Foods aggression amongst dogs, especially Siberian Huskies, is just a common behavior you’ll observe when they are eating. It is a type of guarding mechanism in which dogs become so defensive when eating. They want to seem threatening to anything surrounding them in order to force human, animals or both away from it.
The aggression in dogs may be categorized as mild, moderate or severe. When the food aggression is mild, Siberian Huskies may growl as well as show their teeth. It’s moderate when Siberian Huskies lunge and snap if approached. Food aggression is considered severe when dogs start to take action by biting.
This type of behavior can be a serious problem when it comes to breeds like Siberian Huskies. To avoid any dangers this temperament might result in, you should know how to properly train your dog not to be aggressive when eating
Siberian Huskies’ food aggression may be directed towards dogs (or other animals) and humans. If you are concerned, start training your dog the day you bring it into your home.
Dogs display a set of typical aggressive behavior you can track to measure the level of your dog’s food aggression and start to treat it accordingly. They start showing off rigid postures, erecting their tails and ears. You might even notice their hair standing up in nervousness. Aggression can also start to develop by what seems like an innocent bark that slowly turns into deep chesty growls. Even bites shouldn’t be taken lightly when it comes to this subject, as they can vary from snaps and nips to skin puncturing bites.
The sooner you start training to avoid food aggression in your Siberian Huskies, the easier it will be.
You can start by trying to feed your dog using your hands. By doing that, you not only show your dog that you are its provider, but you also assure it that its food is safe with you. After feeding your puppy directly from your hands, you can then start serving the food in the bowl, where it will permanently eat.
If there comes a time where you try to reach into the bowl and find your dog growling at you, you should speak to it in a firm manner. Afterward, you should refrain from offering them food for about 15 minutes and then set back the bowl. Continue the process until your dog understands that you are in control of the situation. The training will need a different approach if you have an older dog. When dogs are older in age, it becomes more difficult to train them as they have already matured and developed an eating routine of their own. Therefore, it can get dangerous if your older dog growls at you when eating, as you will be subjected to getting bitten. Whichever way you choose to train your dog, make sure you are firm and showing superiority, yet make them feel safe.
Dogs are social animals, and they mostly succumb to their human as their “leader.” While being firm with your dog and displaying control over their food intake might work, knowing the source of your dog’s aggression is very important. Start observing the way your dog acts around its bowl. If it is anxious over when the next meal is coming, make sure to feed your dog at the same times every day to establish a routine and keep them calm.
Another method that could help is if you train your dog to work for their food. Just like you do when giving it treats for doing something you asked, you can train it to “work” for its food. That way your dog will rest assured that they’ll be fed.
The other type of food aggression happens towards other animals. This is very common in dogs and there’s no specific training method to avoid this situation. The only thing that dog parents can do is to separately feed their dogs or pets.
Feeding Siberian Huskies can be very difficult at times; picking the right food for your dog and managing their eating behavior can be quite the chores. The term food aggression is often misunderstood, as people think it is all about dominance. In truth is more about guarding one’s nutrition, almost a reflex. The important thing is to never lose sight that you, as a dog parent, need to establish your place as their leader; their source of safety and teach them that they have no need to guard their food against you. All you need is patience, care, and caution. After all, you are raising a being that needs love, dedication, and safety.
