Hi guys, I have a ambiguous question and like to know your thoughts on it. My 14 wk gsd tends to growl when I raw feed her. I started hand feeding her today and will continue doing so for a month or so. My question is does food guarding translate into weak nerves in a puppy? She is otherwise very energetic, mouthy, and unafraid of strangers or dog barks. Thanks for your input.
Dennis Jones Webboard User Reg: 06-13-2004
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As an owner of two weak nerved GSDs, I think I can say it might be a dominance issue. I can pick up thier food or pull food out of there mouth without a fight. Ed's got an article on that I think. If that is the only issue I would leave the dog alone while he ate. Not to anthropamorphize but, how would you like it if I snatched your plate away while you are eating dinner at the local steak house? Hand feeding I think is a good idea. Making the pup work for the food seems to be working for me.
Ed Frawley Administrator Reg: 07-11-2001
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While food guarding can be a dominance issue it can also be an issue of stress. The dog can be concerned that you are going to take the food away.
Dogs that are stressed can be desensatized to you being by the food bowl by the owner dropping a very nice tidbit of meat in the bowl every time they go near the dog when he eats. You should not be putting hands in the bowl and taking food away to solve a stress problem.
Its a rare thing for a puppy to be dominant. When people truely have a dominant dog I think its best to pick your fights and fighting a dog over food is simply not worth it. So feed a dominant dog in his crate or a differant room. With that said - there is nothing wrong with making a dominant dog SIT or DOWN before putting his food bowl down - it's just a small way to chip away at the dominance issue (along with the 100 other things you should be doing at the same time)
My pups dont even moan when i touch their food or remove their bowls at the time of feeding!
However, the last time the gardner tried to refill their water bowl, they almost ripped his hands off!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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Food Guarding- Weak Nerves??
#77054 - 06/21/2005 04:53 PM 
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