In a message dated 5/27/2008 11:25:54 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, bcpaws4me@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: Let me know if you'd like more details of the thoughts on the food guarding issue. Hmm. I just did the opposite this morning.. grin. When he snarked at one of the other dogs coming too close,I snatched up his bowl and put it out of reach, I put him in the bathroom for a time out for about 5 minutes. Since he does not guard when I play the shark feeding game with everyone, I thought that I would try handing out the food in handfuls.. I am feeding kibble right now because I cant find anyone to deliver my raw. That way , food comes when the other dogs are around and are up there close and personal. .a little classical conditioning.. No snarking, no growling, even when he vacuuming around and under the other dogs.. I also ocassionally threw a handful of food into the bowl on the floor.. I wonder if it is the bowl that is triggering this? My resident dogs are not doing the initiating as they are aware of the fact that all of the food and resources are MINE. I wouldn't have tried this except with my pack and because the snarking is not escalating. If I let them free feed, there is also not an issue except right as I put a new bag in. One of my Danes has trouble keeping weight on , so I had been free feeding.. But Alex is getting overweight so I wanted to switch back to portion feeding. for those who haven't heard about my shark feeding game, I line up the dogs and hand out spoons of canned food or yoghurt or ice cream in the summer. It allows me to give supplements and meds to dogs that need them while reinforcing sits and name recognition.. plus it is kind of fun.. Each dog has their own shark name.. grin..gotta have some people fun with it too..like you said hopefully he will mellow out.. He does let me pick up and take food from him with no fuss. .. Sandy Foushee Infinite Paws-Abilities Training and Service Dogs Teamed with Alexandra Guide/Service Dog Colorado Service/Assistance Dog Club - Trainer.- _http://journals.aol.com/infinitepaws/zairs-journey/_ (http://journals.aol.com/infinitepaws/zairs-journey/) **************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)