Does your dog exhibit food aggressive behavior or resource guarding? Many do, and it can be a very difficult issue to deal with. Sometimes, dogs will be food aggressive, but be ok with their toys. Either way, if we can fix it, that’s better. This week, dog training expert, Justin Silver, has tips about how to do it. We’re getting near the end of our 10-week training series, Tuesdays with Justin; Dog Training at Home. If there’s a burning issue you have that you’d like Justin to address, let us know!

And, this is a #giveaway! Every week, we’re giving away a copy of Justin and Dave Donnenfeld’s new book, The Language of Dogs, a great read with really helpful tips on how to overcome issues and do basic training with your pups. Details on the giveaway are below, after the post. So, without further adieu, let’s tackle…..

Food Aggression & Resource Guarding OR Beware of my Stuff!

by Justin Silver with Dave Donnenfeld

It is instinctive for dogs to be protective around food, belongings like toys, even territory. Many people are overly concerned by resource guarding and food aggression. While it can be a difficult issue, we must respect the fact that we are asking our dogs to behave in a way that belies their God-given instincts.

Here are some tips for the fix:

I. Desensitization

• Regularly hand-feed your dog
• Have your dog earn its meals via training
• Put treats into the dog’s bowl while it is eating
• With chews and toys, practice “leave it” and “drop it,” so your dog becomes accustomed to relinquishing things.**

**When your dog has a toy in its mouth, offer a treat and say “drop it.” As you give the treat, say “take it.” It’s an easy way to get started, even if they don’t know the “leave it” command, just yet.

II. Boundaries (for them & us)

No one wants to be bothered while eating, including dogs.

• Make only necessary contact when the dog is eating
• You should not be afraid to approach your dog

III. Practice

• Standing a few yards away say, “Hi, puppy!” and toss a few treats
• Repeat every thirty seconds, until the meal is finished
• Perform this until there are no signs of guarding or aggression **

** This can take anywhere from a week to a couple of months, so patience is a needed virtue and manage your expectations.

• With time, move closer to the bowl when you drop the treats
• Monitor tension levels and keep pushing the boundary
• If there are any aggressive responses, move back and continue

Note: When approaching reactive dogs, stay on the opposite side of a gate or tether the dog.

IV. Advanced

If you’re able to do all of the above, you’re ready to move on to advanced techniques.

• Stand next to the dog’s bowl, while the dog is eating
• Offer a treat from your hand or a lick of peanut butter off a spoon
• Walk away; return and repeat
• Stand next to the dog, say hi and gently touch his back
• As the dog looks up, offer a treat
• After he’s eaten, pick up and handle his food bowl, as he watches
• Put a treat in the bowl and have the dog eat, while you hold the bowl
• Place a treat in the bowl and put it on the floor
• When he finishes, say, “Good dog,” and have him sit
• Pick up the bowl, and place another treat in it.

Perform enough repetitions to feel comfortable before moving on. Finally, while the dog is eating some less interesting dry food, place a much more exciting food (such as a piece of chicken) in the bowl. Once you’re able to contend with the above scenarios, guard against relapses by periodically touching your dog and dropping a treat, while the dog is eating.

Sharing is caring…

Finally, use common courtesy and respect the dog’s right to enjoy an uninterrupted meal provided, of course, your pup has been trained and put through the paces. Best of luck!

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Thanks, Justin and Dave! Here’s a short video I found to show you the warning signs a dog will give, prior to the actual snarl and, of course, prior to biting.

 The Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of Justin & Dave’s new book, The Language of Dogs, a great dog training at home manual that’s easy to read and chock full of practical training tips that work. I reviewed it in an earlier post here.

To enter, just join the Bark & Swagger family! If you’re already a member, you’re eligible! The giveaway begins Tuesday, June 9 at 7am EST and ends Sunday, June 14 at 11:59pm EST. Each week, we’ll announce a new winner and start the giveaway again.

Week 7’s winner is Jason D. Congratulations, Jason!

To get more info, great tips and fun pictures, visit Justin on:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

What have you tried for your food aggressive or resource guarding dog? Has it worked? Share your tips with us, too!

Victoria Stilwell and Summit moderator, John Hockenberry

I went to a really wonderful event recently put on by Purina, called the Better with Pets Summit. In its sophomore year, the Summit focused on how the human-pet bond is evolving, and how innovation, technology and new thinking is changing our relationships with our pets. It was a fascinating day-long event here in New York City, with master of ceremonies John Hockenberry, host of public radio’s “The Takeaway.” And, kudos to Purina, for bringing together some of the brightest minds in all different realms of the pet space.

Because of our ongoing challenges with our rescue dog, Jasper, I wanted to hear what positive training guru, Victoria Stilwell, had to say about aggressive behaviors in dogs, and to have the opportunity to speak with her about Jasper, in particular. So, I was excited to sit in on her session.

