Nipping over food
Hi all! Just this morning Sassafras knocked over her food bowl spilling it all over her crate and floor. As I went to clean it up she rushed over and nipped at my hand. Well, it was more of a nip at the air (a warning maybe?). She didn't get my hand, but not because I was too quick, I don't think she meant to. I made her hold her sit in another area while I cleaned up and then removed all food from her crate. I have always been able to pet her and be near her when she eats. I have even practiced with her taking her bowl away while she is eating or gently pulling at her ears or moving her around and she has always done very well. Even when my kids feed her, never an issue. So I am a little unsure where to go from here? Should I not be feeding her in her crate? I would appreciate any advice on this. Her behavior in all other areas has been excellent the past couple of months. Thank you!
Comments
It sounds like you have her obedience under control
Start removing her food while she is eating and than giving it back
Teach her not to be food aggressive
Reason: The crate is your dog's room, its safe place. And it is also not too big, I assume.
So, taking food away there means to intrude into your dog's personal space and possibly putting emotional pressure on it, because the dog can't really assess the situation and may even feel cornered.
If you have to take food away from the crate - bone or chew treat, for example - I'd try to lure the dog out of the crate first - either away from the food item or if it still has it, choose an open space and take good time to trade in the item for something in exchange - no rush and no pushy attitude that could stress the dog even more in this situation.
This is why I always think twice, before I give things to my dog she will chew on for a longer period.
Because I don't want to end up in a situation where I have to put the stress of having to give it away again on her, just because I have to leave the house for an appointment or so. If she gets it, she will also be allowed the time to finish it. And only in cases of emergency - e.g. choking - I'd try to take it away from her.
Now, at almost 4 years, Djamila knows that and will even bring me her chew treats, show them and give them to me voluntarily. I still notice that she is nervous about doing it, but it seems like this is some kind of demonstration for her that she trusts me.
It must be hard for a dog to understand, why food is first given and then taken away again. And I totally get that, because I can't explain to her why I am doing it.
Now, the lesson you want your dog to learn is probably that it can trust you and not that it has to give things it really likes away randomly on your demand, just because you say so, right?
This is hardly accomplished by giving food and then taking it away again randomly.
Because what this teaches your dog is to eat rather fast and guard the food, if necessary, because it never knows when the food will be gone again.
If you really want to gain your dog's trust foodwise - and it's a good thing that you try to accomplish this - why not just ADD things instead of taking things away. I'd hand feed things now and then and IF you want to teach a useful trust lesson with your dog's food, why not put its bowl down with a little less in it and then ADD the rest while your dog is eating.
This way your dog learns that if you mess with its food, good things happen and it's not losing anything or subject to arbitrariness it doesn't understand.
If someone would just command me to give my yummy steak away, I'd tell him to jump in a lake. But, if he offered to add some tasty veggies or offered me a filet in exchange, I'd probably be more willing to give up my steak.
Another very useful exercise, therefore, is the "Let go" or "Leave it training" - practiced with treats or something else in exchange! Because that teaches your dog, that giving things away does not necessarily mean a loss for the dog. It rather means giving things away it like is a trade for something else it also likes.
Training this can be very helpful to have a cooperative dog in cases of choking etc. Or if it grabs dangerous or delicate objects, you really need to retrieve immediately.
Good luck!
I have owned large powerful dogs and usually as many as 4 at a time ,Rottweilers, Dogo's etc
I can take anything I want at any time from any dog I have ever owned
I can place my hands in their food while they are eating
My children can do the same
Never make deals with an animal that can hurt you
I would never advocate bait and switch
I can feed all of dogs with in feet of each other
You should be able to pick up your dogs food at any time or take his favorite toy
I personally like to build a trustful relationship with my dog and like it to give me things, because it trusts in me that I have good reasons to take stuff away.
I did not intend to say that every time I take things away from her it necessarily has to be a trade for all times and eternity. What I intended to say is that trading or rewarding with a treat is a good start in training to win the dog's trust and avoid it developing negative associations with giving away of toys and food.
As a result of our training, my dog is giving away things voluntarily whenever I want.
I can still see that sometimes she feels a little uneasy about doing it, which I understand if it is something she really wants. But she is never resisting. That was different back when she was a puppy.
I still like to treat her for giving up things now and then, because I do not take her trust for granted.
What I have described as "trading" is a process via training to get to the point where the dog gives away stuff voluntarily. Also, trading can be very valuable when the untrained dog starts to guard things in the crate and starts to feel cornered.
Maybe I described it wrong, or maybe we actually disagree over methods.
My point is that I rather own a dog that trusts in me that the things I do for her/ with her - be it an examination of her body, cutting claws or taking something away - has good reasons and is in her interest and does not feel like random arbitrariness of mine, just because I can and she is just a dog.
I've read your posts and you are so excellent dog owner and I commend you
All dogs would be blessed by having you as son owner send intruly mean that
Please do not take my post as offensive
I come from a world of hard working dogs
Yes they sleep in my bed and they are as much a priority in my life as my children but they are taught from early on that I can pick up their food switch bowls to another dog etc
I will as a puppy place my hands in their food etc
Usually I will pitch it up talk to them and place it right back down
They have learnt that when I remove something it is not forever it is just me shoeing them that this is normal
I can give them a chew and than reach in their crate to take it from them
I have no worry or hesitation
I would not suggest a stranger foes it but for me I need them to understand that there is no other way than mine
I know that sounds pig headed but take it from someone that keeps multiple dogs it is the only way to avoid issues that I have found
When my kids were small I needed to be quite sure that my 100 pound Dogo's were not going to do something we all would regret
But again of all the people that post here I enjoy what you write very much
Thank you and all my respect
Thanks for your words @JParanee. I appreciate what you said.
I think my enthusiasm is actually less a defense of my methods than it is an expression of my general love of this breed.
Of course, there are different ways - and all of them can be successful - because people, circumstances and after all dogs are all different. I actually welcome different opinions and often find the most inspiration especially when people do NOT agree with how I think in one or another way.
With the Bull Terriers, however, I often really feel like they are a pretty misunderstood breed in general.
And I get it, because they do have personality, indeed.
That's why when talking to new owners or owners seeking advice due to behavioral issues I always enthusiastically advocate to engage into communication with those little creatures and trying to discover how they think and - as a result - be amazed, which level mutual understanding and communication can reach.
When they come along as puppies thinking they're the kings of the world, the undiscerning new owner may not even have the tiniest idea of how fragile, sensitive and actually compliant their Bull Terriers really are.
I don't know if it is possible to compare Bull Terriers to other breeds because while I know different breeds by far I don't know all of them.
Yet, I still can't shake off the feeling that Bull Terriers are truly one of a kind among all dog breeds and that their robust and muscular appearance and their body strength can be VERY misleading about what's going on in their minds.
Of course, in a household with several dogs and kids, it can become complicated, if not dangerous. And fast and determined acting of the owner can make the difference between all good and disaster.
That is often when I try to remind people that while training is vital, in such situations MANAGING comes first to avoid bad outcomes.
I always enjoy the exchange here. Keep having different opinions, because that's what's so inspiring about forums. And if I sound like I'd take something personal, that's just because I love this breed so much.
This breed does seem to be very fragile emotionally in their development stage and I do believe a hard hand could ruin them