If you discover that your Bernese Mountain Dog guards its food when you first start raising it, there is no need to panic. Here are a few practical ways to correct food guarding behavior.
1. Feed the Dog From Your Hand More Often
Open your palm and place something tasty in your hand, with treats being the simplest option. This feeding method is quite safe because the Bernese Mountain Dog will usually lick the food instead of biting your hand out of impatience. Once the dog gets used to this, you can try holding the food bowl in your hand and feeding the dog that way.
2. Help the Bernese Mountain Dog Get Used to Someone Nearby During Meals
When feeding the dog, place your hand on its body first. While petting it, pour the food into the bowl. Do not stop petting while it is eating, but keep your movements gentle and slow. You can also talk softly so the dog learns to trust that you are not trying to steal its food. Start with petting the rear half of the body if needed, and once the dog accepts that, slowly move toward the head. This process can take a long time and may even require a month to complete.
3. Let the Bernese Mountain Dog Fully Adapt
Once the dog can accept someone being near it and touching it while it eats, it will usually stop making threatening growls. At that point, the owner can begin trying to take the bowl away briefly during the meal. If the Bernese Mountain Dog shows any threatening signs, such as making warning sounds or looking sideways at people, correct it loudly with "No" or "You can't," and remove the food. After it calms down, praise it, pet it, tell it it did well, and then return the bowl. Repeat this process many times until the dog no longer resists.