Dogs - how to address food aggression issues?

[Morrigoon]

You would have thought after all this time, that this wouldn't rear its ugly head now. Gidget has, understandably (being a rescue who was on the street for god knows how long) some food protectiveness issues, and there have been times when she wouldn't release an item on demand.

But tonight, I went to take a bone away from her, and she actually growled at us. We can't allow her to get the idea that that behavior is okay, but how do you "train out" food aggression issues?

[alphabassettgrrl]

Boomer did some of that. He would guard his food bowl, wait until Penelope finished eating, then growl at her when she came near. I started taking his bowl away from him if he didn't eat when I told him he could. He stopped the guarding after only a time or two. I'd give it back to him after it was clear that I could and would take it again if he didn't behave.

He was the same way with rawhides. He would run away from me if he had one, so I started by walking up to him when he had one. Then when he was comfortable with that, I would scratch him while he guarded his rawhide. Then I progressed to touching it. I have taken things away from him, though I don't know if I'm taken food.

I've never backed off when he growls at me. Instead, I will do something like hold onto him until he stops growling. Like to touch his rawhide, he'll growl, and I'll stay there until he stops.

Teaching the dog a command like "drop it" is useful, too. You use something that they will willingly give up, and then reward them for doing so on command. Boomer knows "wait" and "leave it." Leave it is for things he is not going to be allowed, wait is for things he will be.

Avoidance of the issue may be had by feeding treats separately, or keeping them apart while they have the goodies.

[Morrigoon]

Actually the issue came up because I had to take the item away. It was a beef rib, which I don't have a problem allowing them to chew, but once they get all the residual meat off it and start trying to break the bone, I have to confiscate it. She did not appreciate that one bit and growled at us trying to take it away. The obvious answer is to not let her have them any more, but I'm more concerned about the behavior than that particular food item. I need to make it clear she can't EVER growl or bare her teeth at Alex and I for taking something away - for her own safety!

[Not Afraid]

It is called Resource Guarding and it is a normal, innate dog behavior. The key is POSITIVE training (look at Victoria Stillwell NOT Cesar Asshat). Here's a decent training article about. http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/resource-guarding/

[Morrigoon]

Thanks NA... Alex did give her a treat when we got the bone from her, so I guess that was on the right track.