I wouldn't even do that with our mini-dachshund, all of 9 pounds, half a jaw, and very few teeth. I'd expect one of his remaining teeth would end up stuck in my nose.

Oh and will someone educate me? What the heck is a "CC?"

In my opinion there is no reason for a dog to react this way to a person. Under any circumstance. Ever.
Now, that being said. I am not blaming the dog. This in my opinion is a handler error. One that has gone unnoticed for a while and did not get a reaction until someone got bitten.
This is true for most cases. Over time there are warning sings that go unnoticed until something bad enough happens that it disrupts daily life.

In my opinion, I have control over everything in my house at all times. I own the dog and everything the dog owns is mine first. If I choose to take something away from the dog at any time that is my right as the alfa, if I choose to share then I share, but under my rules.

This does not change my dogs drives, or behavior. They still preform, do protection ext ext. This just simply gives the dog a place in the pack. The dog also just gets to be a dog most of the time, but has guidelines, not unlike all social animals that live in a group order.

But, like I said before. Food or not, this is 100% unacceptable behavior in my house. The dog lives with you, not the other way around. You reserve the right to take what ever, when ever you want from the dog.

There are some write ups on this site that will help you, along with some videos that will help you get over this. If unchecked, you can probably bet it will happen again, or get worse.

Just my opinions.

 Quote: rob abel

I wouldn't even do that with our mini-dachshund, all of 9 pounds, half a jaw, and very few teeth. I'd expect one of his remaining teeth would end up stuck in my nose.

Oh and will someone educate me? What the heck is a "CC?"

When I saw CC I though Cain Corso but I could be wrong.

Ah - thanks Dave - that's probably it. Holy smokes, playing smoochie smoochie with a CC eating a marrow bone? Ignoring a growl? Hope she's cute, that's all I can say.

My face / my dogs, they would do absolutely nothing. Except maybe a lick. His dog / his girlfriend's face / that particular situation? Exactly what happened above.

If this had zero to do with rank - the owner would state he has the same problem with this dog (which he stated he does not).

AGAIN: I'm not advocating sticking one's mug near a dog's face while eating.. I think we're getting fuzzy on the face near the dog incident vs. simply being able to out / take an object - food or otherwise - from your dog at any given time.

Edited by Craig Cirelli (07/25/2010 01:43 PM)
Edit reason: additional comments

Before we get our collective underpants in a bunch. Not everyone is dog savvy. I know usually on a bi weekly basis I'm having to remind my sisters kid that she should not hug the dog, to get their face out of the dogs face, and to leave the dog alone if it's sleeping.

In this case I think it's 100% difference in how someone thinks a dog should behave vs the reality of how a dog does behave. This is what happens when you let your kids get raised by a TV as opposed to a real person with real experience. Dogs are cute so people think they're more like a toy than a moderate size predator. So uneducated person makes the assumption that fido doesn't have instincts beyond following the gravy train and in this case had an education moment. Better now than at 24 months.

To answer the questions Craig brought up if my dog was hell bent on keeping something I'd offer them something they like in exchange. One cannot have two items in the mouth without releasing one and happily my dogs prefer cheddar cheese from my bait bag of holding more than their favorite toys. Honestly I've never had to pull a food dish from one of the dogs. I really don't want what they're eating until they're done with it, have lost interest, and are usually sleeping on my couch.

The ground work for the ability to take something away from your dog is set when the dog is a pup. It doesn't mean that you repeatedly take food toy etc away to prove this. Dogs knows who provides the food. I don't have to play games to prove anything. It's a trust, respect, leadership issue. Not a bully issue.

 Quote: Anne Jones

<snip> It's a trust, respect, leadership issue. Not a bully issue.

Absolutely agreed - and yes this has nothing to do with bullying, being a tough guy, or machismo (I don't think anyone suggested that). Carrying this practice into a dog's adult years doesn't mean bullying. This can also be taught to an older dog, it's not a lost cause if we miss puppyhood.

I do admit to occasionally giving and then later taking a bone away from the boerboels when they have a bone, mainly to gently remind them its my food and I share it with them, I don't have to do this with the pointers as a loud OI! gets their attention, but with an uber dominant breed like the bb, I want to feel, if I need to. I can remove food/bones, though always with a "good lad/girl" when I lift it, they alwayd drop it, wagging tails and bellies up, then they get lots of praise and immediately get the bone back and are left alone, it certainly isn't a dominance thing, just an occasional reminder who's who in the pack, it was my understanding this practice is advised, especially with dominant breeds? that said, I never push it by getting hold of their jowles, I say something like, "mine now" take it away, pretend to eat it, then share again, have I been getting this wrong? Still learning!

I start with pups, but have had adult dogs that I have no problem with taking things if needed.

I was making the point that the trust/ leadership/ respect starts the day the dog comes thru you door to your home.