Question on Food aggression

[hasrv4fun]

Originally Posted by Erin

I'm sorry Yorkiemum that this is off topic but it needs to be said so we can go back to addressing your post.

PLEASE STOP with Cesar Millan. She (and others of us) has made is perfectly clear that we are not interested in his show. I have watched some of it on the internet and I asked my own trainer about it last night. She confirmed that his training techniques are not positive. If you have a specific suggestion that she can consider trying, please share. Telling her to just watch his show is not adding anything to this thread. Why is it necessary to follow her to multiple threads to continue this? Please read ONE of the 15 books we've listed over the last few days and you will understand. Then we can debate some more. Start with "The other end of the leash"

Yorkiemum works with a trainer, as do I. We post because we want to know what others have tried with their Yorkies. Please give specific suggestions. There is already a thread about Cesar. There are many of us who have read the books, consulted with the trainers, done our OWN reseach. When we try to share this information with others or when we try to ask a question ourselves we are shot down by the I love Cesar fan club. Why can people not be respectful. The debate belongs elsewhere. Please take it there.

Why doesn't this work both ways ? Both those that want to hear about him and his training program and those that don't should receive the same respect.

[heltonpeewee]

i just got my first yorkie hes 6 weeks old i need all kind of tips

[chachi]

Originally Posted by heltonpeewee

i just got my first yorkie hes 6 weeks old i need all kind of tips

I am with you I am looking for the tips and ignoring the bickering.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Originally Posted by hasrv4fun

Why doesn't this work both ways ? Both those that want to hear about him and his training program and those that don't should receive the same respect.

I agree....not everyone agrees about the techniques used by every trainer and some things work for some and not for others so if these threads are to teach ALL members not just those who don't like a certain trainer then I think it is only fair to allow ALL training methods which might help someone be discussed in a civil and respectful manner.

I have several trainers, my dogs are service dogs, and I have been obedience training my own dogs since 1972. I have never had a "red zone" dog before so I am unfamiliar with that level of training. I am pleased that the forum finally has an active training section as I feel training is so important for the well being and safety of the dog. I would like to participate and would hate to feel like I have to be careful what trainer I quote for fear that he or she may not be one that some of you agree with.

Let's keep this friendly.

Yorkie Mum and I have a mutual respect and have communicated privately. I don't think she has a problem with my post and I think it is fair to ask everyone to watch the show before you judge it. If you decide from your own personal experience that you do not care for it, then you can say why what you saw bothered you and why it wasn't "positive" as you define that word. There are a lot of people who are just getting "turned on" to training their dog BECAUSE of the popularity of the show and even those who may not agree with all of his techniques would have to agree that is a GOOD THING.

Back on topic now.......

Here is some interesting advice on handling food aggression:

Here are some suggestions for coping with food-guarders, compliments of Fisher and behaviorist/author Jean Donaldson (Dogs Are From Neptune):

* Practice being close to the dog during feeding time by hand-feeding. Encourage the dog to take the food without grabbing or nipping-say "gentle." (This is a good technique to practice even if the dog has not exhibited food aggression.)

* Feed twice vs. once daily (the same daily amount fed over two meals).

* Change the food bowl as well as its location to a place free of stimuli that might trigger mistrust.

* If you have two or more dogs, feed them in separate areas, or even in their crates.

* Buy two similar feeding dishes. Place one bowl on the floor and put the food in the other. When he dives into the empty bowl, put a couple of spoonfuls into the floor bowl, adding food in small quantities, until the dog finishes the food, then take the bowl away.

* This slows down a gulper and also establishes you as controller of the food.

A behavior modification plan:

* Start with a low-intensity version of the bite-triggering scenario. Stand at a distance from the dog and the food. Then as the dog appears comfortable with you at a certain distance, gradually decrease the distance.

* Use a less desirable food item.

* Vary the setting and stimuli. Try a new food, new dish, different room and different time of day for feeding.

* Decrease the distance and increase the desirability of the food item very, very gradually.

* Never smack a dog in response to a food guarding response; this tends to teach him to dislike your hand and often will toughen a dog's resolve to protect his food. However, you do need to nip this behavior in the bud. Once the dog learns that aggression allows him to "win" the food, he may try this tactic with resources and possessions other than food.

An effective strategy is to establish yourself and other people in the home as the controller of all resources.

* Call your dog to you, and immediately reward his arrival with a small food treat and say "take it" at that moment. This will reestablish a conditioned response.

* If the dog tries to snap the treat from your fingers, command "GENTLE!" and withhold it until the dog takes it politely. Then praise "good dog." Repeat this several times.

* Next, delay giving the treat for a few seconds. If the dog jumps for the treat, close your hand and say "OFF." Ignore the dog until he calms down. As explained on http://canines.com, the dog will learn that the owner controls the treats.

Hope this helped someone out there.

[Yorkie Mum]

Originally Posted by FirstYorkie

Joy, once again you are showing what a wise woman you are! Very few people would recognize this as an early warning sign of food guarding (which could turn into aggression).

Joey was exactly the same - not growling or snapping or anything, but obviously not comfortable when someone entered his space when he was eating. We've worked through it for the most part (he's fine now with family, but still displays the behavior you describe when strangers are in the kitchen). I found the following 2 articles to be helpful:

http://k9deb.com/foodguar.htm

http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...ctguarding.htm

The ClickerSolutions article starts out with object guarding (which is treated similiarly). Toward the end, it talks about food guarding.

Basically, it's treated as Erin suggested but these sites give more detail. You can begin by just walking by when the dog is eating, saying the dog's name, and dropping a treat nearby. When your girl, stops eating to look up for her treat, you know you can progress. Very gradually progress to touching the dog's hind quarters after talking softly to her, and dropping the treat. Progress until dog is comfortable with you petting her and putting treats IN her bowl.

Other steps you can use are only giving her small amounts of food so that she has to look to you for more. You can also hold her bowl the entire time she eats, adding more to it as she finishes what is in.

Jean Donaldson's little book MINE! Practical Help for Resource Guarding is a good guide. She raises an interesting point that is contrary to what I would have thought (but I believe she's right). She says being right there beside them the whole time they eat (even holding their bowl) obviously is a threat, but actually is LESS threatening to the dog than approaching from further away when the dog is eating. She also says approaching from different angles increases the threat. Interesting stuff!

Thanks for this and Erins post as well.
Just when I thought I was out of the woods for reading got more to do.
I have not read "Mine" got a couple others of hers on my shelf.
I have one on order let you know more when it gets here and my trainer wants me reading another one but I forgot the name.
We are not haveing a great this week but just got home from being away.
Nice to be back on carpet instead of hardwood, she can not get the energy out that she need.
Being away is ok it just the gravel to work the energy level down is hard as not the best thing for her feet.

Tonight we are playing to see if we can get the edge off.
She a little strung out right now
Hope it ok am going to snag your post to read in bed.
Little light reading to end the day.

Joy

[yorkitails]

Originally Posted by SoCalyorkiLvr

Hope this helped someone out there.

Thanks..it helped me.