Food aggressive
Has anyone ever had a dog that is aggressive to you over his food bowl? I know a dog that's aggressive to his owner anywhere near his food dish right after you put it down. Other wise he is a big silly easy going dog. I recommended she hold the bowl with both hands while he eats and not put it down so he knows everything belongs/comes from you. That has worked but she still can't put it down and she doesn't want to hold his bowl forever. She is actually afraid of geting bitten. And I don't want to dog sit him...he's one year old.
Comments
Bella used to "resource guard her kibble" she wasn't too intense where she would growl for coming int the room or anything she would eat her food faster if someone went in room she ate in. When Dink Died she is doing better now. I think she was stressed because Dink would hang around while eating and well I can't police my parent's dogs all the time.
Saya eats raw so she doesn't bug Bella when eating.
Here's a book that might be of help it's on working with resource guarding.
http://www.amazon.com/Mine-Practical-Guide-Resource-Guarding/dp/0970562942/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328913609&sr=8-3
Bella still resource guards raw, but not too bad she used to growl when I was close to her, but I just sat on chair close so I could monitor her and eventually she stopped being tense.
If I give her big item that is too big to eat it all in one meal I'll have to tell her to drop it and then leave it then tell her to sit once she sits she gets either a dog treat, bit of boneless meat, or tiny bit of liver for being good.
For kibble hand feeding might help if strapped for time could hand feed for a bit then put rest in the bowl.
Another option fill measuring cup how much dog eats for the meal put little bit in the bowl let dog eat it when he is done have him sit add a bit more and do it each time?
If he's around other dogs don't feed him with dogs around feed him in another room some dogs get too nervous when other dogs are near their food.
Sorry if not much help. Bella is still a work in progress, but she is better with her kibble.
I hope the book helps.
I second the suggestion of hand feeding to help.
Your friend might also want to work on the 'leave it', 'take it', and 'trade' commands. The 'trade' command is very helpful with resource guarding because you teach the dog that if they give it to you, you will give them something even better in return. Your friend will obviously need to start working on these command with very low valued items (something that he does not currently guard), such as toys or low value treats. Then she will work her way up to more valued items and eventually to his dinner.
There are good ideas in there to train it away. The big thing is don't do it suddenly and to be very slow in the training.
Once he starts to eat, that's that, it's his. No need to bug him. I certainly don't like people trying to eat off my plate either, and it's part of a dog's instincts to guard his food, so it's just a natural behavior to them. They need to learn that they don't have to guard their food from you, and they can do that through trust. Once they know you aren't going to take it away, they'll be fine with you around while they eat.
Hope things get fixed soon.