This is called food aggression, and it's very common, and very treatable.
Put him on a strict food schedule. 2 meals a day, and nothing else.
When you go to put the food down on the floor for him, make him sit and wait. Have someone hold him on a leash if you have to. He doesn't eat until he's sitting quietly. If he lunges for the bowl when you go to put it down, start over. He sits and waits until the food is on the floor AND you give the command (permission) to eat it.
He has to earn any treats and "chewies". Make him sit and wait. NO GRABBING TREATS. Hold your hand flat and put the treat on it. He should gently lap it off AFTER YOU GIVE PERMISSION.
When he's chewing on rawhide, make him give it to you.
Randomly tell him "drop it", and take it from him.
The leash will be necessary for this.
Praise him lavishly, and give it back. You should do this frequently, and lengthen the time you withhold the chew.
EDIT:
DO NOT EVER STICK YOUR HANDS INTO HIS BOWL WHILE HE'S EATING!!!
Put your scent on the food before you give it to him if you want.
Use a command to take the food from him (like I mention with the chews).
Otherwise, you'll be bitten.
2007-10-28 16:25:31
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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You have the right basic idea, but there's a lot of subtle tricks to go with it. Dogs are possessive about food. I've known many that growl to protect dinner. I have two suggestions.
1. When you feed him, put the food on the floor but restrain him - physically if necessary, but using just words and hand signals is better - from eating until you give him permission. I mix my dogs' food and set it on the floor in front of them, then make them work for it. Yesterday I made them leave the food, follow me upstairs, ground in my quarters and stay there when I went back down. After a few minutes I gave them the 'Good Dog'. Only then could they come downstairs and eat. Work up to longer and longer delays. Start at ten or so seconds and eventually get to a couple of minutes.
2. If the dog growls at you when he's eating, take his food away. The hand wrapped in towels might be a good idea at first and a VERY stern 'NO!' is also a good idea. Put it up on the counter or somewhere he can see it. Then pet him until he's paying attention to you and return the food, restraining him until you give him permission to eat. I wouldn't do this more than twice at one mealtime.
The point you are making with the dog is that you are the Alpha and you control the food. It's a natural pack instinct for dogs, so it shouldn't take too long for him to learn. Be careful, kind and, above all, patient. Also, establish a permission word and use it religiously. I use 'Good Dog' but any word will work as long as it's special. Just don't use a common word like 'OK' that might slip out before you intend it to. Good luck!
2007-10-28 23:38:36
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answer #2
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answered by Christopher C 3
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At six months, he's still a puppy, but he needs to learn never to bite people. (Don't worry; if you are being assaulted, he will protect you in spite of this training; a dog knows real aggression when he sees it.)
You need a good obedience class so you can learn to control him in a positive, friendly manner; but you can become more stern sometimes if needed.
I'd recommend having him on a leash and collar when he eats. Then if he growls at you, do some regular obedience training (sit, heel, stay, whatever) for a few minutes. He should enjoy the training. You can even give him treats when he obeys. Then let him finish eating. Whenever he acts inappropriately aggressive, say NO and then use the leash and collar to do some obedience training. At this age you shouldn't have to punish him much if at all. Just divert him into obedience when he misbehaves.
Handle him a lot, place your hand over his snout (this is a sign of dominance that can be done in a friendly way), open his mouth, get him to let you handle his feet and toes, etc. Take him for walks so he will get used to seeing strangers too.
2007-10-28 23:29:29
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answer #3
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answered by The First Dragon 7
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You need to show him now that you are the boss in your house. Get him on a lead and make sure he has plenty of exercise everyday. With my Boxers I always controlled the food it is a big thing. I had a male that I had to feed on a lead for about 6 mo. I would give him food then take it away and return it I had him on a lead for the control. He challenged me several times but I did not back down, so he did. Use your lead for control. Good Luck, if this does not work for you find a method that does you can not let this go unchecked without paying later.
