Demonstrative failure to follow commands, barking, growling and attacking people and other animals, inadequate “guarding” of food, bowls, toys and one’s place, expression of displeasure or resistance during haircuts, bathing and other hygiene procedures, “sudden deafness” while walking when called to the owner - this is only an incomplete list of problems faced by owners of dogs that exhibit dominant aggression. When faced with this behavior for the first time, most owners feel confused and angry. As a rule, a dog’s aggression is perceived as a surprise, and when talking about their problem, people often use the words “suddenly,” “out of the blue,” “for no reason.”
However, even if it seems to you that the dog bites, growls, attacks the owner, rushes at other people, dogs and cats for no apparent reason, in fact, there are always reasons for the dog’s dominant behavior, and most often these are the owner’s mistakes made long ago before the dog first showed aggression and disobedience. In other words, a dog’s dominant behaviors are those “flowers” that grow from “seeds” sown by an owner who has the wrong idea of what a healthy relationship with a dog is.
Fortunately, in most cases, dog dominance, and the aggression associated with it, can be corrected and adjusted. However, it is much easier to prevent dominant aggression in a dog. To do this, it is necessary, first of all, to understand the essence and roots of the problem itself.
Important! Before you begin to correct aggressive dominant behavior, make sure that the dog’s aggression is not caused by any other reasons: physical ailments, fears, changes in the environment and the family where the dog lives. To rule out these factors, take your dog to a veterinary clinic for examination and consult with canine specialists.
What is the reason for a dog's dominant behavior?
Domestic dogs, having lost quite a lot of the qualities of their wild counterparts, nevertheless remained pack animals, only now those families where they live become their pack. The dominant behavior of a dog is based on its ideas about the hierarchy in this pack and its own status in it. And if the ideas of “equality and brotherhood” are quite acceptable for a person, then a dog is distinguished by strictly hierarchical thinking. In order to feel confident and protected, it is vital for a dog to know what place it occupies in the hierarchy of the pack and who the “leader” is. And she has only two ways to find out: either the dog’s place in the pack is determined by the owner, or she will determine it herself. Guess what place the dog will try to occupy itself if it has such an opportunity? Of course, the place of the leader, who decides for himself when and what to eat, where to sleep, how to behave with strangers, etc. Thus, dominance is the behavior of the leader, and it is not necessarily expressed in open aggression.
Most often, the first manifestations of this behavior are quite harmless, and that is why owners ignore them, setting the stage for serious clashes with a dominant dog in the future. As already mentioned, “dominance”, “dominant behavior” often does not give the impression of aggressiveness. In contrast, aggression is an attack by a dog in order to protect its dominant position. This includes growling, biting, disobedience, and running away. A dog shows aggression when, due to the owner’s oversight and inattention, it has ALREADY decided that it occupies a dominant position in the pack, and the owner and other family members are trying, in the dog’s opinion, to challenge this position. Thus, it is necessary to separate the concepts of “dominance” and “dominant aggression” of a dog. In order to prevent manifestations of dominant aggression, it is necessary from the first days of the puppy’s arrival in the house to suppress any manifestations of dominant behavior, no matter how harmless or even cute they may seem to you.
Examples of dominant dog behavior:
As mentioned above, dominant behavior is the behavior of a leader who makes his own decisions, who leads the whole pack, who gets all the best! Typically, different dogs show different signs of dominance, but in general, leader behavior is as follows:
- the leader sleeps in the best place(the dog climbs onto the sofa and growls when trying to get it out of there)
- the leader starts eating first(you feed your dog's dominance by feeding him before you eat yourself)
-the leader does not allow food to be taken from him or touching it to other members of the pack (demonstrative eating of food in the center of the room and growling at other members of the pack, aggression when other family members try to touch the food or bowl).
