Food Aggression Prevention. - Page 6

Right, at above. I no prob with any of my gsd over food, or empty food dish ( for some reason, nearly every one that has been born here will pick up empty dish and give it to me, of their own accord and they initiate the behavior on their own) Can't say the same about my husky/wolf sleddogs, tho. Two of them, I had to give a very hard 'sit' command before I could take away their empty food bowl, as they would bare teeth and snarl if I attempted to take it otherwise. They were littermate brothers, both were leaders in the team, (not togethr as they would have fought).
People do tend to create problems that are not there to begin with.
The op's dog is only four months old, so doubt he could 'take face off'.
If a person is going to 'see what the reaction is' when they stick fingers into a dog's food while the dog is eating, be prepared for the dog to react on his terms....otherwise, don't do it.

Bosco is a German shepherd puppy. Pedigree is here.

 

I have not placed my fingers in Bosco's food bowl. He was eating faster when I would move to/from his food bowl, so I wanted to associate myself with something positive around his bowl instead of something bad or dangerous. Placing my fingers in his bowl would've been counterproductive.

 

So, I'd add food while he ate so he'd associate me with adding food, not taking it away.

 

An update, though: When feeding him his breakfast this morning, he did not eat any faster as I moved away, so I moved towards him and he still didn't eat faster. I repeated this a few times with no change in how quickly he ate.

Prager: "@susie : No you muisunderstood what I am saying . I reword it :
I am not saying that all + training leads to this. I am only saying that all such aggression is caused by such training or no adequate training of +/- or no training at all."

No, I don´t think I misunderstood....

This behavior may be genetics ( possessivness ), or it may be the result of raising the litter ( maybe not enough milk or food, and the puppies had to fight for it, maybe this pup was the smallest of the litter and had to fight for its food because of its seize - several scenarios are possible in this case ). You don´t need to own a "gangsta" dog to see a behavior of this kind...

This doesn´t need to have anything to do with any leadership problems, and in this case no "- training" will help. The owner may be no part of the problem ( unwished behavior ) at all, he/she just happens to be there....

It´s a PUPPY! I´d just hang around while the pup is eating, moving fore- and backwards, as "normal" as possible, but not interacting (petting) right now. No other dogs around during feeding for the next months, not even behind the closed door.
After a while I´d start to touch him like accidentally, but again, no big deal.

During the same time ( not combined with feeding! ) I´d start to teach the "out" command, and the "sit". So you do have some tools to work with, in case nothing else helps.

Forgot to mention: I´d think about a bowl fixed in the heigth of the pups neck ( more comfortable, he doesn´t need to pick the food from the ground - may sound weird, but sometimes a minor change in the routine is able to help ), and I´d always feed at the SAME PLACE.

Good luck!

Just read your post - sounds good!

Reliya - it sounds as if Bosco is getting more accustomed to your presence as you indicated. Therefore this would tell me that it's just a matter of time & bonding, then you should not have issues with any potential food aggression.

Op, sounds like your pup is going to be fine. I think he needs to trust you won't take his food. As for 'adding while he's eating'....he likely doesn't have the concept of 'food being added', just that you're interfering. If you want to add food, for a good impression by him of you, I'd add food after he licks bowl clean.

I wasn't suggesting that it was you who put fingers in food, but i was responding to someone else who mentioned it...seems to be a practiced recommended by some 'trainers' :-) 

Joanro, I don´t think it´s a "bonding" problem. The pup ate faster, when the OP moved away from the pup, not only, when the OP tried to interact with Bosco.

There are two problems:

1. pup defending the food / not willing to share
2. pup is anxious to be without the OP ( eating faster as soon as the owner moves away, the attempt to eat AND to follow )

Does this make sense?

Joanro, I did that with my older German shepherd female, and I think it helped her to not get food aggressive. Like I said, I can go take things out her mouth with no issue.

As far as littermates causing aggression, Bosco was a singleton. He was the only puppy to survive in his litter.

"As far as littermates causing aggression, Bosco was a singleton. He was the only puppy to survive in his litter."

That much about my assumptions...

Is it possible he isn´t used to any "company" because he was a singleton, and he simply doesn´t know how to deal with it now?

There is always a reason for any behavior, but sometimes it´s difficult to find out...

I'm with Susie on her scenario #2. Especially since now we know Bosco is a PUPPY and a singleton. He's hungry and doesn't want to lose sight of Reliya. Two important needs driving Bosco at the same time!

Time is all you need. And keep your hands out of the food bowl! LOL. I agree with Joan, add more after he's cleaned up the first one, if you want to make a better, almighty giver of food impression.

I also do exactly what Susie said in her excellent and long post, about casual contact etc. during feeding, as you progress.

A few days ago, I stuck my hand up to my wrist, into Mojo's mouth and retrieved from his gullet some nasty meat wrappers (waxy/plastic?) stuff by putting one hand over his muzzle to open his mouth, and reaching inside his maw with my other one. This nasty stuff was almost swallowed, but I got it out with no protests from him. Stay calm, be the one your dog trusts, and all will be as it should be.