T R A I N I N G
The A- Word
Dealing with Food Aggression WRITTEN BY: CHELSEA SALERNO COPY EDITOR
Aggression is not a word people like to use when referring to their beloved family pet and luckily most household dogs have little to no aggressive tendencies, but when they do, it’s often food related. Food aggression is a form of resource guarding in which a dog becomes very defensive when eating, using threats to force others away. It can be directed towards other animals, humans, or both. It is a normal behavior in the wild but can present some serious problems when exhibited by domesticated dogs. Luckily, there are a few ways to address aggressive nature as well as ways to prevent it from developing in the first place. The first thing we need to know to prevent aggressive food behavior is understanding how it is established in the first place. A lot of researchers in canine evolution and behavior say that dogs are hardwired to be protective of every meal and most food aggressive dogs develop this behavior in puppyhood, especially if they experience strong competition for food. This often occurs when breeders feed puppies from one large communal pan, and the puppy who manages to eat the most will grow the quickest and become the strongest. If a breeder is not observant, this situation can deteriorate into one or more puppies monopolizing most of the food and a history of being rewarded for aggressive behavior can become firmly established. Likewise, free-roaming and stray dogs exhibit this type of behavior because they have to search for their food and they never know if they’ll have enough. As a result, they may defend food with the vigor of a dog whose life depends on it. This food defense may then just become a habit whether the dog is hungry or not. As a result, many shelter dogs exhibit resource aggressive behaviors but luckily for both us and them, there are steps that can be taken to correct these behaviors.
“Hand feeding is another exercise that may help with your pup’s aggressive behaviors. This is especially effective in puppies.” If your dog is exhibiting aggressive behaviors while eating, it’s important to rule out any medical problems that could cause anxiety or pain when your dog is eating so the first step in fixing this issue is to bring your dog to the vet! Talk to them about the food aggressive behavior and let the doctor physically examine your dog for any medical conditions might be causing this. Does your dog have poor eyesight and therefore feels more threatened when eating because they cannot see their surroundings? Does your dog have an infected tooth or dental issues that cause pain while eating? Dogs that are in pain or feel uncomfortable are much more inclined to be defensive or overreact when approached. A vet can diagnose or rule out these problems as the cause of your dogs aggressive nature so you can move on to step number two: training! There are several ways to train a dog to no longer exhibit food aggressive behaviors. Sometimes, desensitizing your dog to the presence of people and other dogs while they’re eating is enough to curb the behavior. This can be done by remaining near your dog while they’re eating from anywhere from 3 to 30 yards away. Watch your pup’s body language carefully, if their hackles are raised or they start growling and baring their teeth, you are too close to their threshold of tolerance. Take it slow and after a week you should be able to move closer. Try going about your business while moving closer and closer so you can gauge their tolerance of your proximity while eating. If this doesn’t work after two weeks and you are still unable to approach within 3 yards of your dog without them tensing up or growling, it is time to explore other options. Hand feeding is another exercise that may help with your pup’s aggressive behaviors. This is especially effective in puppies. Sit with your dog and give them kibble one bite at a time in an open palm. During hand-fed meals, speak pleasantly to your dog and stroke them while you offer food with your other hand. After a few meals like this, place your dog’s bowl on the floor and as they eat their regular chow, periodically reach down to drop in a treat. If you do
