Should dogs be bothered while eating?

Using feeding time, for me, was a way to work on the fear aggression in Gypsy when she was a puppy.  My DH and I always hand fed her when she was a pup.  My young niece and nephew at the time also consistently participated in feeding her because they were so integral in our family AND helping with Gyp's negative behaviors, and realizing them as a resource provider.  Feeding time was SO important in turning our girl around.  I can't stress that enough.  11 years later, feeding time is the calmest, and most trusted moments in our home, even with three cats and two dogs.  Everyone knows their comfort levels, they can be interrupted, but peace is achieved because we offered continuity and a calm approach to any feeding time.  Even the cats can get a crab treat in small bowls without being molested by the dogs with a strong "leave it". This is one of the training regiments, I did right...Now talk to me about my reactive dog on the leash......
 
ETA:I missed your post Christine...I think we are way ahead of the game when the pup is really acclimated to the equating the human with the food.  For me, I feared my girls unpredictability w/ the fear thing, the way she responded to my little niece and nephew during feeding was life changing and life saving for her.

My dogs all eat in the same area, they line up side by side and are fed.  I have been doing this for so long that it's just second nature.  At 8:00 p.m. I have 6 dogs lined up at the bar, looking for food.  I put food down from oldest to youngest and everyone except Beacon eats right there.  I can reach into their bowls while eating without concern.  The younger pups have to know this because at a year of age I have intentions of trying to get therapy dog certification on each of them.

With the last 3 dogs I've had, Kale has fed them by hand along with me for the first few weeks that we had them.  It helped alot.  I think BF should have helped with Crusher.  I don't think Crusher would guard food against BF but he does not appreciate commands of many sorts from him.  Sometimes he just groans and ignores him, other times he seems to challenge him.  Kale on the other hand, Crusher will do backflips for.  So will Onyx, though her's are more of a literal sort.  Neither would ever think of biting me.  And I'm quite certain that kids would have been safe until the brats from next door started using my dogs for target practice.  GRRRR.  don't worry I stopped that.  And not by letting my dogs eat them as I would have preferred...[:@]

That being said, Both dogs are fed in their crates now except on special occasions like stew night.  On those nights they eat at my feet beside each other and are released when they finish.  This is more for Crusher's peace of mind since Onyx inhales her food and he picks out his favorite pieces first, puts the peas on the floor around the bowl to save for last, and practically asks for a piece of bread to sop up the broth with...  He is sooo prissy.

ORIGINAL: powderhound

I think there's two separate issues here but my anwer is the same: 

*Should you be able to get something out of your dog's mouth safely?  Absolutely
*Should they be left alone during their dinner?  Absolutely. 

I can't think of one good reason why I should have to put my hand into my dogs' food bowls.  Not one.  I think you're asking for trouble and asking an awful lot out of the dog--anyone touches MY food without permission and they're getting a fork through the hand.  Especially if it's my favorite ice cream, that stuff is mine, mine, mine.  []  I think you should be able to touch the dog while it's eating--like if I were to bump into one of them (I feed 5 malamutes in 1 room, it could happen) they are expected to ignore it but otherwise there should be no interference.  If you can't get kids to leave them alone then consider crating the dog to eat or keeping the kids in another room. 

 
My thoughts exactly.

ORIGINAL: powderhound

I think there's two separate issues here but my anwer is the same: 

*Should you be able to get something out of your dog's mouth safely?  Absolutely
*Should they be left alone during their dinner?  Absolutely. 

I can't think of one good reason why I should have to put my hand into my dogs' food bowls.  Not one.  I think you're asking for trouble and asking an awful lot out of the dog--anyone touches MY food without permission and they're getting a fork through the hand.  Especially if it's my favorite ice cream, that stuff is mine, mine, mine.  []  I think you should be able to touch the dog while it's eating--like if I were to bump into one of them (I feed 5 malamutes in 1 room, it could happen) they are expected to ignore it but otherwise there should be no interference.  If you can't get kids to leave them alone then consider crating the dog to eat or keeping the kids in another room. 

When Slick is eating and I'm cooking dinner, I regularly reach into his bowl to drop in a bit of veg, or meat, or whatever.  I certainly don't HAVE to do this!  lol but I can and I do and I am NOT asking for trouble...  Some of us are more easy going than others - dogs and people alike.  I could care less if DH helps himself to my fries!  haha  In my case, it's not that I can't *get* the kids to leave the room, it's that I don't have/want to.   Not all dogs and households are the same. 

