DDB guards food, need help!

[musicdeb]

Titan is 2 1/2 yr old DDB. He was resting from eating his chicken and I walked over to wipe his nose. He's had a runny nose for a couple of days. He snapped a me and grabbed the kleenex. I stood up and told him to stop, he growled at me. This is the first time he's ever snapped at me and growled because of his food.

Any suggestions?

Thanks all!
deb

 

[allformyk9s]

He's not new to raw is he? He could be protecting it but with you thats a no-no.


I would have made him back away from the chicken & then taken it away & wouldnt give it back till his next scheduled feeding & at THAT feeding Id hold the chicken while he eats. And see how things go. Or if you're comfy give him the chicken at his next feeding & at some point walk over & take it from him, if he doesnt growl/bark praise & give it back. If he does growl/snap Id take it away again. (Be it this is right or wrong, I dont know but its what Id do)



Not sure why he'd be all of a sudden acting like that but its certainly un-nerving. Hopefully its just an isolated incident.

 

[musicdeb]

Yes, he's new to raw. He's on his 3rd week. I have held a chicken leg once when he was eating with no problem. I always add food while he's eating because he's a sloppy eater. Yes, this should not be happening with me. We made a temporary move to Ft Hood until end of April. He's also been a little under the weather with his allergies. Regardless of the excuses, he should never snap or growl at me. He watched me this morning and I didn't dare get close to the chicken. I will absolutely take the chicken away if he ever does that again.

Thanks for the input!
deb

 

[Ghostsword]

He watched me this morning and I didn't dare get close to the chicken. I will absolutely take the chicken away if he ever does that again.

Thanks for the input!
deb

Food aggression is a serious problem, you need to get that sorted out. The dog needs to understand that you are the boss, that you can take the food anytime you want an that he can only eat when you want him to eat. Food aggression are the first steps of dominance, and at two years old is when the dog starts to asserts itself.



___________________________

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

He sounds like he needs to be "checked" especially after the incident he "eyes" me that's really showing you he's in charge. Reverse the leader roles quick!

 

[musicdeb]

Thanks all for the advice. I have to say that the incident surprised me and I was kinda in shock. We've been training so he knows that I am the boss. I hope this was an isolated incident.

 

[Ghostsword]

Hope all gets resolved.

As a qualified military dog trainer I can tell you with certainty that the dog will not know you are the boss because he is in training, but through your actions, consistency and resolve. The dog is trying his luck and will continue to try until he is put in check. You need to curb that back because if it gets to a confrontation he will win for sure. He just does not know that yet. and your job is to ensure that he never finds out.


___________________________

 

[musicdeb]

Thank you, Ghostsword, for the feedback. I'm new to DDB's and it's been a challenging and rewarding experience. He's been with me for about a month now, prior to that he was my son's dog.

What does "in check" mean? I called the trainer and he said to put him to work and train when he does that. Remove the food once I remove him from the area. Titan always has his lead on in the house.

Thanks again!

 

[Oak Hill Farm]

Please follow your trainers advise, I would have advised the same thing. Get a hot dog piece or something he would want more than his food, distract him away and pick up the food. From there I would make him earn every bite., Sits, downs, whatever command he will do before some food. And if you can (I know it's harder with raw, but feed every bite out of your hand and progress to holding the bowl, then bowl on the floor between your feet, ect. Yes it will take a while to feed, but it will be worth it in the long run. You want your dog to trust that you will feed him every day, you give him the food, it's yours, but you'll let him eat. Food aggression is a very instinctual thing. I would also expand the training to NILIF for play and everything else you encounter in your daily routing as your dog might try to challenge you in other ways. (guessing here an behavior of his breed and the age he is).

Not to step on anyone's toes here, but I would advise against taking his food away until the next meal, unless you are sure his aggression wont escalate. Taking his food away permanently can reinforce his belief that obviously you can't be trusted around his food so he should guard it. Also I would advise against meeting aggression with aggression at this point. If you are going to challenge him over his food (ie take it away) or claim it, you have to be 100% sure you are going to win at all costs. That means even if your dog bites you, you are still going to manage to grab the food away and disciplined him with no hesitation. Some dogs will back down easily, others will not. It depends on the dog, but not seeing it in person, or knowing your dog I would advise to play it the safe way with distraction.

He could also be a little unsure of everything right now due to the move also you mentioned he is not feeling well, and probably wasn't a few days before you noticed he was ill. (Dogs are great at hiding illness). Dogs will be a little more "prickly" and protective of themselves when they are not feeling well. Its a natural protective instinct of every species.

 

[bullyBug]

x2 OHF's advise. I would never just assume anyone can safely take a dog's food away. The OP can very well get mauled in the process. Especially since she is a new owner to the dog.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Sorry if I didn't explain the "checked" comment. What I meant by checked is that he needs to understand that YOU are incharge not him. Like Oak Hill and the trainer mentioned make him work for his food.

I can put Food in front of Thor and he won't touch it until I say so. I can also stop him while he's eating all with simple voice commands no matter what he eats. Why because he knows who wears the pants in this relationship .

 

[Ghostsword]

Yes, checked means that you are in charge, not him.

Do not meet aggression with aggression, and feed from your hand if possible. If you take the food away he will think that you are coming close to his food to take it away.

I don't know what breed of dog you have, but if the dog was your son's and now you have the dog for a month, sadly in the dog's head you are not his owner or handler.

Also do associate training with food, not training with taking food away.

When training a dog your main goal to have the dog want to do it, not do it as a punishment, that is the worst you can do.


___________________________

 

[musicdeb]

Thanks to all who have posted with great advice! Ghostsword, Titan is a Dogue de Bordeaux at 110 lbs. For the last couple of days, we have trained and trained. I will place a piece of meat on the floor and tell him to leave it. He's doing really well with that command. When I feed him, I make him sit and stay until I give the command to eat. He does very well with that command too.

I agree with all of you to not take his food away. I, too, believe that reinforces his belief that I will take his food from him.

My hope is that he will one day learn that I am his boss. It's been about a month and I need to be persistent and patient.

Again, thank you everyone for the great advice!

deb

 

[Ghostsword]

Yes a month is too little time to get hard with him, but you are doing the good thing of curbing the food aggression. Yeah, you manage the food and make him trust that you are not going to take it away from him.

Dogue de Bordeux are good family dogs, but they take time to attach to a new owner, so it makes sense that he is taking the time to trust you and respect you.

 

[musicdeb]

Thanks Ghostsword for your words of encouragement! Titan and I will make it... I'm determined...