Food aggression is a resource-protection tactic. It is a learned behaviour that can start while your dog is still with its litter.

The following are some of the most common causes of food aggression:

• The instinct is that those who can successfully protect their food will survive.
• The majority of dogs are merely afraid that their owners will take away their food.
• If there was resource rivalry in the litter, your dog will be more likely to defend its food later in life.

Depending on the puppy’s previous experiences, the symptoms may differ. They can be moderate and easy to treat, or they can be severe and necessitate professional assistance. Some of the symptoms include:

• Eating faster when approached
• Leaving the room when receiving a treat like a bone
• Growling when approached
• Looking out for everyone that walks past
• Whole-body stiffens
• Lunging at someone that tries to take away food
• Biting anyone that comes too close

The following methods can be used to stop food aggression in Dogs:

1. Treat Method
   We would like to establish a positive link with us being around the eating dog. The simplest way to accomplish this is to toss a delicious treat into the dog’s food bowl whenever we approach it.
2. Create a Routine
   Creating a routine will boost their confidence and provide a safe environment free of surprises. When it’s time for food, your dog will be much calmer because he won’t have to worry about it.

3. Feed your dog by hand
   You can start hand feeding your dog to prevent and solve food aggression. This will strengthen your bond and convey to your dog that you are a food source. You can also control how quickly your dog consumes food. You don’t need to feed the dog an entire meal; just a few bites before and after would suffice.
4. Desensitizing Method
   If you’ve used all of the methods listed above, your dog should be quite at ease with your presence. Moreover, you should stay present after giving your dog its meal to gain its trust even more.