When it comes to food, our dogs can get really gross!
Not only in terms of their preferred tastes, such as the taste of decay, garbage and spoiled food leftovers, but also the way many a four-legged friend shows in relation to his feed.
Does your dog growl while eating or defend its food? You’re right not in the mood for him to threaten you?
That’s good, because your dog can and should learn to control their appetite for food.
In this article, we explain what food envy is all about and how you can turn your dog into a relaxed connoisseur.
In a nutshell: limit your dog’s food envy
The good news first: food envy is easy to get under control if you work on it continuously and in small steps.
Maybe your dog has had to fight for his food in the past, whether it was due to many siblings and feeding mistakes from the owners or because he had to fend for himself on the street.
Defending resources is part of the normal behavior of our dogs. But it goes without saying that you don’t have to be growled at. Your dog can understand that, too, when he learns that he doesn’t have to fight for his food, that you don’t take anything away from him and that he gets something regularly.
You are also welcome to check out our Dog Training Bible. There you will find many helpful tips for a relaxed handling of your dog!
Why do dogs defend their food?
It is in the dog’s nature to be self-sufficient and to defend its resources. A dog’s most important resource is its food.
Already at puppy age the fight for the most coveted teats on Mama’s breast begins. The little ones struggle and push each other around to get the most of it. This is where you can see who has great fighting spirit.
However, food envy per sé is mainly caused by human intervention (feeding errors) or bad conditions for the dog (hunger).
How does food envy arise?
Most dogs are reluctant to share their food. Foreign dogs have lost nothing of this valuable resource – one can understand that, but:
If your dog starts to growl, freeze, or even snap at you while you’re eating, that’s where the fun ends!
But how is it that a dog feels the need to defend its food so strongly?
This is often due to feeding errors caused by humans.
Feeding mistake no. 1: Hectic atmosphere when eating
Many breeders find that puppies learn to share their food by eating from a large shared bowl.
However, that is not true. The little ones have to assert themselves against their siblings in order to get something. They devour and develop a hunger for food.
Feeding mistake #2: Taking away food
Yes, your dog should always accept if you take away his bowl or chew bone. He shouldn’t have to worry about you doing this all the time, though.
This creates insecurity, his trust in you will suffer, and he may start defending his food.
Can food envy arise from bad experiences?
In addition to the feeding mistakes just mentioned, it can also be the case that your dog brings back food envy from the past.
Have you adopted a dog from an animal shelter? (We think that’s great!)
Don’t forget that many animal protection dogs and former street dogs have already had to fight to survive! Many of them suffered great hunger and constantly had to assert themselves against stronger ones.
Maybe that’s the reason for your dog grumbling at the food bowl?
Train food envy away? It works with these 5 tricks!
It doesn’t matter too much why your dog is defending his bowl. The approach to making him a relaxed connoisseur is the same.
Tip 1: Create a relaxed atmosphere
First, you should make sure your dog is in a relaxed and calm atmosphere can eat. Instruct other family members to leave him alone during this time.
Tip 2: Establish a routine
lead one routine on so that your dog knows when food is available and that he gets something regularly.
Tip 3: Portion the food
Take small steps: share them Feed ration in several portions on. Once the bowl is empty, you can carefully refill it. In this way, your dog will learn that your hand on the bowl is welcome because it provides delicious supplies.
Tip 4: Feed from your hand
Is your dog a fearful eater and tends to inhale his food in no time, give him a try for a while to feed from the hand. This creates trust and strengthens your bond.
Tip 5: Create distance between multiple dogs
Is your second dog jealous of your first dog? create enough space between the two so that each is left alone at his bowl. Make it clear to the dog that is defending its food in a clear voice that it is not allowed to do so.
Explainer video
Conclusion
No matter what your motive Dog defends his foodthanks to you he can now learn that he can save himself this negative energy.
make one relaxed atmosphere for your excited eater and let him watch while you prepare his food.
If you small portions gradually put it in the bowl, your dog will learn that your hand gives him great things and doesn’t take anything away from him.
As always, the most important tools are patience, serenity, understanding, trust, respect and love, among others.
Would you like to learn more about the behavior of our dogs? Then take a look at our dog training bible. Here you will find valuable tips and tricks for dealing with your dog properly.