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Preventing Food Dish Guarding

Most people put their puppy's food dish down in a laundry room or crate, and leave, getting the dog accustomed to eating alone and uninterrupted. If he gets used to this, it is possible that an intrusion may cause fear or be seen as a threat. Start getting your puppy accustomed to eating and being touched right now. This program will help your puppy welcome people coming near his dish and even putting their hands in his food dish while he is eating. It may help prevent your puppy from developing the dangerous behavior of growling or snapping when people are near his bowl.

The goal is to teach your puppy to be glad to allow people to be near his full food bowl at any time as well as while he is eating. You are going to teach the puppy this lesson in small, careful steps, to help him succeed. Each of these steps should be practiced daily for a few days or weeks until the dog welcomes you near his dish. If the puppy shows any sign of threatening or fearful behavior (i.e. snarling, staring, growling, blocking your approach, raised hackles, snapping, curling his lip, stopping his eating but keeping his nose in the bowl, a "whale eye", or lunging at you), go back to the previous step and practice much more at that level before proceeding further. If he still shows signs fearful or aggressive behavior ask your trainer or veterinarian for a referral to a behavioral consultant.

Step:
  1. Hand feed your puppy his meals. If he is protective of his bowl, place the food on the counter in something other than his dish, place the new container on the floor and feed one kibble at a time. By the end of step 3, your puppy should be starting to clearly demonstrate that he enjoys having you around his bowl.

  2. Place the full food dish on the floor. Using a tasty treat, draw your puppy's attention to your hand, which is holding the treat and allow him to nibble the treat from your hand. Do this several times during his meal. You are teaching your puppy that when people are near his dish, good things happen to him.

  3. While your dog is eating, call his name and show him that you have a treat in your hand. Make a fist and hide the treat, place your fist in the bowl and drop the treat, then remove your hand and praise your puppy while he eats the treat. The key is to teach the puppy that the hand is there to give, not to take away.

  4. While your puppy is eating, call his name to get his attention, pick up the bowl, drop a treat into it, and place the bowl back on the floor.

  5. While your puppy is eating bend down and give him a treat as in step 4, then get up and walk a short distance away. Wait a few seconds, then call the puppy's name to get his attention and then approach him slowly and drop a treat near or in his bowl as you walk by. Pass by his bowl dropping treats several times during each meal. Gradually try to make your movements more rapid. It is especially important to do this if children are going to be around this dog.
At the end of this program, your puppy will welcome your approach to his food dish. If your puppy seems fearful or threatening at the beginning of Step 1, do these steps first.

Step:
  1. Start off by putting an empty bowl in front of your puppy. Place a small, really yummy treat (a piece of cheese, hot dog, tuna fish, dog treat) in your hand and close your fist. Talk happy to your puppy as you place your fist in the bowl and release the treat into the bowl. Praise your puppy as he eats the treat. Repeat this step several times at each feeding.

  2. Place your puppy's empty food dish on the counter when your puppy is not looking. Call your puppy to you and have him watch as you place a small piece of yummy treat in the dish. Place the dish on the floor and praise your puppy as he eats the treat. Repeat later in the day. It is not wise at this point to attempt to pick up the empty dish in the presence of the puppy as this may make him more protective. Simply wait until your puppy has left the area and then pick up the dish. Then proceed with Steps 1-5.
Some Important Considerations
  • Always praise your puppy when he allows you near his food dish and when he responds in a friendly, happy manner to the exercises.

  • Correcting your puppy for guarding his food dish is likely to result in increased guarding, threatening behavior or attacks. Don't do it. If your puppy shows any signs of threat or fear, simply walk away from him. Some time later try to go back to a simpler step. If he is still threatening or fearful, stop the program and seek a referral to a behavioral consultant.

  • If you have children, it is important that your puppy allow your children to approach his bowl. First, go through the above program yourself. When your puppy is reliable with you, start over at step one with your oldest child. You need to be with your child each time the food bowl is approached while doing this program. You may even wish to start each step by placing your hand on your child's hand. When you have completed the program with the oldest child, do it again with the next oldest and so on until everyone in the household is welcomed by your puppy, anytime they approach his dish.
Remember to go slowly and be careful. Don't rush this program, even if your puppy is a happy little guy who loves people. If you have any questions or problems, talk to your PETsMART trainer.

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PETsMART Accredited Training Instructors, in addition to their previous experience, receive a minimum of 120 hours of training in a curriculum which includes: Canine Behavior, Learning Theory ("How Dogs Learn"), Problem-Solving, Classroom Management, Equipment, Handling Skills and more. Where possible, hands-on training is completed in partnership with local shelters, using shelter dogs to demonstrate training methods, behavior assessment and handling skills. This enables us to accredit our instructors while contributing to the community, as we help to make these dogs even more adoptable.

Suzanne Hetts Ph.D. is certified as an applied animal behaviorist and co-owner of Animal Behavior Associates, Inc., in Denver, CO.

Terry Ryan is the well-known author of training books such as The Toolbox for Remodeling Your Problem Dog and The Bark Stops Here.

Pia Silvani is the Director of Pet Training and Behavior at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J.

Mary Lee Nitschke, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at Linfield College, an Animal Behavior Therapist and the Director of Training for Animal School in Portland, OR.

Trish King is the Director of the Animal Behavior and Training Department at the Marin Humane Society in Marin County, CA.

Pamela J. Reid, Ph.D. is a certified applied animal behaviorist and assistant professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, where she teaches veterinary students courses in Applied Ethology and the Principles of Learning.
Information and advice contained on this site is for your consideration only. Please consult your veterinarian for specific advice concerning the care and treatment of your pet.