She always used to be fed in her crate and she was fine, but recently I've started feeding her outside her crate and she's starting to get nasty.

I put her in a down and make her wait while I put her food down all the time, but as soon as she's released I can't go near her because she starts growling and has nipped a couple of times.

I can't do the topping the bowl up with more food thing because she won't let me near enough.

She's fine with everything else, it's just food. She's always been fed away from the other dogs and I've never snatched anything away from her.

I really want to stop it before it gets any worse =(

do away with the bowl & sprinle it on the floor!

Are you sure?

Well I 'm no behaviourist, but I would do away with the bowl as well, but I'd give her each nugget of food from my hand in the form of treats. She would have to rely on me completely for anything to eat at all.

Dawn R.

Some good tips on a past CD thread here Ana
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/29975.html
HTH :)

Thanks

Ana, I'd actually recommend getting in a reputable trainer or behaviourist if it gets any worse - reason being that with the right help this sort of thing can often be stopped ... but internet advice is just that - we can't see what you or the dog are doing. Having just found out of one dog near me who has just been put to sleep due to problems related to resource guarding (in this case because the owner listened to folk in the park and decided he had to be "boss" over the dog) I'd recommend reputable, professional help every time. In the end, it will be worth it.

I'd suggest a member of http://www.apdt.co.uk/  or http://www.apbc.org.uk/

If you decide to work on this yourself after all, do get a copy of Mine! by Jean Donaldson, which will I'm sure be of great help.

Good luck :)

Lindsay
x

i would,put a handful around your feet on the floor,when shes ate that another handful.

she cant guard her bowl cos there isnt one & you are "positive" for her cos the food comes from you.

Start by feeding her some of the food from your hand, but I have to say I agree with Lindsay, if it does become worse some breeds are more prone to aggressive behaviour traites especially if not coming from good reputable breeders keep an eye on this behaviour and stamp on it very quickly it takes no time at all to progress and soon become out of control. Never ever tolerate a dog growling at you it is completely unacceptable, if it does not calm down seek a proffessional.

Hi ana x
I had a friend with a similar problem.  She sorted the problem but it took a while.  When the dog was eating she would from a safe distance say yummy food loud enough to get the dogs attention and throw some morsels into the bowl.  She eventually moved closer and closer repeating the same method until she could say the words and the dog would look up and be happy to let her place the food in the bowl.  However once achieved for a long time she kept repeating the method, now she repeats the process intermittently.

>Never ever tolerate a dog growling at you it is completely unacceptable<

Suspect that's why ana x posted.

Agree with Lindsay and as your dog is relatively young, think it is all the more worthwhile and important to get good help with this.  However, you do get trainers/peole calling themselves behaviourists who still talk about showing the dog who's boss, stamping down hard on it etc so be careful in your choice.

Good luck.

the thing is collies ARE funny. Id never DREAM of feeding mine alone shut in a cage as Collies can get very possescive.

Mine from pups have there meals withthe others at my feet, & i stroke them sometimes when they are eating it.

This little baby just sounds like shes learnt to guard her food  (by mistake)& needs re educating.What shes learnt from eating alone is NOT that shes safe & no ones going to take it away,(which is what alot of dogs would learn) but that she eats alone  & NOBODY else has the right to be there!The OP clearly thought she was doing the right thing. Collies are funny they will learn different things than you expect!

All this baby needs is a little re educating/re explained!

Nah, I never used to shut the door.. just put it in there. =)

However, you do get trainers/peole calling themselves behaviourists who still talk about showing the dog who's boss, stamping down hard on it etc so be careful in
Hi,

Yeah I totally agree with above, this pup doesn't need to be shown who's boss it needs to learn that it doesn't have to worry about guarding from you because it's food is safe with you around, an infact you or a hand near the food bowl means good things will happen.  I personally wouldn't be spreading the food around the floor as this may just make him guard a larger area.  I would hand feed him his meals from the bowl.  Another thing you could try is to put his food bowl down on the floor with half his meal in it - stand at a distance he feels comfortable with and toss bits of the remainder near his bowl, you should very gradually be able to move slightly closer and closer to the bowl while doing this, but don't rush it.  Another thing that is important with a guarder is to teach a very strong "leave" so that if he has hold of something he shouldn't you can get the object from him without worry of him guarding, but again this will take time to achieve :-)

Never try to force the issue by taking away his bowl and then returning it to him even with more food in it, as all this will teach him is that he has reason to guard his food.

Good luck,

Karen

I would take the bowl out of the equation altogether.  Either go for Michelle's suggestion or hand feed the food.

I'd actually suggest 4 bowls, feeding in no. 1 and then whilst BC is eating that, move to no. 4 and add to that bowl, this way the dog should learn that owners near food are good and that they will "bring" food and this in turn will bring anticipation rather than a negative attitude from the dog.

However, if the owner is not very experienced in dogs, canine body language etc etc even this could still all go horribly wrong. For my money, getting reputable help is the only sensible way to go, for the dog's sake. I'd hate her to end up like the dog I mentioned previously, because things had gone too far along.

I'd suggest teaching the retrieve, with toys, and other items; and leave it too as already suggested, all can be trained reward based and trained as if it is a game.

Best wishes,
Lindsay
x

with a collie id not go with the four bowls,might work (& is a good idea generally though) but i have vision of her legging it round herding guarding all four!!! Oh gosh & think of all that washing up!

its the same thing,shes away & on her own,something i wouldnt do with a collie personally