The Bowl Ladder

For food-bowl guarding, work one rung at a time. While your dog eats, walk past and drop a piece of chicken into the bowl — never reaching in. Do this at every meal for about two weeks.

Next rung: briefly touch the bowl as you drop the treat. Then lift the bowl, add the treat, and set it back down.

Only climb when your dog stays relaxed — loose tail, soft eyes, still eating. If it tenses, drop back a rung and slow down.