Food Aggression in Dogs: 5 Signs of Food Aggression

Food aggression or food guarding, refers to a range of defensive and aggressive behaviors that dogs can sometimes exhibit when approached during mealtime. Food aggression is a form of resource guarding—a series of possessive instinctive reactions by an animal to prevent something (like a treat or a toy) from being taken away. Food aggression may be a genetic trait developed during the period before dogs were domesticated, when guarding behavior was a necessary survival tactic. Still, this is behavior to be discouraged, as it can cause stress for both the human and canine members of your family. Dogs with severe food aggression can growl, lunge, or even bite when you get near their food bowl or dog treats.

There are many different reasons a dog might be aggressive around food. Here are a few of the most common reasons:

1. 1. Learned behavior: When dogs are puppies, they often have to compete with their littermates for food. Feeding kibble to an entire litter of puppies from one communal dog bowl is a common practice among dog breeders. This can have the unintended effect of fostering food aggression that stays with the puppy throughout their adolescence and into adulthood.
2. 2. Trauma: Adult dogs who have experienced significant trauma, such as physical abuse or neglect, may develop aggressive tendencies around food.
3. 3. Genetics: Some dog breeds are more genetically predisposed than others to exhibit guarding behaviors and may require intentional counterconditioning to combat food aggression.

When identifying a food aggressive dog, look for these body language signs:

1. 1. Body stiffening: If your dog has food aggression, their body may stiffen if they’re approached while at their food bowl or have a special treat in their mouth.
2. 2. Raised hackles: Hackles are the erectile hairs on your dog's neck and back. When dogs feel aggressive, their hackles rise.
3. 3. Growling: If your dog growls when approached while eating, they may have mild food aggression. Though it is considered mild, growling can lead to other more severe reactions if unchecked and should be dealt with through training.
4. 4. Snapping or lunging: If a dog snaps or lunges when you approach them while they’re eating, they may have moderate food aggression.
5. 5. Biting: If a dog bites when approached during feeding time, they likely have severe food aggression. Dog training is necessary to correct this behavior. Consider seeking help from a professional animal behaviorist or dog trainer.

Pet parents can employ several techniques to help their dog overcome food aggression.

• Establish a consistent feeding schedule. Food aggression can be caused by anxiety. Feeding your dog an adequate amount of food at the same time each day can ease their stress and may help rid them of food aggression.
• Feed your dog by hand. Hand-feeding a new puppy is a great way to bond with your dog and can help counter-condition food aggression. This technique helps your dog associate your presence during feeding times as positive rather than negative.
• Drop high-value treats in their bowl while they eat. While your dog eats, bend down slightly and drop one of their favorite dog treats in the bowl. This is a process of desensitization that teaches them to value your presence during mealtimes.

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially— “no” is just a MasterClass Annual Membership away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.