My dog is suddenly growling and biting over toys. How to stop it?

Yes, dogs can become quite food aggressive at times. If this is a new behavior, have Nala examined by your veterinarian. Frequently, illness or injury can lead to sudden behavioral changes. To prevent future episodes, make her "work" for everything. This can be as simple as a sit before eating, playing or going outside. Do not allow her on furniture or bedding. Provide her own bed on the floor. Do not allow her to initiate play or contact. It must be on your terms and when you want to give attention. Do not leave toys out for her 24/7. Give her one or two for a bit of time, then take them away when playtime is over. All these actions will reinforce her position in the home as subordinate to you.

This is called resource guarding. There is rarely a need to touch a pet's food while they are eating - it is quite normal for them to want to finish the meal and be protective of it. During playtime, distract Zelda with a toy other than the one she is playing with to get it away from her rather than just taking it away.

Resource guarding over toys or other items is very common in groups of dogs, and is even considered to be fairly normal behavior by many trainers. Most dogs don't like to share valued possessions with other dogs! This is a very difficult thing to address successfully through training, so in most cases the simplest option is to simply keep toys, sticks, etc. picked up and put away when groups of dogs are playing to avoid any issues :)

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.

This is not unusual behavior as they are trying to work things out. I recommend to always supervise them together until you know there is not chance of a fight. Some dogs are more possessive of toys or food or their person and thats just how they are. Certainly not leaving toys down and only giving them toys when you are home to supervise will help. Do not allow them to steal each other's toys. Also, both dogs will likely think ALL the toys belong to themselves and not the other dog. If you cannot supervise then, you may separate them during chew times with their toys. Heavy daily exercise will help to get some of the energy out and this can help to decrease aggression. I also recommend to pick up some books about dog behavior so that you can recognize what the dogs are saying to each other. Lastly, there are several different training methods out there. You may opt to find a trainer who can come to your house and show you how to modify the dogs' behavior. Find a trainer who's style works with yours. This will take some time to condition the dogs and yourself. I hope this at least points you in the right direction. Please post again with any further questions.

This can be very normal for a new toy as they can be very territorial over them. I would try to let him play with it on his own until the “new” wears off so you don’t get bit. Or if you need that toy for some reason, play with another toy to try to distract his attention. I hope this helps!

Resource guarding in dogs can be a serious issue and it is ver concerning that your dog bit you. Below is a link with some taining ideas but you may need to get some professional help and have a dog trainer work with her. That is very dangerous if she is biting people! https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-behavior/food-aggressive/food-aggression-and-what-to-do-about-it