A great pet dog instills in his family the confidence that they or anyone else can easily handle and examine all parts of his body, take food and toys away from him, and play with him without fear of getting hurt. Practicing consistent gentling and handling exercises throughout your dog’s lifetime, starting when you first bring him home, is the best way to prevent problems, such as a dog who squiggles and squirms or, worse, growls or bites when you try to groom, medicate, or otherwise care for or play with him, or when you go near his food bowl or reach to take a toy from him. Teaching your dog to accept handling willingly and happily is a top priority. Don’t wait until your dog cuts his foot to find out that he doesn’t like having his feet touched, or until he growls at a visiting child who approaches his food bowl to find out that he guards his food and toys.
Consistently allowing your dog to eat his food alone may cause him to guard his food. Teach your dog to appreciate people being near his food bowl by making mealtimes a social experience.