Food guarding, also known as resource guarding, is a common behaviour in dogs where they display aggressive or defensive behaviour when approached while eating. Addressing this behaviour is essential to maintain a peaceful mealtime environment for both your dog and your family. Here are some strategies to help you deal with food guarding.

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Our Top 10 Tips for dealing with food guarding

Recognise the Signs: Understand the signs of food guarding, which may include growling, snarling, stiffening, or snapping when approached while eating or near their food bowl

Avoid Confrontation: Respect your dog's space during mealtime and avoid reaching for or taking away their food while they're eating to prevent triggering defensive behaviour.

Implement Management Strategies: Manage food guarding behavior by feeding your dog in a separate room or using a food-dispensing toy to encourage slower eating and reduce the likelihood of resource guarding.

Desensitisation and Counterconditioning: Gradually desensitise your dog to people approaching while they're eating by pairing the presence of people with positive experiences, such as receiving treats or praise, to change their association with being approached.

Trade-Up Training: Teach your dog that giving up their food or possessions results in something better. Offer high-value treats or toys in exchange for relinquishing their food bowl or other items they may be guarding.

Practice Obedience Commands: Incorporate obedience training into mealtime routines to establish control and reinforce your role as the provider of food. Use commands like "sit," "stay," or "leave it" to manage your dog's behavior around food.

Respect Your Dog's Boundaries: Respect your dog's signals and avoid pushing them beyond their comfort zone. If they display signs of food guarding, back off and seek guidance from a professional dog trainer or behaviourist.

Consistency and Patience: Be consistent in your approach to addressing food guarding and patient in your efforts to modify your dog's behaviour. Rome wasn't built in a day, and changing ingrained behaviours takes time and dedication.

Create a Positive Mealtime Environment: Create a positive association with mealtime by adding enjoyable experiences, such as interactive feeding toys, food puzzles, or feeding meals by hand, to make mealtime more engaging and less stressful for your dog.

Seek Professional Help if Needed: If your dog's food guarding behaviour persists or escalates despite your efforts, seek guidance from a professional dog trainer or behaviourist who can provide personalised strategies and support to address the issue effectively.

From the experts: Counterconditioning involves changing your dog's emotional response to a situation or trigger. In the case of food guarding, pair the presence of people near their food with something positive, like high-value treats or toys. Start at a distance where your dog is comfortable and gradually decrease the distance over time as they learn to associate people approaching with positive outcomes.

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