- the leader decides whether the pack will fight, he determines for himself how to greet strangers, be they people or dogs (aggression, barking, growling at anyone without the owner’s permission)
-the leader always goes ahead of the pack(the dog tries to be the first to jump out of the apartment or enter the entrance during a walk, pulls forward on a leash during a walk)
-the leader decides what he will do(the dog ignores the commands and orders of the owner, continuing undesirable behavior, sometimes demonstratively. This can also include jumping on people when meeting, obsessive behavior and attempts to attract attention to himself when the owner is busy with something else, taking initiative in terms of games - for example , you are sitting at the computer, and the dog brings a toy and compulsively puts it in your hands, climbs onto your lap and does not respond to commands to stop all this).
-the leader puts other members of the pack in their place, if they encroach on his rights (resistance, expression of displeasure during hygiene procedures and during examination by a veterinarian, aggression in response to the owner’s attempts to stop the dog’s unwanted behavior).
There are also frequent cases when there are no problems with obedience to the owner, but the dog growls at the child and other family members. Most likely, she recognizes the leader in the owner, but considers herself “the second person in the state.” It is unacceptable for a dog to consider someone in the family “below” itself.
Methods for preventing and correcting dominant dog behavior
Like any problem, dominant aggression is easier to prevent than to correct. Prevention of dominance is especially important when raising dogs of large breeds, as well as males and females who are prone to fighting for the place of “leader” due to their character. However, even a tiny one, if not properly raised, can become a real tyrant, no less dangerous than a pit bull or a Caucasian shepherd dog. In fact, the phrase “dominant dog breeds” is meaningless - most often we ourselves turn sane animals into uncontrollable monsters.
How to become a “leader” for a dog? Let's consider those areas of interaction between the puppy and the owner in which you can demonstrate your leadership to the dog.
Place to rest and sleep: the dog must have its own, clearly defined place in the house (it is better that it is not an ordinary rag-bedding, but), and from early childhood be accustomed to return and stay there on the command “Place!” Many owners allow their dogs to lie where they want. This is not a problem if, in general, the dog behaves obediently and does not show a strong desire to dominate, but if difficulties arise with dominant aggression, it is necessary to categorically stop all attempts by the dog to perch on the place that belongs to the leader, that is, you. It is also useful to periodically sit in the dog’s place for some time, after driving it away from there. Also, a dog can show dominant behavior in this way: it simply lies across the corridor or in the doorway and does not give way when it is necessary to pass by it. To demonstrate the leader's behavior in this situation, you don't need to walk around or step over the dog - just push him out of the way. Growled? This means there is a problem with dominance).
Food: Train your dominant dog to start eating only on the command “It’s OK!” This is how you secure your leading position. If the puppy tries to defend the food and keep you away from the bowl, try feeding him while holding the bowl with your hand. Then say “No” and take the bowl away, then put it back and do not allow him to touch the food until the “Yes” command sounds.
Play: To avoid your dog showing signs of dominance, follow a few simple rules:
1) the owner starts and ends the games, not the dog;
2) toys must be given to the owner unquestioningly;
3) if you are playing “tug of war” with your dog, do not give up the toy under any circumstances if it starts to growl and show aggression: by doing this you will reinforce in the dog’s mind the idea that if he growls, he will get what he wants .
Petting: It is unacceptable to pet a dog excessively or to “comfort” it in any way when it exhibits unwanted behavior, such as aggression, cowardice, or hysteria. Affection should be given “in doses” and mainly as a reward for good behavior. It's hard for a person to believe, but setting clear boundaries and strict, reasonable discipline makes a dog happier than continuous lisps and vague rules of behavior that do not give him a clear idea of \u200b\u200bthe hierarchy in the pack.
Walking: Dominant behavior during walks is most often manifested in a reluctance to approach on command, as well as growling, barking and aggression towards people and animals without the owner’s permission. Many smart dogs, consolidating their dominant position, use the trick of “sudden deafness” or sit down in the bushes “on business”, which gives them an “iron alibi” and the opportunity not to carry out the command. This behavior is “treated” by methodically practicing the commands “Come to me!”, “Nearby”, “No”, “Sit”, “Lie down” every day. Walks can also be used to release the excess energy of a dominant pet: a dog that has spent a couple of hours working on the playground or after an intense run will not have much energy left to fight for leadership at home.
