If you put down your dog’s food and he growls or bites at you, this is called food aggression or food guarding. This can have serious effects on your relationship with the dog, as well as your relationship with yourself and your family.

Often this behavior must be trained outside of the animal, or it will continue indefinitely. Dogs have an instinctive need to take care of their food. Most of the time, this does not occur because the dog trusts his master above all else. Sometimes, however, this instinct kicks in in dogs and can be a danger to you and your family if left alone. What the dog must learn is that he should not be threatened by you when it is time to eat.

If you are angry or violent in your training habits when teaching your dog about food aggression, then he may have a tendency to become aggressive, making the training process difficult. Hitting or using a leash to get the dog away from his food during these periods of aggression can make him more agitated and can become dangerous for both of you.

Food aggression will not go away overnight, but with continued patience and working with the animal, the problem can be resolved. A routine is the best solution to this problem. Using certain stimuli that indicate to the dog that it is time to eat and that there is no need to be anxious or nervous is the key. During this routine, make sure there are no distractions like children or other animals in the room. Another passing animal or a passing child can become an immediate step back while training for food aggression.

As you prepare to feed the dog, tell him to sit. Make him wait for you to put the food down. He must learn that you are the master and he must wait for you. If you can get it to start eating on its own after a voice command, then that’s a great step, though for some it may be too much to ask at first. If you are training a puppy, it will be a little easier because while he eats, walk around, pet him and praise him. If he growls, pet him and let him know you’re not going to take his food away. For a week or two, just work on these steps. For older dogs, try leaving a treat or treat as a reward, treats that are tastier than your dog’s food. By doing this, you will learn that people passing you by is a good thing.

This is a good starting point. Other steps may be implemented in the future, but this foundation is what you want to build on. Progressing slowly, it won’t be long before food aggression stops being a problem.