The Power of Positive Training

Stilwell’s session focused on the power of positive training; why it’s more humane, is learned faster and lasts longer than fear-based training. She talked about how old methods of training where you needed to show your dog who’s boss, including doing terrible things like flipping your dog over and holding him down to display your dominance, has done so much harm to the critically important human-canine bond. Nourishing and developing that bond is what creates those amazingly trained dogs, who look so happy to please us and eager do what’s asked of them.

And now, science has actually proven that point. Dogs were conditioned over months, via positive training, to lie perfectly still in an MRI machine, so their brain waves could be observed and recorded when stimulated with positive experiences. What scientists found, was when the dog’s parent entered the room, a part of their brain lit up that registers pleasure and the anticipation of something great. Just like us. We now know, through proven science, that dogs feel emotions just like humans. Pretty amazing, right? All the more reason to abandon any fear-based training techniques, when you think of the stress and pain it inflicts on our precious pets.

Me (having a bad hair day-LOL) and Victoria, at the Summit

My Interview with Victoria Stilwell

I was fortunate enough to be able to meet up with Victoria backstage, and ask her some questions (prior to the interviews, I’d filled her in on our little man and his issues). For all of you who have fear aggressive dogs, I hope this is helpful.

B&S: Victoria, do fear aggressive dogs ever fully recover?

VS: A smaller percentage do and a larger percentage don’t. They get better, but they’re never 100%. But, look at it like this. No human can say their behavior, 100%  of the time in the future, won’t ever be influenced by fear, that they’ll always be happy, that no one will ever scare them. We can’t predict the future.

When people say fear aggressive dogs are not predictable, that’s not really true. They’re completely predictable. The thing is, you’re not going to know when your dog is starting to feel that fear. So, that’s where you have to really observe their body language, be really cognizant of the places you’re taking him. For example, if you’re in an elevator and someone wants to get in, let them go. Don’t put him in that position.

There’s always going to be that memory. In humans and dogs, the fear memory doesn’t get erased. But, it serves a purpose; it’s important for their survival.

B&S: What about transference;  Jasper will go to bite me when something triggers him. What do I do?

VS: When a dog is in the red zone, it’s done. They can’t hear you. You have to physically walk away.  You’ve got to get him to do something else, so he’s less focused on what’s scaring him and more on you. I call it the Power Walk; re-directing power from the dog.

B&S: Suppressed behavior is not changed behavior. How do you get to changed behavior in fear aggressive dogs?

VS: It take a while. Remember about the Band Aid coming off quickly? You can’t just go, boom, it’s fixed.  You said it takes a village; it does. You have to have your support system around you. And  patience, and time. And sometimes, the dog will never get to the point where they’re 100%.

B&S: What about medication? Yes or no? When and where?

VS: Depending on the dog, sometimes medication can make it better; sometimes it can make it worse, sometimes it has no effect, whatsoever. But, if your dog is very stressed, try it and see. But, don’t use it just on its on, without all of the other things you’re doing.

(Editor’s Note: Always work with a veterinary behaviorist when evaluating whether to use medication)

Bean, with her favorite, a soccer ball

A Quick Note About Bean

As a quick note, I also got to see veterinary gastroenterologist and nutritionist, Dr. Stan Marks, speak. His session was all about the fascinating and inspiring story of a Pitbull dog named Bean. Bean was a shelter dog, who was diagnosed as a puppy with canine muscular dystrophy. She was slated to be euthanized, until a couple of wonderful doctors became smitten with her incredible will to live and her indomitable spirit. Both human and canine doctors worked side by side to figure out how to tackle this disease and help Bean to live as comfortable and as normal a life as possible.  She underwent years of operations and therapy, which included removing her voice box and installing a tube in her neck, through which she breathes, and surgically implanting a feeding tube in her side. While this all sounds awful, it was necessary to keep Bean alive and allow her to be comfortable. Today,  Bean is a happy, well-adjusted dog with a loving mom and dad (both vets),  and a village of professionals making sure she has everything she needs. Her illness has taught both the human and canine docs much more about how to successfully treat muscular dystrophy. We actually got to meet Bean and here’s a picture of her above. I had goosebumps by the end of Dr. Marks’ talk, and was so honored to meet him and Bean backstage.

In Summary

Victoria Stilwell is one of my key go to trainers for solid, great advice on how to nurture the human-canine bond, while teaching our dogs to be good citizens. We have to step completely away from any training that promotes a dog’s obedience through fear. Shock collars, manhandling, all of those awful techniques, have been proven to do a lot of harm to the human-canine bond that’s so important to a successful relationship with our dogs.  There are some wonderful books from Victoria. You really can’t go wrong so, if you’re interested, I’d look to see if one of them addresses specifically what issue you’re dealing with.

The Purina Better with Pets Summit was a wonderful experience. My fellow dog blogger and friend, Jen DeHaan, was there, too, and is doing a few stories on her experience.  I’d recommend those interested in learning more about what took place that day to go over to Dogthusiast.com and find out.

What training challenges do you have with your dog? Tell me about it in the comments.