My dog growls at my child after a food incident. What to do?

It's good you are trying to get control of this issue while Bruno is still young. Food guarding or resource guarding can be a serious issue. 1st make sure no children or other pets are around as you try to control this. You can't leave the food or food bowl out for Bruno. This gives him something to guard. Only put it down at meal times and put it down while empty then walk away. Then come back and give him 1-3 pieces In the bowl. Continue to do this so he associates you approaching the food bowl as putting food in not taking it away. Here are some articles with good info. This is a serious behavior issue so if these exercises don't help please seek out a behaviorist who can help with Bruno. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1740 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1462&S=1&SourceID=47 http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/resource-guarding-treatment-and-prevention

This sounds like a difficult situation for all of you. Dogs can growl for a variety of reasons as a warning to other animals or people. Behavior issues are complex because there is rarely a cut and dry type of answer that fits all situations. It's possible that Blue is territorial around his bed and/or feels threatened by your daughter. I strongly recommend consulting a veterinary behaviorist (https://www.dacvb.org/search/custom.asp?id=4709) before the situation escalates. Until your behaviorist consult, be sure to keep Blue and your daughter separated with physical barriers (e.g. doors and gates), and remind your daughter not to approach him. The main goal is maintaining everyone's safety.

It sounds like Dune may simply have been startled and reacted fearfully - growling and barking are common signs of fear in dogs. If he settled down quickly and has been acting normal again since then, I wouldn't necessarily worry. If this behavior continues to occur over the next few days or weeks, then I would recommend consulting with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can evaluate him in person and help determine why this is happening, so that you can put together a training plan to work on it. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here (www.dacvb.org) or a qualified trainer here (www.ccpdt.org)

It's very common for dogs to growl or show other types of resource guarding behavior towards other dogs when they are eating. This is probably causing stress for both dogs, so I would recommend feeding them in separate rooms or in their crates (if they are crate-trained) to avoid this problem :)

Hi there. Resource guarding is a very common (and normal, to some extent!) behavior in dogs. Do not try to take high-value treats away from her while she is chewing them, as this will only teach her to be anxious and on guard whenever you approach. Instead, leave her alone to chew them in peace. You can also practice walking up to her while she is chewing on something, dropping a tasty treat like a piece of cheese or a hot dog slice, and walking away without bothering her. This way, she learns that having you approach her when she has a "treasure" is a good thing, and not a threat! If this behavior escalates over time instead of getting better, then I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can evaluate her in person and help you put together a training plan to address it. Play growling during tug of war is normal, and it not typically a cause for concern.

I would have a trainer come to your home to see exactly what is going on. It may be the way you approach her or it could be something else triggering this. They then can work with you to tell you how to fix it and deal with these situations. Your veterinarian or people in your neighborhood would be the best people to ask who is a good trainer that comes to the house. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I imagine he feels a little like his home has been invaded by aliens that are loud and boisterous. First of all, never, EVER allow the children and your dog to be together without your direct supervision. Some signs of trouble are obvious. If a dog shows his teeth or growls at a child, he’s clearly feeling uncomfortable and aggressive. But it’s unwise to wait until you see these behaviors. It’s much safer to learn to recognize your dog’s early, subtle warnings. The first sign that a dog is getting uncomfortable is often a “freeze,” a momentary pause. The freeze is sometimes accompanied by a hard stare or “hard eye.” When a dog is giving a hard eye, you can often see the whites of his eyes. If these warnings don’t deter a child, a dog may move on to showing teeth, snarling and growling. If the child doesn’t understand the dog’s warnings or finds them amusing and continues to annoy the dog, he may move on to the next level of warning, usually a snap. (Many people assume that a snap is an unsuccessful bite. But dogs have wonderful control of their mouths, and they move a lot faster than we do. If a dog means to bite, he generally will.) If the snap doesn’t repel the child, the dog may deliver an actual bite. Some dogs inhibit their bites and don’t injure the targets of their aggression. Others deliver harder bites, like the ones they’d likely deliver to puppies in need of some discipline. Unfortunately, a bite that would just pinch a furry puppy’s rolls of fat may cause serious damage if it lands on the face of a small child. When you’re not able to supervise the interaction between your dog and the children, it’s best to confine your dog to a safe area away from the kids. If you teach your dog to be comfortable in a crate, in an exercise pen or behind a baby gate, you can easily put him there when necessary. A crate can also provide a safe place for your dog to sleep, eat or chew on things without worrying about a child bothering him. Make sure that your child can’t access your dog’s confinement area. And teach your children how to behave properly around dogs. Don't let them touch his food, toys, or bedding, not to climb on him, or get in his face. With your supervision, teach the older child to give him treats, throw the ball for him if he likes fetch, and make her a part of good things happening in his life. Reinforce the knowledge with her that the dog is to be left alone at any other time, only when she is with you or your sister should she interact with him. Hopefully she can be taught this with too much excitement that will upset your dog. And make sure you spend plenty of one on one time with him. Take him for walks, off to the park or for a ride if he likes the car, spend time with him away from the noise and commotion of the children. It may be that he needs some time to decompress away from them, plus the extra activity may make him more tired and less nervous.