Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
These are symptoms of food aggression, a common (yet scary) behavior problem many dog owners face. Per Sniffspot's proprietary research, 25% of dog guardians report having a dog that has had food aggression.
In this article we'll dive into what food aggression is, common situations where you might see aggressive behaviors, how to prevent it from happening in the first place, and how to treat it if your dog already struggles.
You've got this. Let's dive in!
And it makes sense — think about if someone kept trying to stick their fork onto your plate to steal pieces of your favorite meal. You'd probably guard your food by showing signs of aggression, too!
While it often comes from a natural place, resource guarding still needs to be dealt with in order for your dog to thrive in modern human society — especially if they struggle with severe food aggression.
Every dog is an individual, and some pets are more likely to resource guard than others due to a combination of genetic and experiential factors. If your dog shows signs of food aggression or other aggressive tendencies, it does not mean anything bad has happened to them or that you've failed as an owner!
Communal free feeding is likely to cause problems in dogs with possessive tendencies. (Again, those tendencies are a natural instinct in many of our pets!) We recommend giving each dog their own separate meals in separate food bowls (or puzzle toys, if you're going the meal enrichment route). Don't allow dogs to bother each other as they eat. You can do this with management protocols like:
A simple way around mild cases of resource guarding here is the same solution as above: feed multiple pets in different rooms, separated by baby gates, or safely in their own crates.
You can also work to create a positive association with the approach of another pet. For example: When the cat approaches, your dog gets extra treats — nothing gets taken away. (More on training through resource guarding later in this piece.)
In the meantime, give your dog as much space and peace during mealtimes as possible. Make sure everyone in your household knows not to go near the dog during feeding times. Provide them with their food dish and leave them be.
This is a good idea before implementing any training plan. Our pets can be stoic when they're hurting — a thorough vet check is never a bad move.
How does this happen? When your dog only gets access to food through a human, that person is in control. It's natural to remove the food or otherwise react if your dog shows undesirable behavior. Your dog then learns to suppress their warning body language and might appear to “suddenly” snap. We want to avoid this! Your dog already has anxiety around food — and you don't want to make it worse.
Take care to not bother your dog or get in the way of their food. Tossing treats from a few feet away is a better option than putting your hand all the way in your dog's food dish, even if they're very tolerant. You want to create a clear picture that your dog's food is completely safe around you and won't be messed with.
Practicing drop, leave it, and other impulse control exercises (with lots of positive reinforcement to keep your pup motivated) can help too.
At a safe distance where your dog notices you but isn't showing signs of stress (this is called a “threshold” in reactivity training) just hang out calmly while your dog enjoys their meal. Don't make any sudden movements, don't immediately try to get closer, and don't try to distract your dog. Simply coexist with them while the resource is present in their food dish to show that you have no intentions of taking it away.
The simplest way to counter condition your dog's food aggression involves tossing treats into your dog's bowl, or on the floor nearby, as you walk by during their mealtimes. Be sure to keep a safe distance and don't linger over them. You want this to be a positive experience — for your dog to go “hey, when they came by me, I got more things!” — and not to weird them out.
To play the trade game, you need two sets of high-value rewards, such as small pieces of chicken, cheese, or other favorite special treats. First, offer your dog a low-value resource, such as a dry dog biscuit or their regular food. When the dog takes the biscuit, immediately show them the second set of tasty treats and offer them one in exchange. Speak in a conversational tone and keep things calm.
Over time, gradually increase the value of the low-value resource and practice the trade game in different situations.
If you think your food aggressive dog is a bite risk, aren't seeing progress, or just want to know someone else has your back, reach out to a professional force free trainer. They'll be able to offer individualized guidance to set you, your dog, and your entire family up for long-term success depending on the degree of food aggression you're dealing with.
We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers.
The trainers that review our content are reviewed by other trainers to ensure that we have the best quality filters on our content.
These are the trainers who reviewed this article:
Hallie Wells
Owner-Lumos Dog Training, Atlanta, GA
Certified Professional Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP)
Applied Animal Behavior Analysts (UW-AABA)
Danette Johnston
Owner - Dog's Day Out, Ballard, WA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
Licensed AKC CGC Evaluator
NW Coordinator, Doggone Safe
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