Preventing Food Bowl Guarding
Worried your pup might guard their food? Good news—there are things you can do to help prevent that.
You’ll learn how to stop your pup from feeling the need to guard their food bowl. Sometimes dogs become fearful of losing access to things they value, which makes them defensive. A dog who guards their food might freeze, growl, snap, or even bite if you come too close. Dogs show this behavior when they feel anxious and worry about losing something important.
To help prevent this, try sitting calmly with your pup during mealtimes. Feed their food in smaller portions—when the bowl is empty, lift it up, add more food, and give it back. This teaches your pup that having you nearby at mealtimes is a good thing.
You can also teach good manners by waiting until your pup sits before lowering the bowl. They should stay sitting until you release them to eat. A calm pup around their food bowl is less likely to develop guarding issues.
Once your pup feels relaxed with you nearby, start approaching while they eat and drop bonus treats into the bowl. This shows them that people approaching is always a good thing. These tips help your pup feel safe and comfortable during meals.
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