2007-10-28 23:29:54
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answer #4
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answered by h2o_ maker 3
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I have a Dogue de Bordeaux, she is a typical aggressive molossoid like your rotti. When he growls at you, you should take him by the scruff and put him on his back while you are on top looking straight into his eyes. When you see dogs fight for dominance this is what the Alpha dog will try to accomplish. Do this until he looks away and make sure he knows you are mad at him. Then you need to "send him away from the pack" put him in the kitchen, or a bathroom where he is isolated from the pack. This is a double whammy as he will not want to be away from his pack or initiate anything with its leader.
I know I will get thumbs down from the shelter/obedience class NAZIS you see so often on Yahoo answers. This is how its done in the wild and he will respond as most on yahoo answers don't have molosser dogs like me that to relate. (they just don't understand why their beagle doesn't do this but yours does)
you must assert yourself as the dominant member of the pack, if you don't your dog will not respect you and it will be prone to fighting other dogs and being aggressive to other people.
2007-10-29 00:05:50
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answer #5
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answered by Ancient Warrior DogueDe Bordeaux 5
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You need to make him WORK for his food!! Don't feed him until he's perfectly calm-submissive. He should be sitting/laying, and looking you in the eye. Then, put a couple kibbles in his dish. Then, after he's done, make him calm/submissive again, and add more kibble. It takes a while to feed, but it may stop the aggression in the long run. You should look into Cesar Millan's show on Discovery Channel, and consult a trainer who will help you to become top dog.
Also, take him for a long, 30-45 minute walk before mealtimes, and maybe add a bookbag so he feels like he's working for you. Rotties and Shepherds do best with a job.. and if it's carting around water bottles on your walks, it will help to fufill his instincts. You might also want to try herding, or carting. I personally cart with my 2 pit bulls every morning, and they pull me all over the park! It's fun for all, and it will help make them calmer, more balanced dogs in the end! Good luck!
2007-10-28 23:22:51
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answer #6
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answered by Zephyr is the Shiznik 4
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You can teach your dog to bite this way and you're right that you'll only have more trouble down the road. It's not uncommon for dogs to guard their food. A good way to teach a dog not to guard (there's a good book called MINE!) is to offer something better in exchange for what they're guarding. So you offer it some roasted chicken in exchange for giving up his food bowl or being handled. And the dog always gets back what he gave up. Make it a game. I touch you, you get a better treat than what you're eating. You let me take your food and you get a really good treat AND you get your food back. You want your dog to be happy to let you near his food, not just tolerate you. You can bully a dog into this, but then when someone else inadvertantly does it, they get bit.
www.fearfuldogs.com
2007-10-29 15:22:36
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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STOP what ur doing NOW!!!! Ur method is wrong, the best way to stop this from happening is by giving him his food, and putting your hand in his bowl whilst he's eating.
This is a habbit that most dogs get, but if you dont act before the dog is 12 months, it is a VERY hard habbit to quit. It is called "Food Possesion"
This worked with my pup, and probably will with ur pup 2. do this at every feed for 2 weeks, if there is no difference in his attitude, take the pup to the breeder or shop you bought him from.
Hope it works 4 u,
Luke.
2007-10-28 23:20:28
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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Have you had your dog neutered and have you taken it to obedience training? Your plan sounds like a way to get bitten. The way to teach your dog who is boss is to train it properly, starting with a basic obedience class and going on to one-on-one work with a trainer if the problem does not resolve.
Do it now - growling is the first sign of aggression - it will escalate as your dog gets older if you don't address it properly. Get professional training help.
2007-10-28 23:23:39
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answer #9
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answered by ? 7
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You dont need a trainer like alot of these nuts say. Remember ITS YOUR FOOD!!!! YOU ARE LETTING HIM EAT!!! Every day, every single time you feed him put the food down but do not let him near it untill you say he can. Have him sit and stay for 5 minutes or so every single time you feed him. Also randomly force him away from the food. DO NOT take his bowl, make him get away from the bowl. ITS YOUR FOOD remember that. You are ALOWING him to eat.
2007-10-29 13:04:52
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answer #10
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answered by cja752003 3
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