Hygiene procedures: It is necessary, as early as possible, to accustom the puppy to the fact that the owner can do whatever he wants with him (within the framework of common sense, of course). The dog must unquestioningly allow its claws and fur to be trimmed, its paws washed, its teeth examined, its ears cleaned, and not resist when it is necessary to give an injection or carry out other unpleasant medical procedures. This not only reinforces the owner's leadership, but can also save your dog's life in a critical situation.
Obedience training, following commands: In addition to the obvious practical benefits of teaching commands, training as a form of interaction between a dog and a person in itself helps to avoid the pet’s dominant behavior, since in the process of practicing commands the dog learns to FOLLOW the owner’s orders, that is, to get used to obedience and submission. Also, with the help of commands, you can suppress unwanted forms of behavior: for example, a dog that has been commanded “Down” will find it quite difficult in this position to rush at passing cyclists. Regardless of what breed your dog is and how small and harmless it looks, do not neglect teaching basic OKD commands - this will make life much easier in the future for both the dog, yourself, and those around you.
How to retrain a dominant dog, what to do if the dog shows aggression
When dealing with a dominant individual, you must, first of all, adequately assess your own strengths. Sometimes it happens that a dog simply has a higher level of energy and inner strength than its owner. In this case, the latter is unlikely to be able to convince the dog of his leadership. Remember - it is better not to enter into confrontation or open conflict with a dog if you are not sure that you can win. You should not compete with your dog in areas where it is actually stronger than you (for example, in jaw strength and running speed). Choose areas for pressure in which you can maintain complete control: first of all, food, affection, attention as a reward for the desired behavior (and deprivation of all this in case of disobedience). Punishment also works well by restricting the dog's freedom with a leash, muzzle, strict collar or placing it in a crate if it tries to impose its own style of behavior. If “soft” methods do not help, you can apply physical force to the dog: grab it tightly by the scruff of the neck (you can even lift it into the air if its size allows) and give it a good pat. In some cases, a bite to the withers helps - this is how the “leader” puts other members of the pack in their place. Do not retreat under any circumstances, despite growling and resistance, until the dog assumes a “submission pose” - the tail is tucked, the growling has stopped, the dog is caressing, sometimes even lying on its back with its belly up. If, during a showdown with the dog, in response to its resistance, growling and biting, the owner retreats (even going into another room to get some object to punish the dog can be considered a retreat), then he only once again convinces the dog that that she is the leader. That is why it is necessary to sensibly assess your strengths when choosing a method of influencing the dominant dog.
If the dog's energy level significantly exceeds the owner's, the best option for both will be separation. However, in most cases, it is quite possible to cope with dominant behavior.
Algorithm for correcting aggressive behavior
1. Identify how your dog exhibits dominant behavior. You can even make a list, for example:
Does not allow you to take your own bowl while eating;
Jumps on guests when meeting;
While walking, he ignores the command “Come to me”;
2.The next point is quite difficult. You need to observe your behavior and understand what actions contribute to the dog not recognizing you as a leader.. You can also make a list here, for example:
If the dog does not come to me, I repeat the command many times, or simply ignore its behavior, accepting that it does not listen to the command;
I retreat when the dog growls at me;
I praise the dog just like that, even if he has just done something bad.
Ask other family members and friends for their perspective on what you are doing wrong when dealing with a dominant dog.
3.Write down how you plan to change your behavior for each of your dog's dominant behaviors:
I will start training the dog on commands that he does not follow;
I will stop giving the dog pieces from the table and feeding it first;
I will punish the dog when it displays dominant aggression and will not back down when it growls or shows other signs of dissatisfaction.
4. ASAP start working with the dog according to the chosen scheme. Methodically and consistently practice commands and stop all attempts by the dog to dominate. Explain to your loved ones that your dog has problems with dominant aggression and ask them not to encourage it. If you find it difficult to identify your mistakes on your own, seek help from an instructor who will help you develop the right line of behavior. There is also a huge amount of literature available today on training dogs and correcting their unwanted behavior, which will help you solve problems with aggressive dominance in your dog. Remember - in order for something to change in a dog’s behavior, first of all, it is necessary to change the behavior of its owner.
