There are many dogs that growl when they are eating; however, it is an undesirable behavior that we should not underestimate. In fact, if a dog growls when it is eating, it can be a sign of a more serious problem than and can lead to more aggressive behaviors.
If you are wondering why a dog growls when it is eating; in this article we will explain the cause that can cause this behavior; and what you can do to control this situation. But remember that it is important to go to a specialist if your dog is showing too aggressive, he will help you correct this problem.
The dog’s growl, a fundamental part of its communication
Dogs are social animals; therefore, they develop a broad communication system to be able to understand each other and thus coexist. A growl or howl, barking or whimpering, are elements that are part of this communication system.
In a group of dogs, it is common to observe that if any of those dogs growl fiercely, the other dogs may react in different ways; some dogs will bow their head and front legs in submission, other dogs may even lie on the ground and show the belly or neck, showing that they accept the leadership of the dog that is growling. But it’s also possible for other dogs to express their limits with a grunt of response.
Growling expresses displeasure, however, this action can increase and become a real problem; since, if we allow a dog to continue growling, later they will be bites and even an attack.
The growl and the food
We know that food is a basic resource for every living being, since without food we would live for a few days. For that reason, a dog feels the great need to defend his food, even having it at his total disposal; and that is the main reason why a dog growls when it is eating, since it is trying to “protect the food”.
The growl and the food
We know that food is a basic resource for every living being, since without food we would live for a few days. For that reason, a dog feels the great need to defend his food, even having it at his total disposal; and that is the main reason why a dog growls when it is eating, since it is trying to “protect the food”.
Why are we surprised that our dog growls at us?
We know that, it is not usual or desirable that our dog growls at us while eating. We generally establish a relationship with our dogs in which we are the “suppliers”. However, a well-socialized dog is an animal of stable character, which will hardly be aggressive with us, or with other living beings.
Socialization begins from the time a dog is a newborn. The mother teaches her puppies the basic rules of coexistence, and so4n put into practice between the same siblings. For this reason, it is crucial not to separate the family, at least until the puppies have reached 8 weeks of age.
Once we receive our puppy we must expose him to a great diversity of stimuli, to continue with socialization. Because, if multiple scenarios are familiar to you, the dog will be much more likely to act calmly. Another option is to enroll your furry friend in a “dog school” or, failing that, teach him the basic commands at home. (“together”, “sitting”, “still”, etc.).
Regardless of whether the puppy has socialized correctly and has learned to share with his siblings, it is essential that we socialize him with other experiences, such as bathing, letting himself be manipulated thoroughly or experimenting with his hands when there is food involved.
What to do if a dog growls when it is eating?
The main rule that we must keep in mind if a dog growls when it is eating, is that we should not face it. As we mentioned earlier, a dog’s growl means we must keep our distance; otherwise, we can cause the dog to feel it will go and bite us.
Therefore, we can try the following tactic; If our dog is eating and as we approach growl, let’s change the focus of attention. For example, overlooking the growl, let’s take his leash and approach, with a cheerful “let’s go for a walk!” In this way we have avoided a potentially dangerous behavior and have reinforced another that interests us; go to the call and put on the strap.
Using this distraction technique is highly recommended and can be very useful in risky situations.
Finally, we give you other small tips that can help you attenuate the grunts of a dog when it is eating, are: Try to avoid triggering situations at all times.
- Do not handle the food bowl or touch the dog while eating.
- Practice with the dog the game to release objects.
- Do not eat at the same time as him, better to put the food before or after.
- Improves the well-being of the dog, constantly performing physical activity, and taking walks every day.
- Do not confront, do not punish him if he growls.
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