QA 16 Ticket #22652

I think many well intentioned dog owners actually create a problem by working on this. I feed my dogs in their crates from day 1 and then call them out to me, feed them a food reward and then remove the bowl when the dog is not in the same space as the bowl. I don't see any reason to bother a dog while they are eating, once I give them the bowl, I leave them alone. Because I teach them from day one to leave the bowl and come to me for a food reward, the bowl itself isn't valuable anymore. Over time my dogs trust me not to bug them and in the event I would need to take the bowl we have a great history of fairness (in the dog's view) and it's a non event.

If he is still licking his bowl, he's not done with it. My dogs and I need trust and I show them that once I give them their food bowl, I'm not going to hover or test them. I know some people will disagree but I've lived with and raised a lot of very tough and possessive dogs over the years and never have had a problem with resource guarding. Something good will always be given from my hand for coming to me when I ask and all of them willingly leave their bowl.

A fair leader doesn't give food to his partner and then hover. If you think about how you would feel if someone did that to you when you were eating you may growl or grumble too.