My Golden Retriever is very aggressive around its food bowl. It bit me the other day when it ran into the dog house and I reached in to get it. What can I do?

Question

Dear Leerburg Kennels:

    I have been searching the internet for information to help me with a tough decision. It was refreshing to find a site that was realistic and practical to those who submitted questions. Furthermore, I was very pleased that help was available from people so knowledgeable.

    I have a 2 1/2 year old female (spayed) golden retriever that my family got as a puppy after our 9 year old Sharpei died (the Sharpei was a perfect dog in many respects). The golden has always been fearful of anyone entering the home or the yard. She would cower or run and hide. About a year ago, I dropped something that ended by her food bowl. When I reached to pick it up she growled and snapped at me. This brought swift and forceful correction as well as the removal of the food. We worked with her on this issue, and things seemed in check. Just recently, the problem came back. We have moved to a rental house while a new house we are buying is being finished. So, she is living with friends in a large outdoor run.

    While pulling her by the choke chain to bring her to get sprayed for flies, she snapped at me. This brought swift correction across the muzzle, at which point she retreated to the dog house. I reached in to grab the collar and now have three large holes in my right hand. The next day at feeding time, she growled and bared her teeth at my wife who was putting food in her bowl. My wife, standing back while the dog ate swatted a mosquito on her leg and the dog again was aggressive with growling and baring the teeth. The dog is scared of many things and aggressive at the same time.

    In reading, it has become clear that this dog is submissive in many ways but seeking dominance in many others. She nuzzles you while reading the paper. Paws at you incessantly, sits on your feet, etc.

    I have two small children and am not sure I will ever trust this dog. I think she may in fact have a screw loose. I don't know if I should work to rehabilitate her or if I should put her down. Any advice would be welcomed.

    Thanks,
Tim

Accepted Answer

The dog is a fear biter. She is not a dominant dog. What you see as dominance is in reality a need for security.

Your choice is to put the dog to sleep or train the dog. By training I mean serious obedience training with a prong collar and a sound foundation of step by step training. If you would like to learn more about the principles of obedience training a dog, read the description for my Basic Dog Obedience video. You will probably find that you have not had the full picture on the steps of training a dog must go through before it can be considered fully trained. You can also read why I am not a fan of taking an untrained dog to obedience classes.

As far as the issue of food and the dog biting you when you reached in the house - that's a handler mistake. If I have a dog that is aggressive around food I do not make an issue of it. What is the point? Feed the dog in a secure location. Twenty minutes after you put the food down - call the dog away from the food bowl. Put the dog someplace and pick up the dog bowl. If the dog does not eat - tough - pick it up - it will eat tomorrow.

Most fear biters that feel stressed, (like this dog was when it knew it was in trouble when it went into the dog house), are going to bite you because they are afraid.