Food Aggression in Dogs (toward other dogs). What would you do?

[Caoimhe Gallagh]

Thanks for all the replies. =D Glad to know other people think it's better to fix the problem than let it go on.

[Goldmarble]

Fix.

Only acceptable answer.

[mdk]

Fix, but fuck if I know how to fix it. One of my dogs has decided to starve the other one (after years of being totally fine), so if I don't split them up at feeding time, the little one doesn't get any food.

[Caoimhe Gallagh]

See, that's how I feel too.

Stopping a dog from stealing food is usually punishment versus reward.

To stop some dogs I sit from doing it, I'll out them verbally and kennel them for 15 minutes to 30 minutes depending on how much they ate, did they stop when I called them on it or did they scarf more down knowing they shouldn't.

(And yes, the dogs I have trained do understand the difference in time outs. They will kennel themselves and stay in on their own until the time has passed for the offense. And most will stop doing the offense that got them the longest time out. Dogs are a lot smarter than people give them credit for--especially herding dogs.)


But I'd rather have a stealer than an aggressive dog. Lol

[Hellis]

Fix, but fuck if I know how to fix it. One of my dogs has decided to starve the other one (after years of being totally fine), so if I don't split them up at feeding time, the little one doesn't get any food.

Older dogs do that all the time Mdk. Younger, smaller dogs are perceived as someone who might become a threat to the odler dog and so it does what it can to keep it down.

[Lady Rawr]

Yeah my partner has an older and a younger dog - they generally leave each other alone at feeding times. Initially the older dog was very hostile regarding food - but a stern telling off/kennelling for a few mins whilst the other ate fixed it soon enough.

Fixing is definitely the way to go - also that saying about not being able to teach an old dog new things is generally bull - they learn just as well, if not maybe a tad slower.

That being said my solution would be to get a cat - cuz I'm constructive like that

[Caoimhe Gallagh]

I already have a cat!
And yes, it is bull that you cannot teach an old dog. But it's much harder, and if the dog is 10 years old and the only dog in the house, putting it through that training isn't as needed as a young dog who should be out meeting other dogs--so to speak.

I'm not saying don't train an old dog, but if it's super old and has been this way since a puppy due to lack of training...it's not as worth it as it would be a much younger dog.

Personally, I'd still try anyways, but I can see to some degree why some owners wouldn't. But it's those young dogs, especially under a year old, that concern me the most.

[Kestrel]

I refused to have a food aggressive dog and quickly taught my Blue Heeler (Now 15 1/2 weeks old) that if she growls at another dog for coming near her bowl (Intent to steal food or not) that it will be taken from her and given to the other dog.

This forcibly establishes ranks amongst dogs, which generally should be left to the dogs their selves. By giving the other dog food, you, as the higher ranked, are basically saying "That other dog deserves your food more, you are worth less." This in itself isn't that bad, but consider the flip side. You are rewarding the other dog for a behaviour that is either neutral or bad and handing them a higher rank.

Stopping a dog from stealing food is usually punishment versus reward.

To top some dogs I sit from doing it, I'll out them verbally and kennel them for 15 minutes to 30 minutes depending on how much they ate, did they stop when I called them on it or did they scarf more down knowing they shouldn't.

Ironically punishment based on how much they ate is really silly, because dogs don't make that relation it's only good for your personal feeling of judgement.

I generally agree on the fix>prevent ideology here, but I disagree with your methods.

[Caoimhe Gallagh]

You're free to disagree. =D

But given my method works, my clients bring their dogs back to me after training for sitting, all dogs are happy and loving, no one feels left out, no one cowers, if treats come out they all just swarm around my legs, I don't think a single one of them sits back and goes "She thinks I'm worthless".

Especially not my Iris. Given out of everyone in my home, I'm the one she loves the most, the only one she listens and behaves for, and she sees my bedroom as her den. She knows she is top dog in this house, and by my training, understands that these other dogs are being invited into HER flock.