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When it became known that a woman from Virginia was killed by her own dogs, her friends could not believe this horrifying story, explaining their bewilderment by the strong friendly bond between the dogs and their owner.
What can make a faithful dog attack his master?
A terrible incident
Late last year, Bethany Lynn Stevens was found dead in the woods. The body of the 22-year-old owner was “guarded” by her pit bulls. According to the police officers who discovered the discovery, the body showed the usual bite marks and was all torn apart in a horrific manner. And both dogs continued to eat it right in front of the police.
The family and friends of the deceased could not believe what had happened. Bethany adopted the dogs as small puppies. According to friends, the dogs were very kind and affectionate.
There can be many reasons why dogs may attack their owners. According to experts, there is no exact way to help determine the cause of the attack caused.
Redirected aggression
According to scientists, in order to cause aggression in an animal, some kind of “trigger” is needed. One of the reasons could be an interrupted hunt.
If the dogs smelled a hare or squirrel, and the owner prevented them by interfering in the hunting process, pit bulls could redirect their aggression from potential prey to their own owner. Therefore, they could very well attack the woman.
Of course, the dogs were immediately euthanized after this incident.
Insufficient care
According to scientists, dogs usually do not try to eat torn bodies. Such atrocities can be explained by severe hunger. If the dogs were poorly fed and did not receive enough food, this could provoke such dire consequences.
In this case, this is exactly what happened. Bethany, who had previously babysat her dogs like children, was in the process of getting a divorce. She didn't have time to take care of the dogs, so she gave them to her father. The man put the animals in a cage, where they were isolated from others. The only people they saw were their mistress, and not every day. The woman's father did not consider himself obligated to feed the animals, so the dogs did not receive daily nutrition and often went hungry.
According to experts, the dogs could not have attacked their prey at the same time. First, one showed aggression, and the second joined in. There is a possibility that their behavior could have previously shown signs of aggression, which the owners simply did not notice.
What do the statistics say?
In the United States, up to five million dog bites occur each year. Of this number, about 30-40 people die from injuries, and another 100,000 are forced to seek medical help (this can be either regular stitches or more serious plastic surgery).
By the way, most of these cases are related specifically to the breed under discussion. Most often, pit bulls show hostility towards people.
According to scientists, this does not mean that by nature all representatives of this breed can be aggressive. However, very often pit bulls are bred specifically for fighting. The genes of fighting dogs can be passed on to their descendants, which the owners of such dogs may not even realize.
You may be surprised, but the most aggressive among all dog breeds are small and cute at first glance terriers and chihuahuas. However, their size does not physically allow them to bite someone to death.
This incident further reinforces some people's dislike of pit bulls. However, it is worth considering that the point here is not so much in the breed, but in the upbringing and attitude towards the dogs themselves. External provoking factors also play a decisive role.
Experts advise not only to raise animals properly, but also to teach children to treat animals correctly. So that they do not run up to unfamiliar dogs, who may be inclined in the most unexpected way. Children are the ones most often bitten by dogs. Perhaps for the purpose of self-defense, not knowing what to expect from these “little people” whose behavior differs from adults.
If someone wants to have a pit bull or Rottweiler at home, it is worth contacting a good breeder who properly raises his animals, not allowing aggressive traits to appear.
And if you already have a pet, be it a dog or any other animal, be prepared to provide it with proper care. This will help avoid the unwanted negative consequences of poor parenting or aggression caused by hunger or lack of attention.
There are cases in which owners of four-legged friends are faced with a problem when the dog growls at the owner. What to do in such a situation? Before deciding how to wean your dog from this habit, you will need to determine the cause of the aggressive behavior.
