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Julie.SAL asked in PetsDogs · 8 years ago

Why is my puppy food aggressive?

I have a 4 month old Pomeranian puppy whom I got from a reputable breeder when he was 8 weeks old. He has always been fed and cared for but he is occasionally food aggressive. Mostly it's when he gets food or something he isn't supposed to have (underwear, socks, etc) and I try to take it from him he growls and tries to bite my fingers. I don't know why he does this, because he has plenty of food and toys and is very loved. Why does he do this and what should I do? Do you think it'll stop when he's neutered? Other than this happening occasionally, he is the sweetest, most wonderful, best tempered dog ever. I'm throughly in love. Thank you!

5 Answers

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  • ?
    Lv 7
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    The only way to stop this behavior is to correct it.

    You should work with puppy and teaching him the "Leave it" command. To start, hold a low value treat closed up in your hand and allow the pup to sniff and lick your hand. As soon as he backs off, open your hand and give him a small taste of the treat with your other hand. Next, open your hand containing the treat and let him see it, if he lunges at the treats, close your hand. (at this point in the training do not speak to him) When he sits back, treat him again. Keep opening your hand and showing him, and treating when he doesn't lunge. Eventually he will stop lunging. You can change this up, once he gets it, and put the treat on the floor by him. When he goes for it, cover it with your hand. When he backs off treat him. This is helping to teach your pup to control his impulse.

    Keep practicing until you are POSITIVE that your pup will not lunge for the treats in any scenario. At that point, you can start adding the command "Leave It". When the pup puts his nose up to your hand, or go towards the treat on the floor, say "Leave it", and when he does leave it, treat and praise him.

    After your pup knows the command, you can start implementing it. When he has a toy or sock that you want him to leave, give him the command and when he does, treat him.

    As far as the food, teaching the pup to control his impulse will help. Make him sit and stay before you place his food on the floor. If he lunges for the bowl, tell him "Leave It". And do not let him have his food until he is calm, and focused on you. You can give him a command, such as "Okay", when you are sure he's calm and ready for his food.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    discontinue bone aggression is to coach your canine to peer you as alpha. GSDs want a robust, CONSISTANT percent leader. You ought to take that bone away like you're positive and mean industry. This will grow to be a more critical hindrance if you don't get a control on it NOW whilst she continues to be so young. Go away the canine's leash on, provide it a bone at the same time nonetheless retaining the leash and let her settle with it. Then take the bone away. The second earlier than she growls(she will stop chewing the bone and her eyes will lift to observe your hand or to make eye contact with you) give the leash an instantaneous and very speedy snap and then take the bone away. This leash correction works satisfactory with a Martingale Collar which will also be bought at a pet store. The Martingale is an extraordinarily humane collar, better than the pinch or choke chain. Repeat this procedure a couple of times a day except she backs off, with out the necessity of a leash correction, as you bend over to get the bone. This challenge will have to now not be taken lightly as GSDs develop up to be very robust dogs. There should be no room for negotiation with this pup. She wishes to grasp that you would be able to be a trustworthy, responsible chief. Find a legit trainer to your field, ask for referrals, and research their credentials. Keep far faraway from Pet store Obedience lessons! First-class of success together with your new pup :)

  • 8 years ago

    I think you just need to start some obedience training. I also have a Chihuahua puppy who gets like that sometimes, we're working on training, and I've seen some improvement already. every time he takes something he's not supposed to offer him a treat in exchange for the item, but don't give it until he gives it first. then give him one of his own toys, and make sure you say good boy, pet him and all that. after a while he gets the idea. it's very important not to yank anything from his mouth, this teaches to dog to fight for what he wants and he could become very aggressive when he grows up. good luck, and congrats on your new puppy

  • JTP
    Lv 4
    8 years ago

    Well he is probably food aggressive because he could have gotten his food taken away from him when he was younger by his litter mates. I think this is a possibility, because all the pups likely ate from one bowl, he could have got the least if he was the weakest or something.

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