dogs and food

When he starts to growl, tell him "quiet" and take his food or bone away. Wait a few moments and then give it back. If you do this often enough, and consistently, he will stop.

We combat that by taking it away. When we first get a dog, the first few days, we sit with it while its eating, put our hands in the dish, take the food and treat untill it stops reacting to it. Then we let it be. Then do again with the next meal. It only takes about 2 days ( with every dog we have ever owned and fostered some fosters are taken on as adults so its never too late) to get them to ignore you, or stop eating untill you move your hand. We do this because we have a 3 year old, if the dog is going to nip while eating, we want it to be us not our son. We have never had an issue with nipping, although we have gotten a bit while they were eating in the first few days. But they stop. Always do. Reward every good behavior with lots of love.

You have a child, then you should have already been testing this pup with his food since day dot. When he is eating you need to play (take it how you want) with his food, never take it directly off him though, just hold it up in sight. Heaps of praise when he good, you have to be consistant and irregular/unpredicable (just like a child). Good luck with it.

You have to let him know your boss. Its your food. Make him sit and you play in his bowl. Touch his food. Make it clear that its yours and untill he can be good he cant have it. Let him eat a small portion then take it away. Make him sit and give it back. Keep this up everytime you feed him. When hes eating you need to touch his food. If he growls you take his food. Eventually he will get the point. Your the boss and you tell him he can eat. I did this with my pup and she wont eat till i tell her to. She will sit and wait till I say ok. You have to get it undercontrol or someone could get hurt. Be stern and patient. Good luck to you!

Wow I am surprised that no one has my view on this yet. Well everyone don't hate me, but.. I handle this one the same way every time. Smack'em sorry, but i won't have a dog "nipping" my child. Not gonna happen if they live in my house they will know thier place and i will not forget it either, the dog is a dog. i can get another dog. The child is a human and i cannot replace my child. so if a dog in my house growls at ANYONE it is smacked with something that makes a loud noise and i don't givem a chance to see it coming either. I don't mean you have to beat him and i wouldn't get his nose, (this i hear is a very sensative place on a dog) but use a good and crinkly paper and THWAP right on his a@@. There NOW YOUR THE BOSS.

You have to show him you are the boss and then he won't do it. Be firm with him, don't give him a bone until he sits for it and then let him have it, but after a while take it from him and put it away, he has to know that you are in charge,don't show fear if he growls, tell him no firmly. Same when you feed him, make him sit and do not let him eat until you say and then when he is finished take the dish away, don't leave food out for him all the time, he needs to know that you control the food. It is diferent with water they always have to have access to this. make sure when you walk him on the lead that he knows you are in control, keep him at your side, don't let him pull. Once he knows you are the boss and not him he will be fine, don't let him on the furniture and don't let him have lots of toys as they seem them as possesions which can denote dominance. Control what and when you give him things to play with and after a while take them off him and be firm saying no if he growls. When you have a dog they see you and the family as part of the pack and he needs to know that in this pack he is at the bottom, he will be a happier dog for this as it can cause them anxiety if they feel responsible for everyone.