In addition to growling, the dog may begin to bark or demonstratively refuse to follow commands. Angry behavior may be accompanied by excessive guarding of a bowl, toys, or some personal items. In the same way, an animal shows dissatisfaction if it does not want to endure, for example, washing or processing wool. If the dog begins to growl at the owner, then he, first of all, feels confused and defenseless.
Causes of aggression
Experts identify a number of reasons contributing to aggressive behavior:
- The dog feels like the unconditional leader in the house. This often happens with spoiled pets, whom people try to please in everything and constantly treat them to something tasty. Then the animal may grin at the owner if he tries to come up and take her thing (bowl, toy).
- A dog can show anger if a person treats him cruelly. This will be something like a warning to step aside. Or the pet growls at the owner when she is scolded or reprimanded for something.
- A sense of ownership. This is more typical of young male dogs, especially during the period of growing up and self-affirmation. The dog does not perceive the owner in any way. Natural instincts simply kick in - he strives to become a leader. The pet may begin to occupy previously forbidden territory, showing its importance and fearlessness.
- Aggression by a young mother is quite common. This is the natural behavior of a bitch protecting her puppies from the family in which she lives.
- The desire to win. This is typical for young animals or puppies. Their goal in the game is to win. Accordingly, they strive to intimidate the enemy by all available means.
If there are no obvious reasons for the dog’s irritation and aggression (she doesn’t play, nothing is taken away from her, she’s not in pain, she doesn’t have newborn offspring), then these are signs of dominant behavior. As a rule, the main reason is permissiveness from childhood and a person’s indulgence in everything. To correct this behavior you will have to understand the essence of the problem itself.
Reasons and examples of dominant behavior
Despite the fact that dogs live with people, they remain pack creatures by nature. True, now they consider the people they live with to be a pack. A properly raised dog will accept its owner as a leader; in its opinion, everyone should obey him. If she was not immediately given the opportunity to understand who is in charge here, then she decides that she can make a choice herself. And she will make a choice, naturally, in her favor. That is, dominance is the typical behavior of the leader of a dog pack.
The dog begins to develop this line of behavior gradually. The owner may not even notice changes in behavior at first, and the pet will attribute ignorance to its own benefit. Nothing aggressive will be observed in the dog. But gradually she begins to growl at her owner. She will begin to show anger and an animalistic grin when she decides that she has already taken the supreme position in the house. To avoid such a development of events, from the first days of the puppy in the family, you should stop his attempts to show dominant behavior.
How can you tell if a dog is exhibiting dominant behavior? There are several signs:
- the animal goes to sleep in the owner’s bed, and when trying to drive it away, it growls and bites the owner;
- he is the first to start eating what he wants (from childhood, a puppy needs to be fed after family members have eaten);
- brings his food to the center of the room, and when he tries to drive it away, he growls;
- if the dog doesn’t like the people who came to visit, then the owner can no longer calm it down or take it to another room;
- the pet tends to walk not next to the person, but in front;
- does not accept commands; if he wants to play, he behaves obsessively.
It happens that a dog obeys its owner, but constantly growls and barks at children. That is, the animal has recognized the “leader”, but considers itself to be second in command after him and does not perceive the family as an authority. This happens when other family members appear after the dog (the birth of a child) or when parents yell at their children in front of the animal.
How to retrain a dog
To wean a dog from growling at its owner, you first need to determine the reasons for this behavior and analyze the animal’s actions. If there are signs of dominant behavior, then it’s time to start training the dog.
One of the most necessary things for an owner who wants to raise and train a dog is an ultrasonic whistle. We recommend it to everyone, especially for aggressive dogs. How can he help? In case of aggression, it can be used to emit ultrasound, inaudible to humans, which irritates the dog. Over time, the pet will develop a reflex that it is forbidden to growl, and it will understand who is boss in the house.
All actions must be carried out taking into account the type of aggression, habits and character of the pet. There is an algorithm for re-education recommended by experts:
- Identifying signs. It is better to make a list that may contain the following items:
- does not allow a person to approach his bowl while eating;
- greets guests aggressively;
- does not accept commands.
