How To Stop Food Aggression In Dogs Towards Other Dogs

Do not feed your dog from the table or let your dog eat off of the table. These are two very important things to avoid if you look to prevent food aggression. You need to set rules for your dog and ensure that he knows that you are the boss, even when it comes to his food.

By feeding him from the table, you will encourage begging behavior in your dog, which can be quite irritating for other family members and guests. If a stray cat gets into the house and tries to get near the food bowl, your dog is more likely to snap at him if he thinks he owns his food.

Paying attention to your dog’s body language is key in preventing food aggression. Even if you haven’t noticed any problems, keep an eye out for changes in how your dog behaves around food.

You should be aware of these warning signs: raise hackles, a rigid and tense posture, tail held high, ears back or forward (depending on the breed), and growling or barking. In general, anything that diverges from normal behavior is a cause for concern.

Ways to stop food aggression in dogs toward other dogs

A sick dog may be more inclined to show signs of aggression when they’re fed their regular food, so it’s important to be aware of the early warning signs. Dogs are much like humans in this regard; they’ll try and hide it if they’re feeling under the weather.

Suppose you notice a change in your dog’s behavior around mealtime. In that case, you should check with your veterinarian as soon as possible. It could just be an illness or pain bothering them and not something serious, but it could also be something more serious, so it’s best to play it safe.

Here are some common symptoms that might indicate sickness:

Loss of appetite
Diarrhea or vomiting
Excessive thirst (or urination)

Lethargy (i.e., not acting like themselves)
Changes in behavior

Feed submissive dog first

If you have a more submissive dog, feed him first. This should prevent the alpha dog from being jealous and showing aggression over your attention. If you are feeding them in separate rooms, let the more submissive dog out first to eat at his leisure. Then let the other dog in to eat with no interruptions.

Feed in separate rooms

Some people go as far as to have one separate room for each dog during mealtimes, especially if both dogs are food aggressive and not likely to share well together when it comes time for their meals.

If you decide that having individual rooms or crates for mealtime is an effective solution for your household, be sure that all pets have access to fresh water and space to move around freely away from their food dishes, so they do not feel trapped or panicked by this special training regiment of yours.

If you have a dog that typically displays food aggression toward other dogs, feed them in an area where they can be alone and not bothered by the others. If you have multiple dogs, then take turns feeding your dogs. For example, if you have two dogs, provide the first dog in a room where he is alone. When he’s done eating, put his food away and let him out of the room so your other dog can eat

Change food diet

It is especially important to transition when feeding a raw food diet. If you suddenly switch them over, dogs can develop diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. The best way to do this is to start with cooked meat, then gradually introduce larger pieces of meat that are less cooked over several weeks.

When introducing bones, make sure they’re soft enough for your dog to chew easily. You may need to soak these in water before serving them and discard any sharp fragments once they’re done eating. For a quick guide on transitioning your dog, take a look at our checklist below:

Week 1: 75% kibble or canned food and 25% cooked meat
Week 2: 50% kibble or canned food, 25% cooked meat, and 25% raw meat
Week 3: 25% kibble or canned food, 50% raw meat, and 25% raw bone

Week 4: 100% raw diet

Food aggression between dogs

The good news is that You can treat dog-to-dog food aggression, and it’s one of the most common issues that dogs present. First things first, you want to ensure that you’re not inadvertently contributing to the problem.

What causes food aggression in dogs

The first step in treating food aggression requires understanding why the behavior occurs. It is a common misconception that most cases of food aggression are caused by the desire to be alpha. There are several different types of possessive behaviors:

Possessive aggression is a form of territorial behavior, which can also occur with toys and other objects. These dogs have learned that growling, biting, or snarling will keep others away from their things. A dog that exhibits this type of aggressive behavior towards people may do so because he has not been socialized enough with them.
Dominant aggression is more likely to occur when the dog is on his home turf, such as while eating in his bowl or on a bed or sofa he considers his property. The dog perceives himself as dominant over the intruder and attempts to assert control by growling and possibly even biting if provoked further. Such dominance behaviors can also be caused by fear if the dog does not feel confident enough to protect himself without resorting to violence.
Resource guarding occurs when a dog believes he must defend something valuable from an interloper; it includes any resource for which there might be competition, including toys, bones, food bowls, and territory-related issues (such as beds, crates, or human laps). It is often considered a form of dominance-related aggression. Still, it may also result from insecurity, such as lack of confidence or excessive anxiety.

Food aggression between two dogs

When a dog is aggressive over food towards other dogs in the household, it is often best to separate the dogs until they have calmed down. As with all forms of dog aggression, you should not allow your dog to continue to be aggressive, or you risk having the aggression worsen and spread to other situations. You also want to avoid being bitten by your pet as he tries to defend his food.

Sudden food aggression in dogs

If your dog is exhibiting food aggression, one of the first steps you should take to determine why they are acting this way is to check for any potential health issues that could be causing them to work more aggressively around their food. For example, dogs with allergies may react poorly to certain foods and become more aggressive when eating them. Suppose your dog has fleas or an ear infection. In that case, they may be more sensitive and irritable anytime someone comes near them, resulting in aggression around food.

To prevent this from happening, you should:

Check for parasites regularly (twice a year is recommended)
Look for signs of dental problems or arthritis in your dogs’ joints.
Look out for ticks by examining their skin at least once per week!

Causes of food aggression in dogs

Food aggression in dogs can take many forms, and the cause depends on how your dog acts when they are eating or have a treat on them. You may see one of these common behaviors:

Growling at you if you reach for their food bowl
Baring teeth at another dog who approaches their treat

Acting defensively if another dog is near them while they’re eating

It’s important to remember that you must treat each case of sudden food aggression in dogs individually. One solution will not work for all cases, so identifying what your pooch does may make it easier to find the best way to deal with it.

Final Words

Many food owners sometimes experience food aggression in their dogs. In this post, we have guided you on stopping food aggression in dogs. Sometimes dogs show food aggression due to health issues.