I have a well trained(obedience schooled)9 year old BC with no previous behavior problems. She has recently began growling at me if I get near her food while she is in a sit stay.I always make her stay while I am fixing her food and then only let her go to feed on the OK command. She has NEVER growled at me before and does not do it to anyone but me-her primary owner/trained/caretaker. She has never bitten but I fear this is next. She is well behaved in all other areas. She even lets the 12 year old take her food away, and put her hand in it while feeding, and never reacts to it. I have never let her be possessive of anything before and not sure what is up with her now.I have done all the usual things like taking the food away,putting her in a lay down or submissive position but she still does it-HELP!!
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Growling BC
Replies (2)
Taking her food away or forcing her into a submissive posture can make it worse in some dogs. The submissive posture thing may make the growling escalate to biting. I've just been reading a book called "Mine!" by Jean Donaldson that might be able to help you. I only say might because I just got the book and have yet to try the techniques with my dog.
For now I would simply put the dog in her crate or lock her in another room while you prepare her food, and then walk her on leash to where her food is, if only for safety's sake..
You may want to look into having a behaviourist evaluate her. When I got my dog two months ago he would growl and snap (never bite, just snapping at the air, as a warning) when you got too close to something he was guarding. Then two weeks ago he bit my sister badly when she reached to retrieve a piece of meat she had dropped while making supper. She has two gashes across her cheek that will leave quite a scar on her otherwise flawless face. Believe me, you don't want it to come to that.. It's a similar situation, for the most part he only ever snaps at her (although there are exceptions) except that my dog and I don't live with her, and I'm his primary caregiver.
A good behaviourist is expensive but you definitely need to get a hold on this now before it escalates.
particularly in an older dog, should be first medically evaluated. I would have a blood panel run, and include a thyroid panel (not just the T4). At the very least, have the thryoid panel run.