- Analyze your behavior and determine why the dog imagines itself to be in charge, and also write down the main points:
- agreement that the dog refused to obey the command;
- moving aside if the dog starts to growl;
- the animal receives praise and treats for nothing.
- After identifying the signs and causes, it is worth thinking about parenting methods. For example, practicing commands with a pet, feeding the animal only after all family members have eaten. When aggression is shown, the dog must be punished and in no case should one show fear of its growling or grin.
- You need to start working on education as soon as possible. In this case, all family members must participate in the process. If someone takes pity on her, pampers her, treats her, then she will place herself higher in her hierarchy than this person. If you can’t correct the situation on your own, you can contact a qualified dog handler, he will help you draw up a program and build the right line of behavior.
Prevention of dominant behavior
It is easier to prevent any problem than to fix it. To prevent a dog from attacking its owner in the future, it is worth raising it correctly from childhood. This is especially important when a large breed dog appears in the house. Although, if poorly trained, a small decorative dog can be more dangerous than a shepherd dog. Do not pay attention to the characteristic “dominant breed”. People make animals like this.
Now it’s worth considering the main lines of behavior that allow the pet to understand its place in the house:
- The pet must clearly understand where it will sleep. This should be his only place. It’s better if it’s not just a rug, but a comfortable place (a special bed). You need to get used to it from childhood. When given the command “place,” the dog must obediently go to its territory to sleep. It’s not a problem if during the day the dog finds some place to rest (for example, hide in the shade, or lie in the sun), but under no circumstances should you occupy the sleeping places of family members. It’s good if sometimes the owner sits in the pet’s place, showing that he is in charge and has the right to do so.
- The pet must learn to eat only at the command of the owner.
- Entertainment should begin and end at the initiative of the owner. On command, the dog must give any toy to the person. If a dog growls, demanding something back, then you cannot obey him.
- The animal must endure all hygiene procedures, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
Conclusion
All behavior problems most often arise when the animal is treated incorrectly. A dog will love a person even more if he feels his power in the house and realizes his place in the family. If this does not happen on time, and it is not possible to re-educate the pet, then, most likely, you will have to part with it.
The growling of your dog, as well as demonstrative failure to follow commands or “inadequate” protection of your toys indicate that you have big problems with raising your pet.
At some point in time, something went wrong (for example, punishments became more frequent or, on the contrary, unjustified rewards appeared, or perhaps the dog began to be attacked more often by ill-mannered children) and your dog began to show signs of aggression, including growling.
Naturally, this form of behavior is undesirable and needs to be corrected, but before you rush headlong into re-educating your dog, try to understand the types and possible causes of aggression in your pet.
The dog growls because he is the boss here. Dominant aggression. It is more common in males during puberty. At this time, the animal is looking for its place in the “pack” and strives to be the leader. He becomes “deaf” to the owner’s commands, he can be seen more and more often in the owner’s bed, such a dog “drags” the owner along with him on a leash during a walk and growls at people for any reason.
The dog growls because he wants to be a winner.. Play aggression. Typical for young dogs and puppies. Growling during play is not “noticed” by many dog owners and is dangerous because over time it can develop into a struggle for leadership in the family.
The dog growls because it's his food. Food aggression. The most common type of aggression. The dog growls, guarding its food. Like most other types of aggression, it is dangerous to develop into dominant aggression.
The dog growls because this is his territory. Territorial aggression. If you do not purposefully raise a guard dog, then the animal’s aggressive attempts to protect the territory “under its jurisdiction” must be suppressed.
The dog growls because these are his toys. Possessive aggression. Most common in cowardly dogs.
The dog growls because he is in pain. Aggression in response to rough treatment is characteristic of most animals.
Maternal aggression. A young mother dog may growl at its owner and family members, instinctively protecting its offspring.
How to stop a dog from growling at its owner?
Once you've determined exactly how your dog is exhibiting dominant behavior - such as growling and not allowing you to take his bowl or toys - you need to think about your behavior. Namely, what actions of yours make the dog doubt your leadership abilities - for example, you retreat when the pet growls at you, and later try to appease him.
