can be taken away at anytime.

You don't want your dog growling at you, cause that will lead to him biting you, and what if your dog stole a turkey or chicken carcass out of the trash and you needed to take it away, that's when you need your dog to leave-it.

 I never let my dogs growl or show any agression towards me or anyone in my house. I start them as young puppies, feeding them putting my hand in the bowl while they are eating, etc... I'm not that big into Sch training but the last time I titled a dog there was no food guarding in the routine. My question to you is this just starting?, and how old is your dog? I suggest you nip this in the bud asap.

I agree w/ everyone....that needs to be nipped in a butt right away...

after we added another dog to our pack my male became more food protective  and within a week he growled at me when i ran my fingers on his back while he was eating....that is in no shape or form is acceptable...he can protect his food from other dogs, other people but not from the owner or immediate family...

so for a week after that i would touch him, pet him, hold my hand over his bowl, if he growled i would take away his food and he would only eat from my hand....that fixed the problem right up...he still growls at the puppy when she comes around but he backs away from the food as soon as I put my hand on his bowl....

grrrrrr...double post..

When I got my puppy last year I was concerned with for aggression. So for the 1st week I fed out of my hand so she would associate eating and my hands. Also had my daughter feed her that way. It worked I can take her food or make her stop eating to allow me to take it in case eating something harmful. But this kinda backfired. She went thru a faze that she wouldnt eat if I wasnt standing next to her food or she would just knock the bowl over and eat from the ground. Luckily all that stopped when I switched from kibble to raw. But she is not a serious dog. Am I wrong in guessing that this is more of an issue with  working dogs or dogs used for sch./ dog sport? 
Reggie

I guess there are no two opinions on this -
you are your dog's boss - you can take away and give to your dog to your liking. If your dog doesn't respect that and growls, you are not your dog's boss.
It is necessary to be able to take anything away from your dog. It is important in Schutzhund as in any other sport.
If your dog doesn't respect you entirely as his/her leader, then why bother defending you?
In Schutzhund,  your dog should protect you because you are your dog's most important person (the person that owns the food and provides shelter).
You are not owned by your dog, you own the dog.

My dog only growled at me over a rawhide, not once but twice.  I dealt with her strongly the first time and very strongly and loudly the 2nd time.  (It happened back to back over the same dame bone  Guess she didn't believe me the first time).  If I come close to her bowl now she will vacate the area.  She understands that I own it and I can take it away if I choose.  No longer any doubt in her mind.  Watch for posturing too.  Those shoulders hunch up and she tenses up, stops chewing etc., time for a lesson in "Who's da boss"!  No way should you put up with that behavior.