A few years ago i got a new puppy. He is nice to everyone, and loves to play. Whenever i feed him if anyone is within 20 feet of him he growls and snarls his teeth. He has never gone a day without food, and no one has ever taken food from him. Is there anyway i can get him to stop doing this? Sometimes if i feed him outside i can hear him growling and there isn't even anyone out there.
2007-08-11 12:10:46 · 16 answers · asked by chris l 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Contact a local trainer to help you deal with this severe and dangerous food aggression issue.
2007-08-11 12:15:09 · answer #1 · answered by cms121979 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Your dog has developed food aggression. He needs to be socialized with other dogs and people. You need to take his dish away from him while he is eating. (careful, you may be bitten) When he growls or snaps at you, or others, use your hand like a mouth and "bite" him on the neck. this is how his mother would discipline him. Also say no in an assertive voice. Don't yell, just be assertive. Don't get upset, stay calm but let him know you are the leader of the pack and it is not OK for him to growl at you. For more complete information go to CesarMillan.com or get his latest book.
2007-08-11 12:20:25 · answer #2 · answered by corgiesrule 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In order to have a well behaved dog you need to let him know that he isnt the leader of the pack.I have a 10yr old Rotweiler which I've had since she was 3 mons old, my 5yr old son will fill her food bowl and she wont start to eat until he tells her to. You could get his favorite treat or food and set it next to you and if he tries to take it , tell him no or make a loud noise to get his attention on you, make him wate atliest 5 to 10 mins before you tell him that its ok to get it. He will eventually realize that you are his owner and not the other way around. I would also suggest a dog trainer. If he is growling at people when he is eating or even when no one is around while he is eating he may have a compulsive behavior that needs to be addressed, he could eventually bite or nip at someone and I'm sure you dont want that to happen.
2007-08-11 12:35:16 · answer #3 · answered by LILAC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dog feels that his food is his "territory" or he needs to protect it. first of all, make sure that no one is ever near him while he feeds untill this problem can be solved, It would be bad if someone got too close and he bit them.
Try holding his bowl in your lap and making him eat the food that way. he won't want to at first but he will get hungry and give in. After you have done this a few times he should be more used to people being near him when he eats.
2007-08-11 12:16:45 · answer #4 · answered by DanceDanceRevolutionRocks! 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i have a good idea !!! okay feed him a treat with a freind around okay if he growls give your freind a treat and get him to feed him a treat this should work after a couple weeks then he will be thinking why would i growl at the people that are gonna give me more treats ?
2007-08-11 12:23:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is the problem....no one has ever taken food from him. You should always be able to take ANYTHING from the mouth or bowl of your dog. When he first growled and you backed away, and told him it was OK, he was reinforced that this was OK behavior.
Seek help from a professional dog trainer.
2007-08-11 12:14:55 · answer #6 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
You should be teaching him that sometimes food gets taken away.. You get it back, but hey, if I feel like taking away your food, your bone, your toy or anything else... I am going to do it no matter what you think about it.. Don't allow a dog to possess anything. Teach him that nothing actually belongs to him.. everything is yours and you are sharing it.. but could at any time take it back.
2007-08-11 12:17:36 · answer #7 · answered by DP 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This dog probably doesn't want anyone stealing his food. When he growls say stop and then give him like a treat or his favorite food. Then eventually he might learn not to growl.
2007-08-11 12:15:30 · answer #8 · answered by mprc9 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you give the dog the response he wants, and you back away, it's going to reinforce the bad behavior. Best bet is to get to your local petstore that has an onsite trainer (PetSmart). They're more than happy to help and it shouldn't cost a thing for them to get you some quick answers.
2007-08-11 12:25:50 · answer #9 · answered by Tre 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My dog does it to you can't stop it it's just something they do they just want to be left alone when they eat that's their time and they just need to be left alone.So don't mess with with your dog and then after he eats then you can do what ever you want with him. Because then he/she will have fuel to play with you.if you can hear him outside and nobodies out there then that's probably just does it so if any body gets ready to mess with him .
2007-08-11 12:30:55 · answer #10 · answered by passmore94 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