Food Removal - is it wise to do this or does it encourage food guarding?

Here's a debate for you .

I've just had a someone passed onto me that is basically frightened of their rottie puppy with their very young child. They have been given advice to let the child take the dogs bowl away while he is eating.

Now I have never been an advocate of food removal, I have found it promotes food guarding, not in all dogs but some. I've never done it with mine and they are happy to let me rattle around in their dishes.

So what are your views on food removal and if the answer is yes, should a child do it?

Yes, done in the right way, at the right time, by the right person, I believe this method can work in getting a pup used to having his food taken. I have always been very matter of fact regarding feeding my dogs and they have always been very accepting of my removing their food if I need to...

As a pup I will just put the food down, and then possibly move it if the pup has chased his bowl across the kitchen - no big deal, he gets it straight back - no problem. I don't believe a child should mess with any dogs food though - its asking for trouble

I've always removed my dogs food, from a very early age. For me, it's meant my dogs are never over-protective of their food.

It also means I can take other items from them, socks, mobile phones, sticks etc without a big fuss.

As for a child doing it, only under adult supervision.

JMHO

liberty

Depends on the dogs training, if it has been trained to trust you to take the bowl away add food and return it then there should be no problem. But think a better way is to put the empty bowl on the floor and then add the food to it in about 3 portions. No I would not let a child or an adult who could not read dog body language do this training. Do think it importaint that a dog will let you take things from it but should not be done to push a dogs temprements to the limit, that is asking for trouble.

dont think its so much the training----as the breed, --- ive had rott pups stand there ground over there food dish :smt009 but i was old enough to deal with it-----and strong enough too, BUT!!! a lot would depend where a childs concerned, as theyre not so quick in movement or seeing changes in stance etc of the puppy, myself if theres a lot going on in a house and theyre not used to the breed id have a place the dogs fed away from the children-kennel or cage or something :smt018 its really not worth taking chances.

I have taken food from Rocky in this manner and he's absolutely fine about it - but I agree with many of you hear and would no tlet children do it unless under the strictest supervision (and I mean them also being supervised on how to actually take the dish).

Taking away food in this manner can lead to all kinds of problems.

If pup thinks someone is going to take his food away he's likely to growl, this will either lead to 1.owner still taking food bowl away or 2.owner leaving pup to eat. If 1, bowl will almost certainly be given back for pup to finish eating, so either way pup learns that growling means he gets to eat. This can lead to terrible food aggression, with dog snarling at anyone who comes close whilst dog is eating.

It is AWFUL advice for this family to get a very young child to take food away from a pup. This will only lead to more problems between the 2. Wait 'till child is older and get it involved with the OB training, feeding and every day care of dog.

Why is this family so concerned about the puppy and the child? A dominant breed like this is likely to challenge its owner, not aggressively necessarily, maybe just in an, "I'm not going to do that right now, thanks very much", kind of way, as it matures. The parents need to busy themselves with socialising it and basic training whilst it enjoys still being a pup. The child can be taught correct ways to handle dog later, when the dog itself is older and knows how it is supposed to behave, but still under strict supervision.

Star is fine with me and OH taking food away but I would never encourage the kids to do it. I do though encourage them to put Stars food down to her and make her sit first on their command.

Can't really see why anyone would want to have a child do such a thing.

*Touch wood* but sonny doesn't have any probs with that - in fact my little sister who is 10 was cuddling him while he ate his bone and was not bothered in the slightest. I know they say that boxers can be dominant but sonny is very laid back - I do agree with you all here though that for a child to be messing around with the dogs food is not a good idea - even with the little experience that I have I wouldn't do that. I think its just drawing more attention to the situation.

Sam xx