My dog bit me over food. How to train her to stop resource guarding?

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  Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

  Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

  Published on February 27th, 2018

  I'm sorry to hear that this happened! How stressful and upsetting for both of you. It sounds like Remy may have some resource guarding issues related to food, which can trigger biting in situations like this. If food is the only trigger that causes her to react his way, this problem is likely very treatable - although I would recommend working with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can help you in person, to ensure that you're doing this safely. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here (www.dacvb.org) or a qualified trainer here (www.ccpdt.org). In the meantime, make sure not to bother Remy while she is eating, and don't attempt to take food or treats away from her to minimize the risk of any further incidents. If you have visitors or children in the house, it would be safest to feed her in a separate room with the door closed to ensure that no one accidentally comes too close to her while she eats. Finally, I would also recommend having your bite injury checked by your physician, as dog and cat bites can easily become infected and may need treatment with antibiotics.

  

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