After you analyze both your pet’s behavior and your own, it’s time to start working on “re-educating” the dog.
It is necessary to correct the dog’s behavior based on the type of aggression that it shows; if it is play aggression, then you should always “win” in competitions in tug-of-war with a toy (rope, stick). If you are faced with food aggression, you will have to teach your dog to eat on command.
Before a meal, the dog must “Sit” and “Wait”; also, if the dog behaves aggressively, you have the right to interrupt his dinner on command and take away the bowl, and send the dog to his place. To avoid attempts at dominance from your pet, do not allow him to jump on your furniture, pull you by the leash on the street, force him to obey more often (by practicing various commands), and so on.
Guarding food or toys from other animals is a normal behavior in dogs. This instinct occurs when a dog feels its food or toys are being threatened by other pets. In a wild pack, dogs guard their food so they can eat it later and survive. Dogs higher in the hierarchy have the right to take food from those members of the pack who are lower than them. Life with a dog is safer if it does not guard its food.
Most trainers argue that the owner should train his dog to give up food without any problem, and punish him if he does not. Very often this only leads to the fact that the dog begins to guard food even more tightly. Nowadays there is a wonderful alternative that works great - just let the dog know that the owner always gives food and does not take it away.
When you adopt a dog (of any age), you hope that he does not have a strong tendency to guard food. If this tendency suddenly appears in your dog, you should use the following tips:
1. Whenever you feed your dog, keep him away from other animals (including cats) so that he doesn't have to worry about keeping his food safe. Create confidence in your dog that no one will disturb his peace during the meal, and you will provide him with reliable protection from any attacks. The above applies to both adult animals and very young ones. Feed your dog regularly at the same time and do not leave a bowl of uneaten food.
2. Walk past your dog several times during his meal to see his reaction. Any tension in a dog's body is a cause for concern. If you notice this, make sure you do everything necessary to ensure your animal can eat safely. Keep children away from your dog while eating. You must convince the dog that food is guaranteed and there is no need to protect it!
3. Walk past your dog during his lunch and drop something tastier and smellier than his usual food into his bowl. Do this many times. The idea is for the dog to understand that every time a person approaches his bowl, something good happens.
4. After this, touch your dog gently while he eats. At this time, add treats to the bowl. If the dog takes it well, wait a second between touching and giving the treat, then two, three, four and finally five seconds.
5. Involve your children in raising the dog: let them walk nearby and add treats to the bowl (but this can only be done after you are sure that the dog will not show aggression). It is extremely important that the dog is tolerant of children, so this should not be rushed.
For the safety of children, teach them not to disturb the dog while it is eating, unless the children are involved in raising the animal under your supervision. Children cannot assess a potential threat and, of course, do not understand that a dog is mainly guided by instincts. The dog will instinctively respond to what seems like harmless fun to the child by teasing the animal near his food bowl. There are situations when a dog cannot understand that this is just a game, reacting aggressively to it.
6. Feed your dog in different places in the house, outside the house and on picnics. The idea is to prevent the dog from thinking of one place as some kind of food sanctuary, because sometimes the dog will begin to guard the very place where his bowl is located.
7. Do everything described above for dog toys. Have the adult take the toy from the dog, look at it, give the dog a treat, and then return the toy. Eventually involve children, but only under strict adult supervision. Teach children not to pick up toys at other times. If a dog shows a strong tendency to guard a toy that is special to him, that toy should be removed. It is better for the dog to lose the enjoyment of this toy than to lose the dog itself if it becomes too dangerous.
8. Never chase a dog that has stolen an item. This triggers the same instinct as guarding food and teaches the dog to run away from you! Train your dog to bring you things to get a reward for it.
9. You should pay attention to how your family members behave towards the dog while sitting at the dinner table. If they feed the dog regularly, they not only teach it to beg, but also help develop the food guarding instinct. Some dogs even develop the belief that all the food should belong to them! Keep an eye on guests and do not allow them to feed the animal.
