Food Guarding - Is it Normal?

Food guarding, also sometimes called possessive aggression, is a relatively normal (albeit undesirable) behavior in dogs. Animals developed this behavior because, in nature, if they weren’t born with a strong drive to protect their food, they likely wouldn’t survive. Of course, it’d be nice if years of selective breeding eliminated this trait, but some dogs have a predisposition to be protective of their food.

Why Dogs Protect Their Food
Pet owners notice food guarding when their dog is between 6 and 18 months old, but the behavior can develop at any age. If a dog more than 3 years old suddenly begins food guarding, an underlying medical issue is probably the cause. The dog may suffer from a condition that causes extreme hunger, thus making its food more valuable.

Another possibility is that an older dog may be developing osteoarthritis (or another painful condition), which may cause the dog to become anxious about human approach because it fears an interaction that may cause pain. Contact your veterinarian to discuss options for helping your dog eliminate the behavior, as well as any associated medical conditions.

If a puppy younger than 16 weeks begins exhibiting food guarding, this red flag shouldn’t be ignored—contact your veterinarian right away. Food guarding can be the first sign that a puppy is developing aggression problems, and these are easier to correct when addressed early. Never assume that a dog will grow out of food guarding or any other undesirable behavior. In fact, behavior problems left alone are almost guaranteed to worsen rather than improve.

Don’t Ignore the Problem
Aggressive food guarding is better prevented than cured. There are several things you can do to decrease the chance your dog will develop this behavior. One easy method is to teach your puppy that a person approaching its food bowl means something good is going to happen. So periodically, while your puppy is eating, approach it and drop something special—a small piece of cheese, a small piece of turkey hot dog, or another treat—into its bowl and walk away.

Avoid free-feeding your dog—leaving food available all day long—as this only allows him or her to perceive the food as a valuable resource that needs protecting all the time. Rather, feed your dog the diet your veterinarian recommends at consistent times each day and promptly remove any uneaten food.

Another technique is to be prepared to offer a tasty treat every time you take something away from your puppy. And all dogs should be taught a “drop it” command for their own safety. One aspect of teaching the command involves rewarding your dog with something special every time it complies with your command to “drop it.” All these techniques teach your dog that responding to your requests means rewards will come, so it will be less likely to perceive a need to guard items like food.

Never respond to a dog’s growling over its food bowl by removing the food.

Food guarding can be particularly problematic in households with children. Kids often dangle food from their hands while eating, inadvertently teasing dogs. To prevent problems, never leave toddlers or babies unattended with a dog. Feed dogs in an area where kids will not interact with them while they’re eating. Teach children that dogs should be left alone when they’re eating, resting, or chewing on a bone or other chew toy.

Finally, never respond to a dog’s growling over its food bowl (or any other item) by removing the food. This teaches the dog that its access to food is in constant jeopardy and that guarding it aggressively is necessary.

Follow these guidelines and you can help prevent food guarding behavior from developing. If it does develop, seek help. Your veterinarian can rule out medical problems and make a referral to a behavioral specialist if needed.