My 7 month old Rottweiler guards her food. How can I fix that?
2006-11-01 08:46:02 · 13 answers · asked by jacquelineleeca 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
If the behavior hasn't gotten too bad then you could try to take the food away and reward him/her if it doesn't growl. With my puppy, a 4 month american bulldog, we stick our fingers in the food bowl with her while shes eating, take her bones away, and get in front of her while she's eating and reward her for not growling. It's been working pretty well with her so far, best of luck!
2006-11-01 08:50:46 · answer #1 · answered by kellybean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to be very careful when working on this. Doing the wrong thing can make the problem worse.
As others have said, do not leave food available to her all the time. Give her two meals a day. Have her work for each meal - she should sit, or lie down, or do a trick for you.
Hand feeding can be beneficial. Also, frequently walk by her when she is eating and toss a piece of cheese, hot dog, or some other yummy treat to her, getting it as close to the bowl as you can. Don't worry about what she is doing. You will not be rewarding her if she is growling, you are setting up the precedent that your presence while she is eating causes good stuff to appear.
After doing this for four or five days, walk a bit closer to her and do the same exercise. After a couple more days, walk more slowly. When you can tell that she is not tense with this, stand a few feet away from the bowl and toss one or two treats to her.
A few days later, try asking her to sit while you stand near the bowl. If she does, praise her and toss the treats to her and walk away. If she doesn't she wasn't ready for this yet. Repeat the previous step for a few more meals, perhaps using a better treat. Try asking her to sit in the midst of eating later.
As she gets more comfortable you can move a bit closer to her while she eats and eventually try to touch her. Always follow up your presence with something yummy.
Don't correct her for growling or guarding her food. Many dogs just learn to not give signals; they don't learn to be less apprehensive.
2006-11-01 17:12:31 · answer #2 · answered by melissa k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start out slowly, be patient and consistent. Don't yell or act hostile. Food guarding is a natural instinct in dogs, but it MUST be modified for any dog who lives in a household with humans. Anyone who feels it is OK for their dog to snarl or growl when someone approaches the dish is a person who is willing for their dog to bite someone.
Begin by hand feeding her. Hold the bowl while she is eating. Don't put it down in the first place! Sit in a chair and hold it at a level where she can reach it and comfortably eat. Talk to her while she is eating, letting her know that she is being good...if she IS being good. If she shows hostility, simply stand up, lifting the dish out of her reach. Wait 5 minutes and try again.
After a week of doing this, put the dish back on the ground again for her to eat. While she is eating, starting at her rump, move forward, petting her...as long as she is being good. If she starts to stiffen as you move forward, immediately stop petting her for this time. Each time you pet, you should be able to go further forward on her until she lets you pet her ears while she chews.
When you can touch her ears, start dropping tiny tidbits of something better than her kibble into the dish. Like hot dogs, bits of leftover meat from your own meal. She will learn that you approaching her dish is a GOOD thing!
Then, you should be able to start picking up the bowl from under her, quickly dropping in a morsel or two of the 'good stuff' and giving her the dish back.
You also need to get some help in obedience training for your girl. She is a very large, dominant breed and needs an owner who is able to control her. A good trainer will instruct you on the proper way you should train her.
2006-11-01 17:12:18 · answer #3 · answered by Lori R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rottweilers are very smart. You need to get this pup some good training, and the sooner the better. You do not need to be harsh about it, just firm.
I would suggest you take a look at Caesar Milan - he is on the National Geographic channel with his show called the "Dog Whisperer". He has great results. He can teach you how to SAFELY become the leader of the pack, and teach your dog to look to you for direction.
2006-11-01 16:51:37 · answer #4 · answered by Hurricane 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if you trust her... you need to get into the habit of taking her food from her. IF YOU THINK SHE WILL BITE start with a broom handle. push the food bowl away from her, or pull it towards you.
Do this randomly, when she is eating. When she becomes OK with that, progress to using your foot to move the bowl while she is guarding or eating. If you think she will bite - wear SOLID shoes - like steel toed boots, hiking boots... wrap your leg with a pillow in case she does bite. once she becomes ok with that, start doing it with your hand.
When she LETS you get near her or her bowl without growling or anything - PRAISE HER, PET HER, make a big deal out of it and give the food back. practice petting her while she eats.
If the growls - you can reprimand her, but don't take the food away - this is what she fears and why she is growling. The praise for when she does it right is the better of the two here.
2006-11-01 17:28:42 · answer #5 · answered by KB 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do you free feed her, or do you feed her at a certain time everyday?
She needs to understand that YOU are the giver (and taker back-if needed) of her food.
Place her EMPTY food bowl on the floor. Give her one or two pieces of dry food. Let her eat it. Pick up her bowl when she is done. Put one or two more pieces in her bowl. Put the bowl down. Let her eat it. If you do this enough along with reprimanding if she growls she should learn.
Note: Watch your timing to make sure that IF she growls you do not reward her with food.
I am currently fostering a part Dalmatian part Pitbull female who growled at me after I went to take away a pig ear I had given her. I yelled at her until she dropped it and then proceeded to take it away. She learned very quickly that I reserved the right to giveth AND taketh away!
Good luck!
2006-11-01 16:58:06 · answer #6 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Dog Whisperer has a website that you might want to check out http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/tips/index.php
It is very informative. He did a show about a Dalmatian that was food aggressive and he was great and the owners don't have a problem with it anymore.
Good luck
2006-11-02 22:48:46 · answer #7 · answered by MANDYLBH 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
set up a feeding schedule and stick to it.
make your dog earn his food don't just give it to him.
take him on walks more often to burn off that excess energy.
i make my lab sit, stay, and wait until i say he can have the food,
this disciplins him and i'm showing who is pack leader. be very consistant. if you show fear the dog sees weakness and will not see you as a pack leader. just take the food away if he is guarding it, don't look at him, just take it away.
make him stay, if he doesn't know stay enroll him in an obedience class now.when he has to earn his food then your taking away
the guarding of the food behavior.
2006-11-01 17:23:41 · answer #8 · answered by caesarsmom2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your dog has guarding issues, I would seek the help of a reputable dog trainer now, as these problems can sometimes get worse over time, and your dog will get bigger with time and it could turn into a big issue.
2006-11-01 17:34:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest get a big stick then get a rubber glove fill it so its solid and when your pup eats pat her with it around the head and mouth save your own hand but with patience and doing this with the fake hand she should stop guarding when she realises no one is going to take her food
2006-11-02 05:56:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