Why does my dog ​​grunt at me when it eats?

There are many dogs that grunt when there is food in between However, it is not a desirable behavior or that we should underestimate.In fact, in most cases, the problems associated with this behavior are very serious and result in aggressive behaviors .

If you find yourself in a similar situation, it is important that you know how to act.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will tell you why your dog grunts you when it eats , explaining the cause that could have caused it , important details about the grunt and some basic guidelines that you can follow to control the situation.However, remember that the priority when there is aggressiveness is to go to a specialist Continue reading this article and discover what to do if your dog grunts when he is eating:

The dog's grunt, a fundamental part of his communication

Dogs are social animals .This implies the development of a rich communication system to understand and live together.The grunt is part of this communicative repertoire , in the same way as barking, howling, whining or the abundant samples of body expression.

The grunt expresses distaste, in its softest version , and can arrive to constitute an authentic threat, a warning that, if overlooked, will trigger a marking, a bite and even an attack.Grunting, the dog teaches us its "limits", its teeth, since it emits the sound raising the belfos and leaving his teeth uncovered.

If we have the opportunity to observe how several dogs interact, when one grunts, depending on their position in that social group, will receive one answer or another from of the other dogs.Some may be submissive, ducking their heads and folding their ears , others even throw themselves to the ground or show the belly and neck, which are weak points.On the contrary, others can also express their limits with a grunt of response.

However, what There are differences between these grunts and those who are heading towards us? Why does the dog grunt at me while eating? What is the right way to act in this situation? Keep reading:

The grunt and the food

Food is a basic resource .Without food we die.That is why, even having it freely available today, our dog feels the atavistic need to defend it It is the main reason why our dog can grunt at us when he eats: he is trying to "protect the food".

Again, if we have the chance to observe the interaction of a group of dogs , those who, by their position, eat first, will shout at anyone else who wants to approach and eat their food.And these, can only feed when the "grunidor" concludes.Therefore, grunt with food in between is a normal canine instinct .Now, it is not desirable behavior, especially if the warning ends in bite.

Why are we surprised that our dog grunts precisely to us?

As we say, it is not usual or desirable that our dog grunts us while eating.We generally establish with them a relationship in which we are the "providers." A well-socialized dog is a stable animal, which It will be very difficult to show arisco with us or with other humans or animals.

The keys of the socialization begin with the mother and the brothers, since it is she who teaches her puppies the rules of coexistence and it is with the brothers with whom these lessons are put into practice.For this reason, it is crucial not to separate never to the family, at least until that the puppies have turned 8 weeks.Even if there is no mother, which unfortunately happens when a litter is abandoned, the brothers must also remain together that minimum of 8 weeks.

Thus, when we receive our puppy we must expose it to varied stimuli, to continue with the socialization: people, others dogs (making sure of keep a certain distance if our puppy has not yet completed his vaccination schedule), different animals, situations, vehicles, etc.

If multiple scenarios are familiar, he is more likely to act calmly on them.positive to go to a " dog school " or, failing that, teach basic orders at home ("together", "sitting", "still", etc.).It is not about turning it into a robot, but to educate him to be safe and stable in situations of stress.

Regardless of whether the puppy has socialized correctly and has learned to share with his brothers, it is essential that we socialize with other experiences, like banarle, let yourself be thoroughly manipulated or experiment with your hands when there is food involved.

All these activities are not exclusive to puppies.All dogs, regardless of their age or past socialization, can learn .A bitch or never stops, always seeks to adapt.But what if socialization fails and grunges us?

What to do when our dog grunts us while eating?

We never have to face a dog .If you are warning us with a grunt and we ignore you, go to more and we will end up marked or bitten.When you get to that situation, It is easy to repeat.Does this mean that we should allow our dog to grunt us? No, but the distraccion.

works better if our dog is eating and approaching grune, let's change the focus of attention.For example, by Stop the grunt, take your leash and approach, with a cheerful "let's go for a walk!" It is rare for a dog to resist accompanying us.At that time we put the leash and congratulate him.In this way we have avoided potentially dangerous behavior and, in addition, we have reinforced another that interests us (go to the call and put on the leash).

Using this distraction technique (known as "overshadowing") is highly recommended and can be very useful in situations of risk , for example when we meet small children in the home and we must act, when it comes to a large-sized dog or when the aggressiveness is intense and without warning.However, the dog The protection of resources and tolerance is not really working, a problem of aggressiveness quite serious.

It is very important to understand that the guidelines vary according to the case and therefore it is best to go to a specialist , be it a trainer, a canine educator or an ethologist.However, here are some characteristics that can help us predict and avoid the problem:

• The protection of resources, the grunt while eating in the case at hand, is more common in older dogs, fearful, stressed, impulsive or, in general, in any if the number of dogs grows at home.Attention to these cases.
• If the food is not usual, it is more The dog is likely to defend it.
• We must be vigilant when there are other people at home, since the dog's attitude towards food can vary in the presence of strangers, especially if they are children.

If the grunting occurs we can follow the following guidelines for handling and improving the relationship with our dog while Thus we await the consultation with the professional:

• Try to avoid triggering situations at all times.
• Do not handle the food bowl or touch the dog while eating.
• Do not eat at the same time as him, better to put the food before or after.
• Feed it exclusively with feed and reserve other foods more palatable for work sessions with the specialist.
• Do not confront, do not punish him if he grunts.In our article on "What to do if my dog ​​grunts" we explain some negative consequences of the punishment in this situation.
• Practice "dropping" objects.
• Improve your well-being by allowing you to perform regular physical activity, adapted to your age and condition.A good walk focusing on them, without mobile.It is the best to know us and strengthen ties.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why does my dog ​​grunt me when it eats? , we recommend you go to our Behavioral problems section.