I have worked very hard on making sure my rottweiler is not aggressive with anything especially food. We have done the exercises where I place my hand in his food bowl so he knows that we are allowed to approach him when he is eating. He has always been very accepting allowing me or anyone else to take anything he has. Now he is a year old and I notice when my hand goes near his food he crouches his head over the bowl and speeds up so that the food will be gone in seconds. He is not growling or anything when he does this, is it normal behavior or will it progress to more aggressive food guarding?
2007-09-17 12:20:48 · 16 answers · asked by *Amanda* 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
There are a lot of vets and people who believe that scarfing down food is a cause of bloat which is a very serious dog condition that may be fatal. (Click here for more info: http://www.cybercanine.com/bloat.htm)
On a more positive note, you may want to try giving your dog a treat when your hand comes near, so he'll learn to stop eating and take the treat from your hand, instead of swallowing all his food. Eventually just your hand coming towards him should have him stopping his binge eating and looking at you with smiles!
Good luck!!
2007-09-17 12:26:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've never tried putting my hand in the bowl when they're eating. I've always made sure to touch,distract, even rough house a little with my dogs when they're eating to make sure they never get food aggressive and it's worked for all 4 of my pups. I think just stay on top of it the second you notice something just correct it.... everytime
2007-09-17 12:27:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It may be the very earliest stages of food guarding. Not aggressive yet, but later it could be. One year of age is often the time these problems start up and they often escalate, reaching their peak around age 2. I'd work more on the training.
2007-09-17 12:24:35 · answer #3 · answered by ? 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's not really feasible to say whether or not this will progress to aggression, because we don't know your dog or your relationship with him.
What I'd do at this point if he were my dog, is put something really, really yummy into his bowl every time you put your hand near it. Try doing that for a while, so he associates your hand near his bowl with him getting a piece of something he really likes.
It sounds like he might be a bit concerned that you're going to take something from him, so if you're proactive and instead of taking, give him something, it'll turn around his thinking before it can become a problem.
2007-09-17 12:27:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
It could progess into a more aggressive behavior. A friend of mine had a trick that he done with his Rottweilers but I can't remember what it was. Sorry!
2007-09-17 13:50:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he's very hungry, he may just want to eat more. Try slowly moving the bowl away from him and giving him a treat for not objecting--say two pieces of hot dog. Dogs can be trained to do a lot of things with cut up hot dogs. I think if he gets a treat for cooperating with the pack leader, it'll help curb any tenseness about you touching the food. You need to deflect his attention a bit before he gets it in his head to object. Food keeps him of balance.
Cheese chunks work good too. You want it to be something tastey. You also need to make sure he hears you coming, so he's not startled.
2007-09-17 12:25:25 · answer #6 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Amanda, Bozema is right. You need to get on him about this and start serious OB training that will establish, clearly, in his mind who is in charge of the pack. You have asked a lot of good questions here and it seems that you care a great deal about this do, but, be careful that all the love and attention does not cause a problem for you with a dog that size....
2007-09-17 12:27:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
I believe you all the way. My canines know whilst their foodstuff is pit down they do no longer look to be allowed to touch it till I say so. additionally they know to drop or launch something they arise with. Having a canines that growls at you and guards his foodstuff in case you get everywhere close to it must be especially risky. I advise what if one among your infants drops something on a similar time as strolling by and the canines turns and bites the newborn bc it concept the newborn grow to be going for the foodstuff. that is definitely no longer the canines fault bc the canines grow to be ALLOWED to act like that. As for the those that say "permit the canines devour in peace". Or "how might you experience if somebody took your foodstuff?"..... that is a canines!!
2016-10-18 22:33:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may progress. It is not wise to interfere with a dog while it is feeding. The instinct to protect it's food far outweighs the love he has for anyone. I'm sure he is a loving animal in every other way, why not afford him the comfort of ''eating in peace''?
2007-09-17 12:29:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's not normal behaviour... You should practice taking everything away from him, not just food.. Bones, toys, anything and everything that he picks up.. You should be able to take from him without a problem.
2007-09-17 12:28:47 · answer #10 · answered by DP 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