10. Teach your dog the "sit" and "down" commands, and give them these commands from time to time, especially "down" when you place a bowl of food in front of him.
If your dog already has a problem with food guarding, you should continue to work with him on the exercises described above. At first it will be quite dangerous for you to approach her food bowl. Therefore, you will need the help of an experienced trainer who would be present at the classes and correct both your actions and the actions of your dog.
If your dog is food guarding, remove his food bowl between meals, as leaving the bowl behind gives your dog a reason to guard it, and if it is removed, the instinct weakens or disappears altogether.
If the problem is mild, place the empty bowl on the floor while eating. Walk past her several times at a distance of a meter or two, holding the dog food with you. Give your dog food in small portions. If your dog reacts to a hand moving towards the bowl, enlist the help of a trainer. It's best to use something fairly long to pour the food into the bowl so you don't have to risk using your own hand.
When the dog realizes that his bowl is empty, go to the bowl, pour some food into it and immediately move away. When the dog eats this part of the food, approach again, pour in the next portion and move back another meter or two from the bowl.
Your task is to teach the dog to adequately perceive a person approaching the bowl and extending his hand to it. It is necessary to create a positive image of a person in order for the dog to begin to trust him. A good way to end a meal is to give your dog an especially tasty treat at the end. This will let your dog know that when his bowl is picked up from the floor, he will be given something very tasty, and it also tells him that the food is finished.
If your dog feels irritated when a person approaches the bowl, or an exercise doesn't work, you should go back a step or even a few steps. In this case, use the following tips:
1. If your dog tends to guard his bowl directly, you can exclude this bowl from the exercises and try giving him food simply from your hand. Once your dog is used to eating from your hands, place the bowl nearby and gradually move your hand with the food closer to the bowl.
First, hold the bowl in your other hand, gradually moving it to the floor. Finally, place the bowl on the floor and practice portion feeding from the bowl while walking a few steps away from the bowl.
Perform the exercise slowly, it will take you quite a long time to retrain the dog, you should not rush, otherwise you can ruin everything.
2. You can hold the bowl in your hand instead of placing it on the floor and encourage the dog to come to you for food. Gradually you move the bowl closer to the floor and then place it on the floor. In this case, you should teach the dog to remain in place on command while you approach with a bowl of food. Try to avoid such situations so that the dog, when freed from the command, becomes too excited.
Always release your dog from this command very calmly. You should also act calmly when releasing your dog from a crate or other confinement area. Overstimulating a dog can be dangerous.
3. To increase safety in the early stages of training, you can place the bowl on a raised surface so as not to bend towards the floor and expose your face to the dog’s teeth. If a child is involved in raising the dog, then the raised bowl becomes closer to his face, and this is not very safe. The child should not be included in the activities until the dog can relate adequately to adults.
4. In the early stages of training, you can tie your dog before giving him a bowl of food, so that he cannot reach you with his claws or teeth. If necessary, ask your trainer for help.
5. For additional safety, you can use a muzzle that would allow the dog to eat, but would not give it the opportunity to bite you. If you want to try using a muzzle, enlist the help of a trainer to securely place the muzzle on the dog's face so that he does not remove it at the most inopportune moment.
Remember that a muzzled dog quickly develops a conditioned reflex to behave calmly, but when the muzzle is removed, it is also quickly lost. Don't try to rush things. If a dog has serious problems guarding food, the retraining process will take a long time. Only in this case will the dog become safe for people.
6. Never punish a dog for its aggression. No matter how seriously your dog guards his food, your aggression towards him will only make the problem worse!
If a dog has already developed protective instincts in relation to its food, they cannot be completely removed, but it is possible to make their expression safer.
Once your dog begins to show a calm attitude towards people approaching his bowl, continue the above exercises whenever something changes in your family: guests come, you adopt another pet, or a new member joins the family. Periodically go to your dog's bowl and throw something tasty into it. Reinforce in the dog's mind that every time a person approaches his bowl, there is a high probability of receiving a reward.
