What is food guarding?
Food guarding is a form of resource guarding. Dogs become defensive when eating, using warning signals to keep others at bay[1]. Guarding is a natural behaviour for dogs and can range from nonthreatening like running away with the valuable, growling when others approached, to biting and attacking the animal/human that came near them[2]. Dogs usually only target this guarding to people/animals that threaten them, including strangers or specific animals/humans. Puppies are at risk of becoming food guarders when they are young because they may need to compete with their littermates for their mother’s teats. There is also the possibility that, once they were weaned, the breeders fed them from a communal bowl and had to fight for the limited food available. The puppy that eats the most will grow faster and become the strongest[3]. If a breeder does not take the necessary precautions it could result in only one or two puppies dominating the food, where aggression to gain control is rewarded. It is important to assess the dogs overall behaviour and body language when they are eating to see if they may be food guarders[4].
What are signs of food aggression?
Signs of food aggression include a stiffened body whilst keeping their head down, using their body language to hover over their food, protecting it. Another is when they display the whites of their eyes with their ears pushed back, lowered tail and raised hair. In addition to all, they may freeze, eat faster, bared their teeth, or take the valued item and run away with it[5].
How to prevent food guarding?
Even if your puppy doesn’t appear to be a food guarder, it is important to take all the necessary precautions to prevent this from happening. You will need to teach your puppy that having others near them when they are eating is not a threat. Begin with hand feeding them some meals while speaking in a soft voice and calmly stroking them. When they eat from their bowl, sit near them during feeding. At times, touch their bowl and touch their food every now and then.
How to correct food guarding?
Your puppy needs to know there are many resources available and not to feel threatened by others. Slowly teach them that you and others are not a threat by each standing at a distance from their food bowl and begin to approach them with treats in your hands to associate you with providing treats and not taking them away.
What not to do?
Do not punish/intimidate your dog when they guard their food, it will only teach them to become aggressive because it will increase their perception that people are a threat when around their food. Do not try and dominate them by threatening to take their food away if they shows aggression to each them that aggression means no food, this will make them more motivated to protect their food. If you live in a house with children, do not leave your child alone with the dog while they are eating and still learning to trust people. Children may not realise that they are a threat as they do not understand your dogs warning signs and approach your dog which can create a high risk that your dog will snap and cause significant injuries to your child[6].
[1] Cesars Way. Nd. Food Aggression And What To Do About It. Available from: https://www.cesarsway.com/food-aggression-and-what-to-do-about-it/ [2] ASPCA. Nd. Food Guarding. Available from: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/food-guarding (Accessed 20 April 2021) [3] ASPCA. Nd. Food Guarding. Available from: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/food-guarding (Accessed 20 April 2021) [4] Cesars Way. Nd. Food Aggression And What To Do About It. Available from: https://www.cesarsway.com/food-aggression-and-what-to-do-about-it/ [5] Madson, C. 2021. Resource Guarding in Dogs: What to Do (and What NOT to Do). Available from: https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/resource-guarding-in-dogs (Accessed 20 April 2021) [6] ASPCA. Nd. Food Guarding. Available from: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/food-guarding (Accessed 20 April 2021)
Comments