I am at my last resort here with my 3 year old male rottie. His food aggression behavior has gotten out of control. When he was a puppy I did everything my trainer told me to do...I put my hand in his bowl while he ate to get him used to the idea, I added special treats to his bowl while he ate which he didn't mind when he was a pup. But now its gotten out of control. Here is the way it goes...I put his food and water down in the kitchen where he eats....he will growl at me until I LEAVE the area. Today was different...I put his food out upstairs came downstairs and told him to go eat....he immediately started to growl at me even though neither of us were near his food. He wouldn't even go up to eat..he just growled at me. In a stern voice I told him NO! which he responded with more growling, again NO!...it didn't work, eventually I put him in a room in a sit/stay and put his food away. When he growls he does not show his teeth or stands. He gets down low and does not look at me. Other than his food aggression he is perfect. He listens to all the commands I give him. I can have him in a sit/stay off a leash outside and he will stare at the stray cats and not MOVE one inch all the while looking at me, anxiously waiting for me to tell him to "get the cat" which of course I never do. So I looked online and purchased a e-collar for behavior. I am not 100% comfortable with this idea. Something needs to be done and I only want to use this as a last resort. I've spent hours and hours on training with him since he was a pup and have a very close bond with him. This his only negative behavior. Any alternative suggestions??
