ROTT N CHATTER, September 1992, Volume 1 Number 2

 

                         NOT WHILE I'M EATING!

 

     Does your favorite Rottie seem to warn you about going near his food

dish while he is eating?  Well, this only one of many behavior problems

caused by either dominant or fear based aggression.  The most common

recommendations for solving this problem used to be beating the dog into

submission, keeping everyone away from him while he is eating, or just

getting rid of the dog.  You could still use any one of these methods and

you may have temporarily put a cap on the problem, but you'll still have a

dog that WANTS to bite while eating.  The real solution is to change the

dog's attitude so that he WANTS 'food bowl' interference.  Hence, BEHAVIOR

MODIFICATION, and that is what this article is about.  How to change your

food aggressive dog into one that wants to share his bowl with you.

     According to behavior specialist Dr. Katherine Houpt at the Cornell

University's Animal Behavior Clinic, it is usually recommended to change a

dog's diet at the onset of this conditioning.  Dr. Houpt believes that a

reduction of the protein content to less than 20 percent may aid in reducing

aggression.  This adjusted diet can be supplemented with fat if the dog

begins to lose weight.

     The following steps should take about six weeks and you may still have

to periodically repeat a few sessions to reinforce the desired behavior.

     Though the following steps were developed for dogs that were already

aggressive at the food dish, they can also be used to condition young pups.

 

STEP 1:  Feed the dog small portions of kibble at a time by hand ONLY.  I

realize this takes a lot of time but it is a crucial step if you really want

success.  Continue for one week before proceeding to the next step.

 

STEP 2:  Feed the dog in a different room and out of a different dish.  Put

the dog on a 'SIT-STAY'.  Place ONE kibble in the dog's dish and push the

dish toward the dog with a stick.  (If you have a golfer in the family, an

iron works great.)  DO NOT place the dish before the dog.  You do not wish

to convey to the dog that the dish belongs to him.  After the dog has eaten

the kibble, remove the dish, again with the stick.  Repeat this process 10

times.  If the dog growls at any time during this procedure wait for 10

minutes before giving the dog another kibble.  When the dog now consistently

lets you push and retrieve the bowl without growling, you are ready to

progress to the next step.

 

STEP 3:  Increase the number of kibble to three in the dish, but after the

dog has taken only one, retrieve the dish.  You have to be quick with the

stick.  If the dog permits you to do this with no growling, return the dish

IMMEDIATELY, however, if the dog should growl push the dish farther away or

remove it for 10 minutes.  The length of time for this step depends on the

individual dog.  Again, once the dog will consistently permit you to

interfere with its food by realizing he gets rewarded for good behavior you

are ready to go to the next step.

 

STEP 4:  When you are confident that the dog will permit you to take his

dish at any time, return his feeding to the normal area, using his own dish.

At this time you can begin to introduce other family members.  Have each

person approach the dog with a teaspoon of something that is VERY EXTRA

TASTY and put it in the dish.  If the dog should growl, retrieve the bowl

for 10 minutes.  Hopefully, you have been quite consistent and the dog has

learned that when someone comes near the food bowl, it means something good

for him while, if he growls, his food is taken away.

 

     With patience and consistency you should have a dog that will let

anyone approach him/her with confidence while eating.