My dog is food guarding. How can I safely and effectively stop it?

Question

How to stop food gaurding in dogs?

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

In general, this is done by teaching the dogs that great things happen when you come near his bowl. You start at a distance where he’s comfortable and toss his extra-tasty treats while he’s eating, then gradually work your way closer as long as he’s happy and comfortable. It can be very challenging to do this on your own, especially if the problem is severe, so I would recommend working with a veterinary behaviorist or s good reward-based trainer if you can. NEVER take away his food bowl or use any kind of punishment for this behavior, as this will only make him more upset and defensive and make the problem worse over time. For more details on resource guarding and how to address it, I highly recommend the book “Mine!” by Jean Donaldson.

My dog is food guarding. How can I safely and effectively stop it?

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