Guarding food Turbo has picked up on a weird behavior...guarding food. He won't eat it, but if any of the other 3 come near the bowl, he runs to it & growls. Momo looks at him like, what's your problem dude, I'm hungry & he can't go near his bowl. Is this a serious problem? How do I fix it or make him stop? I've been holding him while the others eat lol. I looked up past posts & didn't really come up w/much, except that this is a normal behavior in dogs... |
Yes, this can become a very serious problem. I went threw it with Buddy, however,' I only have one dog so it was easy to get it under control. All I can suggest to you is take charge of the food. It belongs to you and not the dogs. Do you free feed?If so I would correct this behavior each time he growls and remove the food for a time telling him no growling. Then when you put it down make him sit and put your own scent on it mixing it with you hands. Telling him the food is yours and not his. If not make him sit before each feeding, mix the food with you hands to put your sent on it and do not let him touch it until you release him then take the bowl up 10 mins after he has eaten giving him time to go back if he's not finished. This will take a couple of days for him to understand. If this does not work I would stop free feeding and feed all at the sametime. If he still continues to do this I would feed him in another room. This can become a serious problem but I think you can get it under control if it just started by taking control of the food. |
My male Yorkie does the same thing: he "protects" the food, and if one of the other dogs, including the elderly Pitty! - even looks in the direction, he goes after them. They are free fed. NO ONE goes hungry. There's food all the time. He hides under the furniture and strikes like a Moray Eel if any of the other dogs goes near the food. Humans? We're OK. He's never messed with any of us, up to and including taking stuff away from him or out of his mouth. But the *other* dogs???? Oh boy. Bella has taken to snatching a few pieces, running to her bed to eat them, then running back to snatch a few more. I guess that's how she keeps her girlish figure: she runs the calories off in between mouthfuls!!! |
Carol, Than You for all the helpful info. This morning was ok, bc everybody ate at the same time. It usu happens in the evening for dinner, when one isn't so hungry & the bowl will be left out for them. I don't free feed, but I try to feed them at the same time everyday. Turbo started out guarding toys, then my clothes lol. If I leave my clothing on the floor, he'll drag it to his bed & will growl if any of the other fur babies go near it. I even got bit once accidentally bc he & Momo would get into fights. I can't show favoritism when they're both around...or they get jealous. Lee, the Moray Eel description was hilarious! Turbo would be in another room & he can come dashing in to grab the toy from Momo or Princess. At 1st, I thought it was funny, but it's escalated to food & am getting a little worried. Will need to research on the net about this odd behavior. |
Uni does this sometimes. She is such a picky eater, and if she's not hungry and we put her food out and doesn't eat, we say to her "can I have some?" and usually she will go back to the bowl and show her teeth and be very tense to guard her food. If we say we are gonna give it to Katie, she usually will eat, but reluctantly. I guess we caused her to do it, when trying to get her to eat. Like, they are saying, no i'm not hungry now, but I might be later, I'm saaaaaving it!!!!!! |
Hahaa, growling could be normal talk for them. Lol |
Turbo is not doing it anymore...it must've been a temporary thing, like how the alpha ranks change? Lol The last time he did it, I told him NO firmly & he stopped. He's very smart like that.:p |
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Cesar Fan I just viewed his Perfect Dog show and was very amazed how it worked! He modeled how to create peace at feeding time and how to end guarding food immediately. I was able to do it by the second feeding! I cannot say enough about his training...I recommend watching the series. |
Would you like to share some tips?;) He did it again the other day...told him NO & he went to his bed sulking...didn't finish his food. He can be very sensitive too. He did end up eating it later lol. I would like to know why they do it...& what happens if it's not corrected. |
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