Introduction

Food bowl aggression, also known as food-related aggression, is a common problem with certain breeds of dogs. When a dog has food-related aggression, he or she will guard his or her food, treats, rawhides, or bones from other dogs or  people. How the dog shows food -related aggression can be quite variable. Some dogs begin to growl softly from a great distance and increase the intensity of their growling as people approach. Some dogs growl while shaking and gulping their food. Some dogs stare and snarl at anyone within their view while eating.

The presence of food is a part of everyday life. Food bowl and toy guarding can be a safety concern if small children are around. Even if you decide not to actively treat any signs of food-related aggression in your dog, understanding it can help you to prevent it from escalating.

Once a dog over the age of seven months has developed a habit of food and toy guarding, it is much more challenging to modify or change this behavior.

How to prevent food bowl aggression

It is easy to prevent food bowl aggression in most dogs. The strategy is to spend time with the puppy during feeding by petting, brushing, massaging, and talking to the dog while he or she eats. While a dog is eating, drop tasty treats such as a piece of chicken or a piece of cheese into the food bowl. Request the dog to "Sit," and bring the treat hand toward the food bowl. Drop the treat in the bowl and then let the dog come and eat the treat. Once the dog is relaxed when you are near the food bowl, take the food away in the middle of the meal, ask the dog to "Sit," and then give the food back again. Repeat this a few times during each feeding until you are confident that the dog is relaxed when you are near his or her food.

How to respond to food and toy guarding

Once a dog over the age of seven months has developed a habit of food and toy guarding, it is much more challenging to modify or change this behavior. It is best and safest to proceed with the assistance of a professional. Some dogs become so firmly entrenched in this habit that it is necessary to simply not allow anyone near the dog while he or she is eating.

Teach the dog the "Leave it, and Take it" commands. These words can be taught to a dog at any age, but it is always best to begin teaching vocabulary when the dog is still a young pup. First, teach the dog to "take" a toy into his or her mouth.  When that word is mastered, teach the dog "leave" alone items that are accessible such as trash, leash, poop, socks, chew toys, etc. One way to begin this game is at feeding time.