Cane corso pup showing possessive and aggressive behaviour

[DennasMom]

So, am I the only on - and maybe Kristiana - that think petting your dog while they're eating is a bad idea?

Yes, you should be able to take anything away from your dog at any time, but growling at you petting him while he's eating could simply be a "hey, I'm EATING, please leave me alone right now" comment from the puppy. I would respect the dog and let them eat in peace.

Then, I would go get something REALLY yummy (ham, cheese, etc) and ask the dog to sit... and once they leave the food/bone/etc, and look to you - they get to share in the higher value item.

Then, I'd leave them alone with it, so they can enjoy it in peace.
Just MHO.

 

[ruthcatrin]

So, am I the only on - and maybe Kristiana - that think petting your dog while they're eating is a bad idea?

Missed it actually. But yah, a dog who doesn't want to be pestered while they're eating isn't the same as a dog who's aggressive about having his food being touched. Definetly work on the processes for managing resource guarding, but don't pester the dog while they're eating. If you're going to work with them with their food fine, but do you really want someone coming up behind you and stroking your head while you're eating your meal? I know I'd snap (verbally) at someone who did so.....

 

[mx5055]

Sorry DennasMom; I totally missed that post also. I agree with you, let the dog eat in peace!! Now that I no longer have to worry about food aggression I very seldom bother Bella when she's eating; just occasionally to make sure she understands who gives her/controls the food. And, as much as I have trained/worked with Bella to be around and accepting of almost anything the grandchildren do, I do put her someplace quiet out of their reach when she is eating. They are free to give her treats, and are not afraid of sticking their hands in her mouth, etc., and sometimes I will let them be the one to put her food bowl in front of her; but after that, the rule is to leave her alone and let her eat in peace

 

[Smokeycat]

The most I do is run my hand over their backs or a light tap on their hip. This is just so that they know I'm passing behind them do they aren't startled. This was important to me especially with Kryten since the shortest route for the cats to get to where their food is kept is by going under Kryten while he is eating. If they look up at me when I go by I'll pet their heads and then leave them alone.

 

[mx5055]

Interesting thread I have a 13 week on CC and BM mix. He isn't food aggressive at all. We actively train to avoid that.

Sometimes when we are outside he snatches up pine cones to chew on. When we try to take them he will growl at us and he won't give them to us by command (like we train him, he gives his toys fairly well).

I'm not talking about a little growl either, I'm talking about a serious "this is mine" sort of growl.

So far we haven't had much luck with getting him to not do that. Anyone have some suggestions?

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Now is the time to address this issue with your pup, given that he is only 13 weeks. I got Bella at 13 weeks of age, and this was an issue that I had to deal with immediately, as Bella loves "picking up" treats from wherever we are (rocks, plants, pieces of plastic, etc....)you name it, and she wanted it in her mouth!!. I never gave her a choice...my hand goes straight into her mouth for a cavity search until I find what she has hidden in there and I "retrieve it"....then heavy sighs when she sees it go into the trash..lol. I do try the commands "drop it" or "leave it" first, which unfortunately don't seem to work too well in this situation (she is already totally bonded with whatever is in her mouth); but I still work on these commands on a daily basis and she is improving. She is 6 1/2 months old now, and we still go through this...inside and outside. I can always tell immediately when she has something "forbidden...hidden" in her mouth....she holds her mouth/head a certain way and won't meet my eyes....in goes my hand into her mouth!! lol You need to start doing this now...it is a safety issue, and never accept your pup/dog growling at you. It's a simple matter of who is going to be the "boss" in this situation...and other situations as the pup grows. Who is the boss and says what is acceptable; you or your pup? What's going to happen when your "pup" is 1 year old and growling at you? I think you can easily solve this issue if you work on it now. Good luck

 

[captainstormy]

Thanks. We don't let him get away with it. Always take the stuff he isn't supposed to have and make sure to let him know growling isn't okay. Overall I do think he is getting better at it, some days it seems like he is just trying to find everything I. The world he knows he isn't supposed to do.

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[mx5055]

Sounds like you're doing what you need to do. Sometimes it seems like it takes forever, but usually with persistence and patience on our parts they will finally get the message