Stopping a Dog From Growling During a Meal

If your normally sugary sweet doggie transforms into an angry growler every time his head is near his food bowl, don't hold it against him. He's not trying to be cruel to you. Resource or food guarding is a common protective canine behavior, although not one that you cannot eliminate.

  1. About Resource Guarding

    • Resource guarding is in dogs' blood. Wild canines have to be savvy to stay alive. If they allow competitors to gain access to their food, they risk going hungry themselves. It is innate for your dog to be protective over his food, even if he lives in a cozy household full of plenty of the stuff. If your dog growls anytime he's eating and notices you -- or anyone else -- coming into view, then he's simply trying to preserve what he has right in front of him. Although unpleasant, resource guarding isn't in any way peculiar. Some other indications of resource guarding in canines, apart from growling, include escaping with food anytime someone comes close, baring teeth and pausing from eating all while gazing intently at the "intruder."

    Yummy Distraction

    • One way to stop your dog from being so defensive while eating is by minimizing his worries. If your dog is intensely worried that you're going to snatch his precious food up, change the way he perceives the sight of you during mealtime. You can try to do this by distracting him from his food bowl and employing another equally delicious food item, whether a doggie cookie or doggie jerky. By doing this, your dog may learn to stop viewing you as a threat to his food -- and therefore stop growling while eating. When you first try this technique, stay several feet away from your pooch's bowl. As he gets more used to it, keep leaving the treats nearer and nearer to it. If your dog growls at another member of your household who approaches him during mealtime, encourage the other person to try this method, as well.

    Feeding in Fractions

    • Another way to stop a dog's growling during eating may be to give him his meals in fractional amounts. This also may alter your dog's perception of you during meals. Divide your dog's meal up into four parts, for instance. After your doggie finishes consuming the first portion, place the new food on the floor several feet away from the initial bowl. Repeat this until your pet thinks of your presence near his food bowl as being a wonderful thing, rather than a scary thing. If your pooch thinks that your coming closer to him during mealtimes signifies more food, he'll have much less of a desire to growl at you.

    Puppies

    • If your dog is a young puppy, you may be able to halt food guarding behavior before it ever gets the opportunity to escalate. Make sure the little one is fully aware that you give him food -- you don't take it away from him. If your pup hasn't yet begun growling during mealtime, make him establish a pleasant connection in his brain to the concept of you and food. Feed him food and treats by hand and simultaneously pet his back and speak to him in a relaxing and soft tone.

    Caution

    • Never allow a child close to a pet who displays any type of resource or food guarding behavior, including growling. Defensive dogs may get aggressive and bite, so it is absolutely crucial to never put a child in that hazardous environment. If your dog does bite during food guarding, or you think that he may try to do so in the future, look into consulting a qualified professional in pet behavioral issues. Trying to fix the situation by yourself is just too dangerous. Don't take the risk -- speak to a qualified expert.