I have had this new pup, Malinois, for about 3wks now. Today he yesterday, he turned 8wks so he is still a little guy.

I had a female that was 7mon when I sent her back as she had this serious medical condition as nothing worked. My vets could not find anything and after spending so much money and time treating with a variety of things I figured it was enough. I sent her bnack for a new pup.


Anyhow, now I have a male. He is of different stock and is doing fine. But the thing is I went yesterday to see how he does with food. I stuck myt hand in there and he snapped at me. Today he growled a little bit but I klept petting his back until he started eating again and all the while still petting him.

SO what should I do.

Normally I would have let the dog know that "sorry pal , I'm the boss and can stick my hand in your food anytime I please". But since I don't want to do things what the working dogs folks say, I'll go with that as this is my first experience with a working breed besides my female I took back at 7mo. I have my experience with the stubburn bully breeds. So I am unsure of how to come across with a dog that is extremely intellegent. I don't want a ruined dog. Never had one and don't want a first one....

Thanks all for your help...

Working dog or not, I wouldn't let that happen, especially if the dog will be in the house. I would feed the pup with the bowl between my feet. Don't sit on the floor. You want to stay above the pup as a dominant figure. Fill the bowl only with a small part of the food. As he finishes, put the rest in the bowl a little at a time, by hand. I also think I would scruff the s#!+ out of the dog if it snapped at me when I started this training. It wont take long before it realizes the hands will bring it more food, not try to take it away. I use this method as a matter of course with all of my dogs because of grandkids being over quite often. Yes, it's my responsability to keep the kids away, but it's also my resonsability to cover all potential areas of danger. All three of my dogs, even my nutso JRT will either ignore, or wag their tails when people walk around them while eating. Some dogs may not be this clear headed, but, in my position, I demand it. His acknowledging you as boss isn't going to harm his drive. It's a home problem, not a working problem. IMHO!

Super Thanks. And thankx for the quik reply. Yes, I wanted to get in his A$$. But I figured he's not hard headed like my bully breeds I have dealt with for yrs and didn't want him to freak. I have heard dgs like Bloodhounds have a VERY sensitive nature to them and get their feelings hurt easy and won't work for you as willingly if at all.

But you sound like me, its just a normal dog and he has to learn his place in the order. Basically, let him know what the deal is.

Thanks

I completely agree with Mr.Scott; I have a 21 month old (PS)(CS) GSD who is very food aggressive; as a puppy, I didn't want to over correct (I was worried about ruining his confidence) and now I'm paying for it BIG TIME. I bought him primarily as a trial dog for CKC obedience and Schutzhund (he is an excellent obedience dog achieving his Cdn. CD w/ 194/200 and showing great promise as a Sch. dog) but more importantly, as a companion. He is excellent in every other aspect, but with the advent of "puberty" his food aggression went berserk, growling when being fed, growling at me when I would enter the kitchen, etc. I don't stand for any "nonsense" so after a few fights with him over who's the boss, it's back to feeding by hand out of the bowl, doing "work" to earn his breakfast i.e. small obedience routines, etc. It's slow going so far, but I know there's light at the end of the tunnel. If only I had nipped it in the bud when he didn't weigh 90lbs!

Well just another 'side'...

I unexpectedly ended up with a year old Mal without any training 10 years ago...but extreme on dominance, possession, confidence, and aggression, and super hormonal...yet social and 'happy' temperament/personality. Big dog...25+" and 80+ lbs. He was 2/3 my weight and when he stood on his hind end...well we're probably the same height lol. He had the capacity and ability to put anyone in the hospital.

Nobody could be in the same room where he was eating. He wouldn't just growl...he'd go through with it...he'd try to take you out...

I trained him and built an incredible relationship based on trust and consistency and firmness. Nope didn't 'kick his a$$'(at least not for that lol)...We both have our 'limitations' and a lot of respect for each other. The more training and trust which developed; the more accepting and tolerant he became. The training also helped him realize that I was in the driver's seat and not him. He carried this over into other areas such as the food possession. As a result...today we can all be in the area where he's eating and I can if needed take his food, bone, etc out of his mouth or bowl. He will release whatever is in his mouth on my command and many times will bring it to me (retrieve like) and release it into my hands. But it was a long and tough road. Took a lot of patience and precautions had to be taken in the meantime.

I'm not one for pestering or 'harrassing' a sleeping or eating dog. They deserve their own space and time. However, there may come a time (an emergency), where your dog may pick something up (ie., roadkill etc...) where he must release it. So it's something that has to done (on your part).

But in your situation...it's a puppy. Their basic drives for food are very strong and prevelant. He is being lead by his instincts because he 'doesn't know any better' (yet). I wouldn't be teaching him any 'new lesson' by 'hauling off on him or shaking the crap out of him'. There are better ways IMO without producing conflict between handler and dog. Until then I would feed him as much as possible by hand and develop your relationship. A couple months from now you can certainly enforce this more physically if needed.

He was also veryyyyyy young to be placed in a new home at 5 weeks...There's quite a bit they learn with the breeder and their siblings between 5 and 8 weeks. Mals in general are also reactive and sensitive...Many also go through 'freaky periods' or sensitivity phases in the first year...one being at around 8 weeks.

Showing him who's 'boss' isn't about 'coming down on him' because of food aggression as much as it is about how he's raised/trained overall. It's about your whole relationship and the structure in his life.

Anyways just my .02

PS Don't get me wrong...I am not opposed to physically correcting puppy behavior...but I think it should be a last resort as there may be other alternatives which could be explored first. One can always move up on the 'correction scale' but it one starts there...where do you go from there??

Just some thoughts.

Feed him from you hand for a while. Teach him to sit. Have him sit while you put the bowl down. Then progress to making him sit, put it down and pick it back up. With my Mal I sometimes go and grab the bowl while he is eating and tell him good. I make him sit and then put it back down. I also let my daughter put his food down.
I also do the same thing with his water. He has to sit while I put it down after refilling it.

I do the same thing with all my dogs.

Everything is 'earned'. Just one 'small' step in establishing and reinforcing hierarchy without creating conflict.