What am I not doing?

[Sowa]

I've heard it's a good idea to put your hand in the pups bowl when it's young to prevent food aggression. I've been doing it off and on since I got her, and today she actually growled at me when I did it. I immediately corrected her and she had to wait til she was calm before she could eat again. I did it again, she growled. So I corrected again. The third time she didn't growl so I let her eat.

Am I not suppose to do this? I do not want her to be aggressive. I try to do everything I can think of to show her I'm in charge. She waits at the door for me to enter or leave first. She sleeps in a pen at night. She's not allowed up on any furniture. I feel I'm doing it right, so why would she feel she needs to growl at me? Obviously she doesn't see me as being the leader...So, how can I make her see I am?

[Karen]

You are not doing anything wrong, she is a puppy. She will test her boundaries over and over, until you are at your wits' end, and then suddenly she'll stop! I have never heard of putting your hand IN a dog's food bowl, mind you. But we never had a problem with food aggression, either.

[Sowa]

I just worry I'm doing it wrong and will MAKE her aggressive over her food. I just heard that if you do that she'll learn I can be around her food and she doesn't need to worry that I'll take it from her.

[Freedom]

LOL, te joys of puppy hood!

You are on the right track, as Karen said.

She is a puppy, learning things. I ve not heard of putting your hand in the bowl, but it sounds like you did very well, she learned that if she wanted to eat, she best NOT growl. GOOD JOB! Do this few times, and then you will think you are all set.

You are going to teach her lots. Some she will even master. And THEN . . . your beautifully trained baby girl is going to hit the teens years and rebel; you will feel you have to start all over again! Just stick with your training, you are doing great.

She isn't a teen yet, she is still just learning. I'm just pointing out, you will see set backs now and then, for varied reasons. Don't lose heart, just return to consistent training.

[Asiel]

You're actually doing everything right. Every dog will test you at some time as Karen said and your pup is doing it right now. Just be persistant and make sure she lets you do what you want with her bowl. Every so often when you take her bowl you could add something yummy in it so she realizes that it pays to let you be the boss. Work with the NILIF method and the pup will get on the right track real quick. Make her sit, down or stand before she gets to eat, that really works wonders too.

[Sowa]

You're actually doing everything right. Every dog will test you at some time as Karen said and your pup is doing it right now. Just be persistant and make sure she lets you do what you want with her bowl. Every so often when you take her bowl you could add something yummy in it so she realizes that it pays to let you be the boss. Work with the NILIF method and the pup will get on the right track real quick. Make her sit, down or stand before she gets to eat, that really works wonders too.

Thanks, it's good to know I'm not messing up. She has to sit, and wait calmly before she gets to eat. Sometimes I get her to "down" and "paw" too. This is the first she growled at me, she has growled at my boyfriend before too. He corrected her as well.