i think if you've been reading our blog for a while, you know that rocket has had food aggression issues in the past. thankfully, he's overcome it for the most part, but he still does like to annoy yuki by taking away anything she might have. he's not aggressive about it, mostly because she doesn't put up a fight. we get a new toy or new anything and he will quickly claim it and not let her play with it. he doesn't growl or bark, he's just established himself as alpha and yuki allows it. rocket didn't really like to take pictures and pose like yuki does, until most recently. he now claims the camera and won't allow her to pose.
yuki is trying to pose and be cute for her treat and so is rocket.
notice yuki is sitting down. well, she was trying to lie down next to rocket like in the picture before, but he wouldn't allow her. he figured if she would lie down and get her picture taken next to him, she would also get a treat. she still got her treat even though rocket was being a meany about it. i will correct rocket by telling him 'no' in a stern voice, when he won't let yuki pose with him. he will get his treat though for taking the picture. i've read not to punish a dog that's food aggresssive by denying them food. in their mind you're only confirming that they won't be getting food and that'll just make the problem worse. this method has worked for us, because he understands that i don't approve of his behavior by just the tone of my voice and my body language.
