My puppy has food aggression, help!

[Eliza2024]

So I have a 5 month old American Akita pup. I’m struggling because he has food aggression and we have tried a lot of things to stop it. Nothing is working. He growls when we stroke him before and after he’s had food and he still continues.

but weird thing is that he doesn’t growl when he has a ball in his mouth or if he’s picked up food off the street and I try get it out

has anyone got any advice?

When you put his bowl down do you train “leave it” so he has to wait for the food? That’s number one advice. Gradually you should be able to remove his bowl at anytime when he’s eating.

When he growls what is your reaction? Are you taking him away from the food?

Do you have children? If not, it’s fine to actually put down a bowl of food for your dog and allow him to eat in peace without trying to remove the food for no reason - although of course it’s always wise to train him to come away from his food

in a house with kids though you need to be really hot on this and teach him to ‘leave it’ - have you tried offering something high value as a reward for leaving the bowl?

Yeah he’s really good with this. He’ll leave the food until we say but as soon as his heads in the bowl that’s when he changes completely.

@Eliza2024 why are you trying to stop him eating mid-meal? And when did you start doing it? Was it part of proper training, and built up to? Or was it just a decision to try and stop him mid-meal to train him to 'leave'?

Yeah we want the assurance that he will let us pick his bowl up whenever I want knowing he isn’t a danger

It started when I fed him and wanted to say well done for waiting for his food and he started growling at me before getting his food and during his feeding

Just to clarify, you started trying to stop him eating after he had begun eating and you started bothering him whilst he ate? You never built up to it? You never taught him to leave toys or anything? Nothing?

That'll be your problem. Teaching a dog to leave their food, or bothering them whilst they are eating (even pats, or praise) needs to be carefully done, particularly with a breed that is predisposed towards guarding instincts.

I'd suggest you enlist a behaviourist and a trainer OP as it sounds slightly like you have caused this behaviour through ineffective training and trying to move too fast too soon. Whilst I recognise your instincts, and wanting to teach a dog to leave food and valuables is important, you've messed up here.

Very few dog owners are capable of teaching a dog to recall from their food. Very few. Those that are can only do it after years of practice and often because they know that breed inside out. It's a dangerous thing to try and do alone and without training and breed specific experience. Sorry, OP!

You need to get rid of his food bowl, from now on he eats when you feed him by hand
It promotes a positive association between the food and you

Unfortunately making them wait or "leave it" can promote food aggression as the dog does not understand why they can't have their food and they become anxious.

While I know you haven't mentioned it, another poster did I will say don't ever remove a dogs bowl while they are eating as this can promote resource guarding as well

@YourAzureScroller it only prompts food aggression when it's not done properly. All my dogs (I have four) recall from their food bowls mid-meal and they all wait to eat - they'll even wait if I leave the room.

When done properly it is an incredibly important skill, and relationship, for a dog to have with it's owner. But the problem is it's often not done properly, which is why you hear so many horror stories.

@LandSharksAnonymous
You will notice I say "it can promote" not it does

My own dogs also recall off food bowls it is an important skill to have if you can train it correctly

However if they are already having issues with a young Akita it probably isn't the best thing to focus on right now
The dog needs to feel comfortable with having it's owners around it's food before they focus on other training

A strong leave it command can be taught along side hand feeding using toys and working up to food

This was on TV recently. The dog trainer suggested dropping bits of food into the dog's bowl, telling the dog to sit and then showering to eat. This is definitely a trainable issue, there will be a dog trainer local to you.

Allowing to eat

You have to be able to safely retrieve items from his bowl if necessary, in case he eats something he shouldn't