Resource guarding food, with a twist

[Amy & Bernie]

Hi all, I've read through the resource guarding posts but I'm wondering if the same thing goes when it's his food?

Bernie just turned 8 months old and very recently started getting 'weird' about his food. Just in the last week when I walk by him eating and run my hand down his pack or give him a pat he tenses up, stops eating, and slowly looks up at me. I think he growled once, not sure.

I want to fix this YESTERDAY and want to know if there's any difference between correcting techniques with toys and with his food?

The twist I mentioned (and maybe this is actually normal) is that when we correct his resource guarding of special bones or toys he becomes a prima donna and won't even look at the bone or toy for at least a day, sometimes multiple days. And this doesn't mean he's recognizing we're in charge, because he goes right back to guarding it when he decides to show interest in it again.This is a whole other problem.

I guess with the food issue, I'm worried it will mess up his eating. I know I could take the 'tough love' approach and figure he'll eat if he's hungry enough, but I'd rather not resort to that if there's a better way.

Thanks!

[Adina P]

Is Bernie good with his commands out in public and around distractions?  That I think makes a difference.  Working the dog so he's 'good' everywhere and obeys everywhere. Then something like YOU walking by while he eats or asking him to give you something he has isn't any harder than trying to hold a down stay by the dog park fence for 5 minutes.

[Amy & Bernie]

Good point Adina. He's definitely better at home. He's pretty good out in public, but I always feel I only have partial attention. For example he'll sit to let people by on our walk, we'll let them get ahead, I wait til he seems calm, but as soon as we're walking again he's at the end of his leash, desperate to catch up to them and say hi. He's good with 'come' at the dog park, excellent really, and 'sit', but we haven't worked on 'stay' - this is a good reminder. His obedience reliability could improve overall, there's definitely room for improvement in all areas. The next classes will help us get back on track and get my husband and I on the same again - which is most important.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I swoop down and take whatever is being guarded and if it was his meal, so be it!  I made Clancy sit and wait for release before I let him eat.  At first I just kept picking up the bowl when he wanted to eat before I released him.  I didn't make him wait long when I fed him; just long enough for me to set it down and release him so that he knew I was the one in charge of it.

[Maria & Xena]

Sorry to hear you have this problem. Xena has never shown guarding issues- but Ive done this from day one with her & even though she's five now - I still do it - before any treat, food, bully, etc. She must sit. And only when I give the command "OK" can she have whatever Im giving her. I still do this to this day - take away her bullies when she's in the middle of it, tell her to drop a toy we are playing with or put my hands in her food while she's eating. Ive also had everyone in our family do this as well as my kids. Not sure if she's just used to us doing this all this time, but I just couldnt have a dog with guarding issues.  Any time she did something I didnt like I would put her on her back, grab her neck, get on top of her & growl NO. Im sure my neighbors mustve thought I was crazy. She needed to know who was boss & that she is on the bottom of the pack. I had a friend yrs ago that had wolf hybrids & he did this all the time so they knew who was in control & I used those same techniques. In rereading this not sure if my reply will help but it might help others who have younger dogs. Good luck!

[Amy & Bernie]

Thank you Maria! He's getting better, and I think a lot of it is coming with his improvement with "give". We've been using the word a lot, and making up reasons for him to give us stuff. And we always make sure he gets it back after shaking, sitting, laying down, earning it, so we're not being bullies and making him wary of our approach when he has something.

With the food I actually started kneeling down and holding his dish. With my thumbs in the bowl. I'll let him eat a few bites then make him sit. I'll hold onto it for another minute or so. Make him shake, lay down, etc. and then put his dish back where it belongs. He has to sit until I say "good boy, okay!". 

And yes, I've utilized the pinning and growling method! You are so right, it gets their attention. I do it mostly when he gets feisty and wont stop jumping up an mouthing me, he gets so excited I can't shake it out of him, and at 60 lbs he's nearly as tall as I am when he jumps up.

I appreciate your reply, I know this is a common issue and being able to read what's worked for other people is an awesome resource!

[Dudes mom Kelly]

I've found feeding them by hand a ton helps....treats and snacks come from ME.... I don't take them away, I am the provider!! I find that the ball guarding is fixed that way to....bring me the ball and you get a treat :)