When a dog acts aggressively to defend its food, it can get really bad. In addition to endangering humans or other dogs in the house, it can eventually lead to the dog developing a possessive attitude toward everything.
When faced with other people while eating, a dog will become extremely defensive and may even use threats to shoo them away. This behavior is known as food aggression. Food rage can be directed at other people, animals, or a combination of the two. The behavior is not only observed during feeding times but also during treat times. Three types of food aggression should be avoided:
While some people might believe that all instances of food aggression are the result of a dominance display, this isn’t always the case. Food aggression stems partly from inherited pack behavior. Following a successful hunt, the alpha dogs in a dog pack always eat first, with the other dogs following suit depending on their position in the pack and consuming the leftovers. For an alpha dog, showing food aggression is a form of dominance; however, for dogs with lower status in the pack, it may be a sign of fear or anxiety. Remember that in the wild, dogs never know when or where they will find their next meal, so it is instinctive for them to devour any food that is available at any time and to protect it from anything that might be a threat.
When a dog eats, his body may stiffen and his head may drop in an attempt to “hover” around and protect the food. Some other signs to watch for:
A dog can display any or all of these signs. How to determine the severity of the situation based on your dog’s growling, lunging, or biting has already been covered.
Sign up to receive practical tips on pet nutrition and health that more than 80,000 animal lovers read each month.
How Do I Stop My Dogs from Fighting over Food?
Sibling rivalry isn’t just for humans. Even dogs from the same family can get into arguments. It could get worse if their human pack leader doesn’t intervene and manage it. But with the right approach, canine conflict can be resolved. Dogs can become overly possessive of their belongings, food, and even their personal space. If dogs could talk, they probably would say similar things to children, such as “that’s mine,” “he got more than me, no fair,” and “she’s touching me, make her stop.” Since food is typically the source of the most disputes between dogs, owners of multiple puppies should be aware of how to handle food aggression between dogs.
Dogs are all individuals. Some people will happily eat with others while showing the greatest respect for one another. Others, however, will eat greedily while keeping an eye on their companion’s bowl in anticipation of a chance to make a move. Most people fall somewhere in the middle, being close friends who occasionally share food with one another. And because of their age, household changes, or even their ability to sense their owners’ stress, the dynamics between dogs in a family can change.
What To Do When Your Dogs Fight Over Treats And Chews
Lindsay Pevny is a copywriter for pet businesses and a blogger at LittleDogTips, where she offers helpful advice on how to raise a small dog that is content and well-behaved.
You enjoy giving your good dogs Jones Natural Chews treats and chews as rewards, but occasionally, someone becomes overly greedy.
Fearful issues in my home include resource guarding and dog-to-dog food aggression. Matilda, a 4-pound chihuahua-minpin, and Cow, a 30-pound lab-heeler, make it especially spooky. Even though they both have a tendency to become greedy, Cow always has the upper hand due to her size and is capable of instantly seriously hurting her “little” sister.
Growingl and attacking other dogs in pursuit of food is instinctual behavior that dates back to a time when dogs were wild and food was scarce and not readily available by the 30-pound bag. Even when there is enough food for everyone, many dogs still feel the need to act out when they see bones and chews.
You shouldn’t permit your dogs to engage in canine-to-canine resource guarding and food aggression in your home just because it’s a natural instinct. Nor should you punish this behavior. Fear is the driving force behind resource protection—both the acute fear of losing a tasty treat and the ingrained, primal fear of starving to death.
You must help your guarder feel secure in her food supply while urging your food thief to behave better if you want to stop and manage food fights. Here’s what I do to protect Cow and Matilda:
Are your dogs best friends until the pig ear party begins, or do they fight over a particular toy every time you sit down to eat?
You need to stop your dog’s triggers once you’ve identified them. Prevention isn’t always possible. Realistically, life happens. However, you should never put your dogs in an environment that you know will make them aggressive.
Even if your dogs don’t particularly enjoy kibble, they should never eat from the same bowl. A minimum of 4 feet should be left between each dog’s eating area; however, the more space, the better. Encourage dogs to only consume from their own bowl.
Your dog’s crate should be her own personal space. Feed your dogs bones and chews in secure crates with plenty of space between them, or better yet, keep them in entirely different rooms while they munch on filling snacks.
Long-lasting edible chews may need to be discontinued until your dogs learn to get along if you don’t have crates or it will be difficult to keep them apart.
You can still give your dogs treats like lamb lung puffs; anything that can be consumed in a few bites is fine. We have been enjoying these puffs because they are easy to break up for training and because I can make them softer and more pungent by briefly soaking them in hot water before training. Yum!.
Giving multiple dogs treats at once can be risky. They might both go for a treat at once if you drop it between them. I had this problem when Cow and Matilda first met. They didn’t yet understand the concept of taking turns.
I taught Cow to wait for her treat before attempting to steal Matilda’s because she was more frequently the protector. I would treat Matilda first, then use my other hand to quickly, quickly deliver a treat to Cow’s mouth. She picked up on this fast.
When you accidentally drop a treat between your dogs, say “good dog!” or another quick sound to stop them from simultaneously lunging for it. Swiftly offer another treat to whoever didn’t get the first.
These turn-taking lessons ought to be conducted with caution, by an adult, and only in minor situations. Testing your dogs could push them too far. It could make the behavior worse. When dealing with dog aggression, please exercise extreme caution, and if you’re unsure that you can keep your dogs safe, consult a trainer or behaviorist.
What To Do About Food Aggression in Dogs
When you see that your dog is displaying food aggression, the first step is to assess your dog’s overall behavior. Is he only being possessive with his food, or is the behavior extending to other things, like favorite napping spots, toys, or even people in the pack? If the behavior extends to more than just food, then your dog is displaying general resource guarding, and you may need to employ the techniques we list below; in any case, your dog is showing aggression over an object (not just food).
Additionally, consider your dog’s general demeanor and level of assurance. If your dog is dominant by nature, you must firmly and calmly assert your position as the pack leader. On the other hand, if he is naturally timid or fearful, you will need to help him gain confidence by playing with him, teaching him new things, and reassuring him that his food is secure when people are around.
Decide whether your dog is aggressively mild, moderate, or severely aggressive. If the situation is severe, you might want to seek professional advice in order to reduce the dog’s aggression to a manageable level.
FAQ
How do I stop my dogs from fighting over food?
- One Dog per Bowl. Sharing a bowl encourages aggressive eating and turns meals into a contest.
- Separate Eating Areas. …
- Teach Table Manners. …
- Hand Feed Them. …
- Pick Bowls Up. …
- Feed on a Schedule. …
- People Eat First. …
- Keep It Calm.
Is it normal for dogs to be aggressive over food?
Food aggression is quite common in dogs. According to one study, nearly 20% of all dogs display signs of food aggression. Resource guarding, a behavior that has been passed down through evolution from the time when dogs had to guard every meal or resource they had, is a type of aggression.
Can dog food aggression be cured?
Food aggression can be reduced by gradually introducing your dog to your presence during mealtimes and hand-feeding. The first step in preventing food aggression is understanding what causes it and how to address it. It doesn’t necessarily indicate that your dog is a bad puppy if they become overly possessive of their food.
Why does my dog fight its food?
Dogs who exhibit food aggression become possessive of their food, which is a form of resource guarding. For a variety of reasons, including to assert their dominance or out of fear of people or other animals stealing their food, dogs may display food aggression or become reactive around it.