Ok so this is a first for me. I'm a bit confused. Yesterday and today Brutus growled at me when I touched his head while he was eating. He had never done this before so I'm wondering if he is trying to pull rank.
Before eating today I made him lay down and wait until I ok'd him to eat, well he growled anyway. I'd like to know what other strategies I can use with him at this time. Question directed mostly to the working line folks. Thanks.
No particular reason. I just did it (I normally don't), but that does not mean he should growl or what not. If one of the kids happen to walk by and accidentally touch him, what's going to happen? I'm not ok with him growling or even biting. I don't think the *why* I touched his head is even important. It could've been any reason but that doesn't give the dog an excuse to growl.
He is almost 3 yrs old. The OB is something new because the way he acted. I didn't back off when he growled but I did stop touching him. I picked up his bowl while he was busy with a leg quarter and then I made him sit and wait until i gave it back.
Mike J Schoonbrood Webboard User Reg: 04-30-2005
Posts: 2784
Loc: Toronto, ON
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If kids touching him are a concern for you then feed the dog in his crate or the kennel. Or teach them to not mess with the dog when he eats.
Just the thought of someone touching MY face or my head while I'm eating makes me wanna smack them.
Quote:
I picked up his bowl while he was busy with a leg quarter and then I made him sit and wait until i gave it back.
The more crap you do to try and make this go away the more risk you have of making it worse. The dog is defending his food from theft, messing with him or his food when he is eating is not a good idea, and continuing to do so will make the dog continue thinking someone is trying to take his food away. I'll be waiting for your next post: "My dog bit my hand when I reached for his food bowl."
If he growls because you walk by him, or growls when you take away or reach for a toy, then thats a whole different matter. But growling because you are touching him while he eats is not an issue as far as I'm concerned. That's handler error.
Not a working dog person,
but I do some hand feeding when I see this becoming an issue. With one dog every bite he ate came directly out of my hand for weeks.
I also instituted a no bowl policy here. I was having problems with Nico deciding all bowls were hers, so if someone ate cereal and set it on the coffee table for a minute when finished and Loki walked to close to the table, Nico would growl or bluff lunge at him over the bowl.
They now eat off of paper plates or their kibble is in a pile right on the tile.
I would only do this though If I knew he was capapble of taking treats without growling or biting.
I agree with you Mike. I've always been of the thought of leaving animals (and people lol) alone when they eat. I guess it was one of those things. My things is, he had never done it before... So, why now is beyond me!
Jennifer, he can take food out of my hand without growling. He's a little rough but he does it. I'll try doing that.
Michele McAtee Webboard User Reg: 02-05-2006
Posts: 1121
Loc: Iowa City, Iowa
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In my research of this topic, I've found there seems to be a myriad of reasons why a dog will be food aggressive ranging from "hardwired" genetics to learned behavior (resulting from human errors) to age, and health issues...
With children in the house, IMO, better to err on the side of caution and feed the dog in the crate. Calm dog, calm you, ZERO risk of dog hurting your children (or you) over the food bowl. Just my honest opinion and 3cents.
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