My 15 week old Westie has developed a habit of growling at my children. When they play with him he will growl if he is losing the game and today I got him his first bones from the butchers and I wanted it kept in the kitchen but he had dragged it in to the hall so my son picked it up to but back in the kitchen and he really growled at him. They never touch him while he is eating and never tease him. They are 6 and 10. Also when he plays with them sometimes instead of going for the toy he will go for their clothes, feet etc. This is a worrying problem.

He has not yet found out that to behave thus is not allowed. Would keep correcting him but make sure the children do not over do it. Pick the bone up and if he growls say no and put the bone out of the way, make him do a few sits and then give it back. After a few moments put your hand on it if he is quite tell him good boy if he growls take it away and try again the next day. Instruct the children to stop playing with him if he growls and walk away.

What I do with mine is not to let go of the bone, but to keep hold of it as the pup is chewing it. They soon realise that the presence of hands near their food is no big deal.
:)

That’s a good way JG, must say I no longer give mine bones as it is sure to cause tension. Can’t separate because apart from the kitchen I have carpet. Mind you because I hope to have a pup soon I have put down carpet tiles in the kitchen too. Good grief, sounds like the household runs around my hounds and to be honest it does, puppy legs being more important than grease spots on the floor.

What I like to do to ensure that dogs do not protect their food or bones is first my 4 year old daughter is the one that does all the feeding and giving treats. Then right from when they are pups, while the dog is eating my daughter has her hands in the dish playing with the food and offering it to the pup(of course this is easiest with dry food). In this way the pup looks to the children as the food providers and as higher up in the pack because of it. Also when the dog is eating the bone the children can take it away at intervals and then give it back. But the dog is alwasy in a down stay when the food is placed by the child or when the child gives a treat. If there is any growling then the child takes the treat or food dish away immediately, always with the parent right there to supervise. And does not return the food till the next scheduled feeding or the treat or bone for at least an hour. THis has never failed me and I have never had a dog or one that I have trianed have any food protectiveness issues.

I think all dogs protect bones , so its nothing to worry about but i would get on top of training him , to show its not ok to do it . when i was small probably about 11 a lab bit my knee because i walked by him eating a bone . so you really need to get teaching him:)

what i do is take the bone away and stroke the dogs head if it growls then i wait and stroke its head again dont give the bone back yet! if it growls again i wait , and i carry on waiting till its stopted growling .
then when the dogs stopted growling when i stroke its head it will get the bone back.. i will stroke its head again and if it growls take it away ,,,,, try it again and only give it back 3 times and if its still growling id take the bone totaly away . the dog needs to learn that if it dosent growl it will get the bone.
once its learnt that if good it recives .

never take the bone back when the dogs being good. same goes for toys if your playing with him always make sure you give the toy back , or the dog will learn that your hand gives and takes! . its ok first when your training as he needs to learn what happens when hes good:) take it slowly with the training ,you wont solve it in a day. so just relax and dont get frustrated with him for growling :) good luck