Hi guys.
It's me again. And I'm back with Major Mistake No. 2: Unintentionally causing Food Aggression in our 3 month old Corgi, Cookie. She was perfectly fine with the idea of us touching/petting/stroking her when she ate her food initially. Sadly, after what I believe is my mistake, she began to growl and bark whenever we touch her when she's eating. Other than that, she hangs around us perfectly fine.
I am very disturbed by this and I feel like a big idiot (maybe I am). I hope you guys can help me out. Read on to find out more.
Here's what happened:
During the first two weeks, we fed Cookie by just giving her the bowl (even though she was jumping and running around in her play pen), at fixed times. However, we later realised that that was not the 'right' way of feeding her. Thus, we changed.
Whenever we walked into her view with the food bowl, she'd get excited - we'd walk out of her view, saying things like "Not yet," or "ohh.." She managed to learn fast enough - took about 15 tries if I'm not wrong, before she sat there and waited for us to set the bowl down. That was the first time.
On the next meal, I did the same thing. While doing the same thing, I wanted to make sure that she'd only walk to her food when we gave her a command. She learnt it - she sat there and only got up and walked to her food when we asked her to.
However, I believe I made a grave error during this process. When she ran towards her bowl during one of the last few attempts (the bowl was already on the floor, hands off), I said "No" and tried to left the bowl up, but she was too fast. Therefore, I picked her up to stop her and removed the bowl. That happened twice. This is what I believe caused the food aggression. She would growl and bark whenever anyone touches her, but continue to eat her meal.
While it might be a combination of 2 factors, 1) She worked for her food 2) My actions, I believe my action is the main aggravated the matter.
Just now, during her dinner, held a piece of treat in my hand and reached towards her head (from the side), intending to give the treat to her withotu disturbing her. However, she turned around and bit me hard - hard enough to cause a minor tear and bleed slightly. It's just a minor "scratch," but I know it could lead to bigger problems. She then continued her meal. Despite that, I continued to stroke her, and she continued to growl. When there was about 1/4 of her food left in her bowl, she stopped growling and continue to eat peacefully.
How bad is my situation? Was I too fast in bringing my hand towards her mouth? While she growls and barks when we pet her, it usually subsides towards the end of her meal. Is this a good sign?
My current relationship with my puppy is a good one - she plays with me, comes to me - everything is perfectly fine (well, except that she sometimes bite hard, but not enough to cause injuries, when she playing vigorously. I think this might be a sign; she's quite bite-y).
I'm very troubled and guilty that I
1) Caused this big problem single-handedly
2) Cause possible problems for her and the family now, or in future.
Please help!
Thank you.
It's me again. And I'm back with Major Mistake No. 2: Unintentionally causing Food Aggression in our 3 month old Corgi, Cookie. She was perfectly fine with the idea of us touching/petting/stroking her when she ate her food initially. Sadly, after what I believe is my mistake, she began to growl and bark whenever we touch her when she's eating. Other than that, she hangs around us perfectly fine.
I am very disturbed by this and I feel like a big idiot (maybe I am). I hope you guys can help me out. Read on to find out more.
Here's what happened:
During the first two weeks, we fed Cookie by just giving her the bowl (even though she was jumping and running around in her play pen), at fixed times. However, we later realised that that was not the 'right' way of feeding her. Thus, we changed.
Whenever we walked into her view with the food bowl, she'd get excited - we'd walk out of her view, saying things like "Not yet," or "ohh.." She managed to learn fast enough - took about 15 tries if I'm not wrong, before she sat there and waited for us to set the bowl down. That was the first time.
On the next meal, I did the same thing. While doing the same thing, I wanted to make sure that she'd only walk to her food when we gave her a command. She learnt it - she sat there and only got up and walked to her food when we asked her to.
However, I believe I made a grave error during this process. When she ran towards her bowl during one of the last few attempts (the bowl was already on the floor, hands off), I said "No" and tried to left the bowl up, but she was too fast. Therefore, I picked her up to stop her and removed the bowl. That happened twice. This is what I believe caused the food aggression. She would growl and bark whenever anyone touches her, but continue to eat her meal.
While it might be a combination of 2 factors, 1) She worked for her food 2) My actions, I believe my action is the main aggravated the matter.
Just now, during her dinner, held a piece of treat in my hand and reached towards her head (from the side), intending to give the treat to her withotu disturbing her. However, she turned around and bit me hard - hard enough to cause a minor tear and bleed slightly. It's just a minor "scratch," but I know it could lead to bigger problems. She then continued her meal. Despite that, I continued to stroke her, and she continued to growl. When there was about 1/4 of her food left in her bowl, she stopped growling and continue to eat peacefully.
How bad is my situation? Was I too fast in bringing my hand towards her mouth? While she growls and barks when we pet her, it usually subsides towards the end of her meal. Is this a good sign?
My current relationship with my puppy is a good one - she plays with me, comes to me - everything is perfectly fine (well, except that she sometimes bite hard, but not enough to cause injuries, when she playing vigorously. I think this might be a sign; she's quite bite-y).
I'm very troubled and guilty that I
1) Caused this big problem single-handedly
2) Cause possible problems for her and the family now, or in future.
Please help!
Thank you.