How do I deal with my dog's food aggression?

Question

I have a Great Pyrenees nearing five years old, and he's had problems with food since he was a puppy. These problems were revolved around his "obsession" with food. Because of his size, he can eat nearly anything in no time at all, and he will do such things as jumping on our grill when we're cooking to steal food off of it. These behaviors are ones we have learned to deal with, but our town has had problems with dog aggression. We overlooked the development of food aggression with him as a puppy and never worked against it, and now he can't let anyone near his food. He growls and sometimes snaps at people who go near him when he is eating, and he refuses to eat anywhere where he is not alone at the fear of someone taking his food away. I am scared that this could lead to him doing something worse sometime. What can I do now to help him?

Answer 1

KJ is right...I had to do this with a second-hand Rottweiler I got for weeks. I do want to add: Start with filling the bowl, taking it & sitting on a chair or couch (so your face is above the dog - for safety & establishing dominance reasons). Put the bowl in your lap, and take out a piece of food, covering the bowl with your other hand. Offer the dog the back of your hand, then TURN it to let him get the food (so he learns not to grab, that you have the control). When he is calmly taking the food, you can start to give it to him with your hand up. You must not be tense or jumpy when doing this. This does take a while, and you may see some regression & have to repeat the procedure a few times over the next few months, but it will work.

I also suggest obedience classes to further establish you as the master. Good luck!

Answer 2

Well, quit letting him rule the household. You need to collectively become the "boss dog", the pack leaders if you will. You must own the food and grant him permission to eat it only after he is aware of the fact. You've spoiled him rotten but it's not too late for old dogs to learn new tricks. In the dog world the neck area is where the conquering takes place. Hold him down by the neck until he becomes "calm submissive". Begin leash training as well and limit feeding amounts and times to a regulated schedule and consistent area which is part of his sleeping area. I have many dogs and they understand that I "own" the feed dish and a fly-swatter is on the way as a reminder if need be that they are not the boss dog. The smaller ones or less agressive ones are safer knowing this and I don't have to worry about their demise at the feed dish because the main lesson was taught long ago. One dog should be no big deal if training is consistent with all parties involved and no one sneaking treats to him.

Answer 3

I had a friend who's dog was the same way. She took the bowl away and forced the dog to eat out of her hand. His ENTIRE meal. It took a lot of her time (a couple weeks of sitting on the floor with the dog at feeding time) but she has no more aggression problems and is able to allow the dog to eat out of the bowl again.

You don't mention if there are other animals in the house.

Answer 4

Boy, you have a problem.

Get a copy of Mine! A guide to resource guarding in dogs by Jean Donaldson

http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB740

Second, work on establishing yourself as leader. Start the Nothing In Life Is Free program.

http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm
http://www.goof.com/~pmurphy/NILIF.html

Other good articles:
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/attitude.html
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/probtips.html
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/leadership.html
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/weigh.html

Edit: Happy Traveller, do you know how BIG a Pyrenees is? Holding an aggressive one by the neck to try to make it submit is a good way to get badly bitten.

Answer 5

The problem is that you are not his leader. He is yours. You've got to establish the control when giving him his food. Now, like above me my buddy cured his dogs food aggression by breaking a 2x4 on the dogs head.

Myself, I place the bowl down in front of me and slowly add food keeping the dog away and don't let him eat until he is submissive to my will. Remember it's a dog, don't humanize it. It really is that dumb and ANYONE who says oh my doggie is smart it makes me breakfast, is now and shall always remain an idiot.

Answer 6

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/SIjnC

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.

Answer 7

i have a husky pup doing the same thing..when i see the growling start I say hey or no in a stern voice to get her attention and give a tap on her neck to get her to snap out of it..if I have to do this more than twice I take her food away and hold her back and she has to watch everyone else eat..(other dogs and pups) and she will only get her food back when she is submissive to everyone around her

Answer 8

follow the hand feeding.

For mine, because I brought him to training classes. I will always order him to sit and wait, if I want to touch his bowl and add something to his food. Which he is willing, because I always add something more delicious.

I always made sure that he sit and do some tricks (like shaking hands or roll over) before feeding him.

But I think you really has a dominance problem.

Painless ways to be pack leader.

Feed your dog only after you and your family finish eating.

Never allow him to exit the door/gate before you and your family.

He is never to get/or lay down in your way. Command him to move aside.

Can only think of these few.

Answer 9

I really agree with the food out of hand method. The key here is you becoming the leader. Try also making your dog "earn" the food by being calm and doing a trick. Good luck. It takes patience.

Answer 10

Hi from another dog person. Here is the link I think you need.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/tips/foodphilosophy01.php

You can pick up a Cesar Milan DVD (3 episodes) for under $10. That's how we got hooked. We don't get the television show on our cable network, after we watched the DVD we ran out and got the first season on DVD. If you would like to email me I would even be happy to send you our original DVD.

Hope that helps!

Jen