When I first got Star (8 weeks old) I hand fed her to help assure she wouldn't become food aggressive. After a couple of weeks, I would occasionally put my hand into the bowl while she was eating, then lift the bowl away a couple of times during mealtime so that she would know that I was the one who would give and could take away the food.
I also did the same thing with her bones, when she was old enough to have them. I would hold it (not letting go) while she licked at it then would take it away for a minute. I would ask her to sit or give paw to get it back. I would do that a couple of times each time she got a bone.
You know how they love to bite on your hands with those little needle teeth?Well, when she would do that, I would quickly draw my hand away and say "Ouch! No biting!" She came to associate that as her release cue; not to bite and grab. She's since also learned "give." When she has her ball, or something else (not food) that she really loves, I will hold up a treat and tell her to "give" or "leave it" and when she has dropped it, she gets a treat. Now, she will let me take her bone away with either "give" or "leave it." I often sit with her as she's chewing her bone and hold it, touch her head, pull the bone away and even act like I'm chewing on it
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She still becomes a bit possessive, low growl, if one of the cats approaches her when she's having a bone but will just usually move away from them or into another room. If I'm at all concerned, I take the bone away and have her eat it outside.
The important thing is that you are able to take it away. It sounds like you're doing something similar to what I did with Star...keep at it! You're on the right track and doing a great job!![]()
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