In my world little kids are not allowed around my dogs.
 
One can never predict what a child will do. I had some evil children living in this neighborhood, they are older now, but boy, when they were younger they tried to tease dogs in the neighborhood.
 
Glenda, I am happy to hear that your dogs are "Child Proof"......[]

I'm with you on this one..... I'm not just protecting the kids, I'm protecting the dogs.  I actually trust the dogs more than some kids I know.  I do my best to make them "child proof" but there are limits.  They shouldn't have to put up with a lot of the stuff kids can throw at them, I do my best to shield them from it.

Chuffy:
 
If I am not mistaken, I remember you saying you are pregnant.
How will you approach the baby and dogs situation?
 
Would you keep the dogs separated from the child?

There will be a lot of segregation!  To protect the baby and later, when he gets mobile and curious, to protect them too.  Of course they will not be left alone together.  I'll go further than that, I'll pro-actively supervise rather than just being in the same room.  To start with the baby will be very new and strange to the dogs and they will need time to adjust - and how much time I can't guess.  They will be allowed to mix more as the child gets older and can be taught respect for the dogs... realistically I don't know how old kids have to be to learn this.  As far back as I can remember I'd get a roasting if I was unkind to a family pet in any way - even if it was just doing something the animal didn't like rather than out-and-out cruelty (like tail pulling) A lot of little kids are kind but clumsy.  It's fluid depending on the child, the situation and the dogs in question.
 
In the meantime we're doing everything we can to prepare them for the new arrival and making sure we have a really good "leave it", things like that.  Luckily we do have young kids in the family (even though they don't live at our house the dogs are OK around kids in general - and the "grandad" is a total pro with babies which I'm sure will be a help). 
 
Frankly to be honest a lot of it I'll have to make up as I go along as it's my first and as I said before, it's fluid so whatever I plan to do I am sure it will change when I get there.  For that reason, while we've given it some thought how we'll manage and help the dogs through it I'm not dwelling on it.  On the whole I'm going to relax and not worry and let them take their cue from me.  One thing I do know, from the outset the child will need more supervision and training than they will.

One thing I do know, from the outset the child will need more supervision and training than they will.

 
So, what you are saying is, a well trained dog can be trusted more than a snot nosed toddler?[]

Abso-flippin-lutely.  In part because with young kids they are still at an age where they are learning about what's OK etc and with most adult dogs, they have this down pat already.  But part of it is that I go to a lot of effort to control my dogs and make sure they are safe and socially acceptable.  Frankly I can see some people don't bother to go to this effort with their children.  I hope I don't stumble into this category!

Frankly I can see some people don't bother to go to this effort with their children.

 
 
OOOOOH yeah, not to be stepping on any feet here, but I have seen so many kids out of control it gives me the willies[:'(]

I have two wild boys (7 and 9) and even though they know *exactly* how to treat and act around a dog - I still trust Slick 100 times more than them!   I could not live with a dog that wasn't completely child proof.   Example:  yesterday, we got into the elevator with a toddler who lives on our floor.  Slick was sitting and she was "petting" him...  This involved sort of jabbing him in the face and sticking her entire hand into his mouth.   We also encounter unknown children every single day.  Clearly,  I have no control over other people's children, but I am responsible for my dog.    Darn straight you can reach into his bowl while he's eating!!!  
 

Example: yesterday, we got into the elevator with a toddler who lives on our floor. Slick was sitting and she was "petting" him... This involved sort of jabbing him in the face and sticking her entire hand into his mouth.

 
I hold the mother of that child responsible then......what if they run into a dog that is not that friendly?
 
I do not allow strange people to pet my dogs, only the ones that my dogs have met, and I expect people to keep their hands and kids in check.

I do not think anyone should do it without some pre-planning.  There are a lot of dogs who will let you take kibble from out of their mouths while they are chewing, but the first time you give them a RMB, they get testy.  And, dogs that do not guard with adults may guard with kids.  Dogs that don't guard the bowl against dad, might guard it from mom.  That's why there is a whole prevention protocol for working with pups or dogs so that they learn to accept human hands around the food bowl.  Fortunately, most dogs aren't food aggressive, but you can never be positive until it happens, so best to do the prevention IMO.