Food Aggression In Dogs

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-07-31 03:34

Question: Our Bruno, an eight-month-old male Caucasian Shepherd Dog, behaves extremely aggressively when walking near the food. The first signs of this behavior appeared at 5 months. As you get closer, Bruno starts to grumble, but continues to gnaw on the bone. Later, in a similar situation, he first grabbed my hand. In response, I grabbed the dog and, pressing my back to the ground, began to crush and choke. It seemed that the dog would soon turn off, but he did not stop resisting. To win, I had to beat him. After this test of his strength, Bruno was obedient for a long time. But now, with the onset of puberty, similar cases have resumed. What do I need to do to correct Bruno's behavior?

Janet Len, Germany

Answer: Caucasians are solid, independent animals, and ordinary upbringing (as, for example, for a German shepherd dog) does not suit them well. For Caucasians, play is not in the first place, they are real working dogs, therefore, they need exactingness and regular work.

The training exercises should be based on the dog's obedience to man and the owner's absolute exactingness to his pet (at the same time it is necessary to prove his social superiority). To do this, as a punishment, you need to shake the dog by the scruff of the neck, throw it on its back and achieve impeccable behavior with strictness. Please note: with age, the animal increasingly shows disobedience, striving for leadership. And such a programmed test of the strength of a dog and a person in the future may end not in favor of the latter.

It can be assumed that Bruno has a penchant for leadership. Previously, apparently, he was only a beloved, funny "dog", but as a defensive dog, far from timid, Bruno was not perceived. You should have foreseen this and prevented this from happening, because Bruno's behavior is determined by the breed. It is necessary to engage with him (but not agility, flyball and similar competitions!) Every day for an hour, and between classes, arrange control tests by inviting an instructor.

Classes should be conducted before the completion of puberty in the male. As a result of the new type of exercise, you will only have to direct the dog in the right direction, using food as the dominant stimulus.

First stage. Direct the dog's attention to a bowl of food or a large bone. Command clearly "Take it!" and let me eat. Then give the commands "Fu" and "Sit" and take away the food, while the dog should sit down. Then put the bowl down, but do not go far in order to quickly stop disobedience at the right time.

As soon as the dog understands what they want from him and learns to maintain a given position (sitting), take a short time away. Then go back and pick up the bowl. (Frankly speaking, we would not advise a beginner "Caucasian" to do this trick with an eight-month-old dog alone, and not under the supervision of an experienced trainer! - Ed.) A dog's grumbling, restlessness, grabbing, etc. will follow. Stop right there: " Fu "," Sit ", removing food from the dog. An agitated dog becomes very strong, so tell him "Place" and after the animal calms down, after 5-15 minutes move the bowl back to its original place. Repeat the entire exercise.

If you are persistent, the dog will begin to comply with this rule and take food on the command "Take", after a specified period of time, without showing aggression.

Second stage. After achieving partial success, secure it with a bowl of food (large bone), rewarding the dog for being intelligent and willing to do the right thing.

Place the food within reach of the dog and feed it on command "Take". Let the dog eat properly. For this exercise, you should give the best scar, udder, etc., then you will really have the opportunity to make sure that even a well-fed dog will not succumb to provocation). If the dog breaks down, does not respond to "Fu", "Sit" and shows aggression, pull it away from the feed by the leash and remove it. Send the dog to the location.

Stage three. If Bruno behaves well in the described exercises, then you complicate the task. Approach him with a bone (scar) in his hand, carefully following the behavior of the dog, with the command "Take" give him food and after a while give "Fu", "Sit". For correct behavior, feed him.

If the dog shows even a slight aggression, the food is immediately removed, and you leave and do not return until the animal "cools down". If you repeat these exercises every day, then gradually Bruno will learn a simple rule: Aggression = hunger, submission = food.

It would be wise if these exercises, under your guidance, would be carried out by other family members, since Bruno is now very nice, but sooner or later he will definitely begin to claim all your property, showing aggression.

Prepared by Vera Shaurova, Kurgan, the newspaper "Cat and Dog" 1998 - 7