| I am sure that most pet lovers are aware that dogs | | | | between you and your best friend, and he will readily |
| with food aggression rarely stand a chance of | | | | sense your insecurity. It's simple: You don't trust them, |
| adoption. Some experts truly believe that a dog who is | | | | they don't trust you. |
| food aggressive, or aggressive in any way for that | | | | Here's what to do. At first, put the dog on a leash with |
| matter, will eventually turn on the family who owns it. | | | | a lead that gives you maximum control of him. Have |
| While there is some truth to this no doubt, there is | | | | your dog walking on a heel to the food and watching |
| honestly more panic in the situation than anything. | | | | YOU, not the food. If you allow your dog to be ahead |
| Let me be clear before I proceed. I understand the | | | | of you, look at the food, or approach the food without |
| reasons for which a shelter will not adopt out an | | | | release, you are telling your dog that he does not need |
| animal with this issue. Liability is the biggest one in this | | | | your permission to eat -which means HE is in control. |
| crazy, extremely litigious world we live in. And, few | | | | Watch the dog body language very closely. If your |
| people out there understand or have what it takes to | | | | dog becomes tense, stiff, or fixated in the least, |
| handle and rehab an animal with this dog behavior | | | | remove him right away. Bring him back only when he is |
| problem. | | | | calm. It is common for dogs to dig their heels in or |
| Dogs, in truth, are predators, and they need to be | | | | whine. These are only temper fits and must not be |
| respected as such. Early symptoms of food | | | | tolerated. |
| aggression include fixation or a locked, steel like, | | | | Don't' forget, from beginning to end of this exercise: |
| unblinking stare on the food bowl or on a dropped | | | | Your attitude and demeanor must be calm and firm. If |
| piece of food. Other symptoms are body blocking and | | | | you become angry or fearful when dealing with an |
| or stiffening when you come close to the dog's food, | | | | animal in a dominant or territorial state of mind, you will |
| growling or snapping. There is also inhaling the food, or | | | | get yourself bitten. The predator in them sees that as |
| just fixating on it and not eating at all. | | | | weakness. |
| Okay, so your dog has some of these signs. What | | | | This may take up to an hour the first time you do it, or |
| should you do about it? | | | | your pet my refuse to eat for a few days. But if you |
| Obviously, you need a professional to walk you | | | | stick with it, the problem will soon go away. Again, if |
| through this until you have it down pat. Being bitten by | | | | you have a food aggression problem with your dog, |
| a dog is not fun, and it is not worth it. Trust me, I'm | | | | do not hesitate to get help, and do not try to fix it on |
| speaking from experience. Humans hold grudges. | | | | your own. |
| (Dogs don't.) You don't need a breach of the trust | | | | |