I have never had to deal with food aggression, but one of the reason is because the few that I ever saw a potential for aggression in, was nipped in the bud. When I was a young girl, I had a large Heinz 57 that, as a pup, showed potential for food aggression, so every time I fed him, I purposely would sneak my hand slowly toward his food (making sure he saw me trying to steal it) and when he growled, I gave him a whipping, lol. By the time he was grown, I could put my hand in his plate and he would walk away. As I said, I was YOUNG! lol. It was not a good idea, because while he did learn to not bother my hand and too back away, he also got to the point that anything, animal or human, could go to his bowl and he would walk away from his food. That is no better than food aggression.
Since then I have grown up and come to understand that it is ok to be a little protective of your food. It is natural. The idea is to draw the line. My dogs will not growl at me at all, but it is ok for them to growl when another dog is in their food! After all, I would growl if I was eating and someone came and took food off my plate! Pepper guards his bowl and will growl at any other animal that goes near it, but one command from me and he will let them have it. And if they are brave enough to try to take it without my say so, he may give a "snap" but will not bite and if they persist, will walk away and let them have it. To me, this is an acceptable level of aggression. Marsha ----- Original Message ----- From: ETM To: Mary Jensen Cc: [email protected] Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 6:04 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Help, my Chihuahua is confusing me.... I think some animals are more feral than others, more aware of feast and famine possibilities, worried about their next meal, what might happen if the Big Dog isn't around to feed them. I had one Chihuahua (the one I recently lost and loved the most of any dog I ever had) who was more feral than other dogs and who hid and "buried" food just in case .... The saddest part is that a Mini Pin one year older than the Chi knew he could rely on the Chi not eating everything right away, knew he could depend on the Chi burrowing in a bed and hiding the treasure, and waited and stole it the minute he had a chance. It used to bring tears to my eyes. One so totally capable of trying to care for himself and the other so domesticated he stole from a roommate. Both are gone now. I never have taken food from a dog once given to it. I have taken food NOT given to a dog from it. There is a difference and dogs seem to sense a command to drop unknown food. But if there is ever any setup that is going to bring out a snap or a bite, I think it will relate to food. I don't understand handling food once given to a dog. I can still remember parental warnings (a hundred years ago) to me (and siblings) -- don't go near the dog when he is eating! I told it to my son. He tells it to his sons. Doesn't matter the size of the dog. A dog will protect his food and if he didn't I would think something is wrong. Elaine > Hi Group, Pixil, my little 16 month old female > Chihuahua has a bit of an issue. A few months > back, after given a treat, she would crouch her > back and lower her head and look at us as if to > say, "Don't come near me". So, I thought that > behavior was not good, so I called her to come > to me with the treat, and she would not. So, I > went to her and spoke calmly to her as I was > going to take the treat from her. She growled at > me! That was enough out of her so I grabbed the > treat from her and she snapped at me, but I > successfully got the treat away from her. > Anyway, this behavior has repeated itself a few > times since then. Now, when I give her a treat > and she hunches over and gets that "Panther" > type look, I have demanded that she return the > treat to me. She now drops the treat and comes > and sits on my lap, but will not touch the > treat, even when I try to give it to her. So, I > sat down on the couch with her in my lap and > placed the treat on a blanket on the couch for > her to eat, she did not move, and she growled at > me while in my lap!!! Then, my husband came to > see what was up and she growled at him, no > snapping or anything, just a little soft > "growling". I cannot figure what is up with > that behavior? <snip>
