Ah. Excellent points!

Now I am curious about whether the dog in the O.P. has any other aggressive behaviors.

I 100% agree with Jim. I used to do the stupid hand-in-bowl thing, or correcting for aggression. Now I treat food as any other distraction. Why not, right? I expect my dog to recall immediately from another dog, a toy, a skunk... Why not food? If I really want or need to pick up the food, I call the dog away from it.

This being said, I have NEVER had a dog that in a panic situation I couldn't grab food right out of their face in. Even food-aggressive dogs. There's something DIFFERENT in our mannerism (I have found) when taking food from a dog for the hell of it, versus trying to take something from them to save their life. I can't really explain it, other than it just seems to be the case. I have not necessarily found that possessiveness over food in general will translate to not being able to take food/bone when necessary. It's sort of similar to having a dog who isn't recall trained, but she gets out of the house so you call her in desperation as she heads towards a busy road... And she comes.

Anyway, rambling... I just don't think it's necessary to be taking bowls or putting hands in bowls. Train a solid recall from EVERYTHING (including food) and you accomplish all you need.

It takes my dogs about 30 seconds to eat. I'm pretty sure that there's no food aggression but i can't be sure because i never mess with them in those 30 seconds, don't pet them or anything in those 30 seconds, lol. If they eat something inappropriate it's a "leave it" command,

This is not necessrily a response to Mr Curbow, and is intended to the last few responses in the thread.

I appreciate all of your training approaches. I respect your views and understand your positions, I think.

In my opinion, my approach is not stupid but then what do I know?

Suffice it to note we disagree. I trust the OP has seen enough by dint of volume to disagree with me.

And yes, I am a bit put out by the 'stupid' inference. Bluntly I thought little of that response though I own up that I didn't read much beyond the word "stupid."

And Jim, if I misrepresented anything you wrote, I do apologize. So Jim... I like your willingness to engage, and the civility in which you present your positions. As I noted before, I think we agree more than disagree. But then I am an optimist at heart.

And, Mr. Curbow, my mutts will stop eating if I reach down and take the bowl or if I simply command 'stop.' Not so different, eh?

 Quote: Al Curbow

It takes my dogs about 30 seconds to eat. I'm pretty sure that there's no food aggression but i can't be sure because i never mess with them in those 30 seconds, don't pet them or anything in those 30 seconds,

I'm with you Al, my dog could be a regular Kujo over his food but I stay the heck away from him when he is eating so I don't know.

Feeding in my house: he is sent to his bed in the den two rooms from the bathroom where he is fed. I prepare his food put it down walk over to him and release him to eat he goes into the bathroom skoffs it down comes out and prances happily wiping his face on his bed. I pick up his bowl put it in the dishwasher and that is that. I can walk in the room as can any member of my family and he just continues eating.

This is how every dog I have ever owned was fed and I don't recall any issues arising from it. Which leads me to believe I may be missing something. I don't understand why anyone would want to be around the dog when it is eating?

I'm also of the belief that a behavior that is not practiced is less likely to develop. Where as; once a behavior is illicited the chance of it being repeated is likely.

But that's just me

Coffee? A beer? Tequila straight up

 Quote: connie sutherland

Now I am curious about whether the dog in the O.P. has any other aggressive behaviors.

Chris, I was wondering the same thing.

First let me say I commend you for asking questions and trying to find answers to what you perceive as a "problem". The forums are great and there is so much great information here that sometimes you get overwhelmed and start reading into things. I know I felt this way.

I was wondering, do you have other dogs? What is your experience in dealing with dogs like yours? Are you working with a trainer?

If you aren't working with a trainer, have you thought about using one to give you an "objective" view. Finding one that you feel comfortable with is a whole other discussion that has been debated many times before. Forums are great to learn and get advice, but there may be subtle signs that you are missing that could make all the difference. By reading and learning as much as you can will speed up a solution that you can tailor specifically to your dog since every one is different. You know them best!

Just speaking from my own personal experience with my own issues and I don't claim to be an "expert".

Good luck!

 Quote: mike arnold

And yes, I am a bit put out by the 'stupid' inference. Bluntly I thought little of that response though I own up that I didn't read much beyond the word "stupid."

Come on now, Mike... Surely in dog training circles you've heard the word "stupid" thrown loosely around and not let it interfere with interpretation of otherwise valid statements. Truthfully, I'm frustrated by some financials that I am working on and it's possible that conveyed itself in my post.

If you don't happen to think much of me or my posts in general, so be it... But nevertheless I humbly apologize for my choice of the word stupid.

Ms. Ruzsa,

I am not normally that thin skinned. Mea culpa.

My response was colored by an over focus on the word, and a blinding to the rest of the post. I have no quarrel with your post or you, and apologize for my apparent snit.

It is a good thread and one which provided opportunity to take on an issue - the purpose of this forum.

I apologize for my attitude.

I would like to pose a question (I think this fits in w/ the op's problem) for those experienced posters who have been responding.
My 9 month old (this is a hypothetical)pup sits and waits to be released before eating.

I am an inexpereinced trainer (this part is true).

I normally give her a gentle pat on her flank as she begins to eat, and then leave her to eat her meal.(she eats outside her crate)

Lately, she growls at me when I touch her flank.

How do I handle this, and if it's different in some way from the o/p's situation, why?