[quote1315294960=gsicard] Have you ever heard anyone say that they wanted to "return their puppy to the breeder because it is too aggressive over its food and tries to bite the owner?" Well that will happen if they have not read the [url=http://molosserdogs.com/content3308.html]Stages of Puppy Development[/url] or [url=http://molosserdogs.com/content3309.html]the sensory, emotional, and social development of the young dog[/url] [/quote1315294960] Hi Gary, Personally I would have never pick a puppy for guard duties if lacks this behaviour. This behaviour states that the puppy possess instinct first of all, also shows powerful urge to defend what consider being its own. How one can expect a dog to turn in a guard as an adult missing these attributes? Ok may happens, as an exemption that confirms the rule and the rule is to act like that as a puppy. Now there are two categories of potential guard dog owners. The one that are educated enough and capable mentally and physically to own such a dog and the one that they are not. My opinion is that second category should not own such a dog or they become dangerous for the public along with their own safety. Technically what works with me is you don't get scared of course of your puppy (God help you if the puppy realize that you are scared of it and can be the leader) you offer it many times treats to get picked from your hand you always have a delicacy in your hand before starts to eat its meal and you keep your hand close without "suspicious" movements till ends its meal. In a case of a bone lets say, you distract its focusing by offering a delicacy you pick the bone while the dog enjoying the delicacy and in a way does not realize it and straight after you offer it the bone to get picked from your hand. In a few days the puppy will stop protecting his food from his master. JUST GIVE THE PUPPY THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THAT ITS FOOD IN NOT IN DANGER BECAUSE OF HIS MASTER. To my opinion do exactly the opposite with strangers. Restrict the puppy and let a stranger to steal its bone in a provocative way and let the puppy growl and bark furiously at him and then he runs away as a defeated one. I believe it is a clever way to start use its marvellous trait in order to start establish guarding abilities. Teach your puppy NEVER trust a STRANGERS (do not forget we always speak for guard dogs) rather been as aggressive as can be against them and stranger for it should considered anybody does not belong to its family. WHY? Just because 99% a stranger will be the one that will try to hurt you your family or belongings and you got such a dog in order to disincline such cases in first place, not that companionship, love for the breed, loyalty, etc are to be excluded. But if you choosed for any of the reasons but to guard and protect you are TERRIBLY WRONG. 1% even "familiar" persons may hurt you in the future (you don't know even if the next door neighbour will keep a friendly disposition in the future) in this way stranger for a guard dog should consider anyone but his family. Forget about socialization crap (concerning stranger humans, socialization should apply only for other animals, traffic, sounds, etc) is my opinion. None of our ancestors and creators of guard dogs breeds use to socialize his dogs with the whole village and expecting to get a guard dog to attack a thieve in the future. It is so silly as it is sounds. You own a GUARD DOG and not an alive alarm system. This is called watchdog. Huge difference and not to be confused. Exactly where watchdog’s job stops guard dog's starts, period. This is the only way I can see it at least. There are few things worse than a guard dog trying to make up its mind if has to attack to someone breaking into your premises at 4:00 am or rather play with him and speaking for a dog with the popper instinct to be a guard dog YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE for such STUPID reaction. Do not confuse your guard dog (and your self) when puppy or it will be a confused adult and this is very dangerous. It is all against the reason you picked this dog after all. Make the things clear for your puppy, you own a guard dog and anyone should perceive the dog so, or the possibilities start to count against its duties when mature. OF COURSE NEVER EVER TO BE FORGOTTEN MOST OF ALL YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF INOCENT PEOPLE, for the others ...that's why you have such dog! This is just my personal opinion. Regards