Food & Toy Aggression in Puppies

Puppies may become aggressive over their toys, food, treats or other objects. This is a type of aggression commonly referred to as possession aggression. Aggression of any kind, while a natural instinct, is still unacceptable behavior, and puppies need to be trained early to prevent or remove this type of aggression.

  1. Warning

    • When attempting to train a puppy, the owner―or other persons involved―should never snatch the food or toys away. This only reinforces bad behavior because it signals to the puppy that the owner is a threat rather than a provider. An article from the Complete Guide to Responsible Dog Ownership adds that it is important to establish the owner as the pack leader. The owner should not back down when the puppy shows aggression, as this signals to the puppy that she is the pack leader and thus reinforces the bad behavior. Owners should be sure to follow through with all methods of training to prevent this time of unintentional reinforcement of bad behavior.

    Causes

    • Puppies can develop food or toy aggression for several reasons. Young dogs feel they have to compete with their litter mates for food or toys and this trait may carry over once they leave the litter and enter a new home. It may also occur because of a young child or other member of the family has been teasing the puppy by taking away his possessions and not giving them back.

      A puppy may also see his owner or other members of the household as a lesser member of the family pack, causing him to guard his food or toys. This behavior may have been unintentionally caused because he was fed alone in the kitchen, giving him the impression that he is the leader and he is allowed his fill before any other members of the family can eat.

    Identification

    • Signs of food aggression or toy aggression are relatively easy to identify in a puppy. Most commonly, the dog will begin to growl or show her teeth to people who get too close to a certain toy or the dog's bowl of food. Some dogs may also snip at or bite the person who is intruding. Unfortunately, some puppies may become so aggressive that they jump at and physically attack the person who attempts to take or comes near one of these coveted possessions.

    Training: Food Aggression

    • For food aggression, the ASPCA has several treatment exercises. In one of them, the owner will slowly move closer and closer to the dog's food bowl while the puppy eats, provide the dog with treats. The owner should eventually be able to take the bowl away from the dog without any signs of aggression. The ASPCA recommends repeating the training with all members of the family to allow the dog to become more comfortable.

    Training: Toy Aggression

    • Treating toy aggression in puppies is simple, though not necessarily easier, than treating food aggression. An article on Food and Toy Aggression by the Mendocino Coast Humane Society states that puppies can learn that if they give their owner the toy or the owner takes the toy away, that it is okay and that the toy will be given back. The owner can reinforce the lesson with praise or a treat every time the dog gives up the toy--but the owner should always give the toy back to the puppy, which shows her that she is not being punished.