Food Aggression

[BIG-DOG-LOVER]

Quick brief - we have 2 dogs - a GSD girl 12 years old (desexed) my OH has had her since she was 1 year old; a Saint Bernard male (desexed) have had him for 6 weeks - prior to living with us he was living at his breeders since birth.

We've had no problems to date with the two dogs, they have gotten along great from day one.

Last night however I was feeding them as usual - I put their bowls in separate places so they are away from each other - the GSD decided to have a sniff in the St's bowl and he snarled at her I gave him a quick 'baah' and he looked at me and stopped but I want to nip this in the bud as quickly as possible.

Usually once the St has finished his dinner he sits and waits about 3 metres away from the GSD and only walks to her bowl (to finish off any remains) once she has walked away from it. There is no aggression from the GSD, she's happy to let him help himself.

If the St is eating from the GSD's bowl and she returns he has not (to date) shown any aggression either.

Any solutions?

Thanks in advance

[persephone]

Easy- feed them in different rooms- or one outside ,one inside.

It's not worth the risk by feeding together.........

[BIG-DOG-LOVER]

Easy- feed them in different rooms- or one outside ,one inside.

It's not worth the risk by feeding together.........

Thanks So it's not something that can be fixed particularly?

I'm fine separating them as there is a gate that is easily shut, just thought perhaps there was a way to stop it altogether.

[poodlefan]

Sounds like the Saint warned the GSD away from his food.. a perfectly reasonable response IMO. In dogs terms the GSD over stepped the mark but you disciplined the dog whose meal was threatened.

Feed them separately. Don't create the situation where one dog feels compelled to defend his meal.

Edited October 27, 2008 by poodlefan

[BIG-DOG-LOVER]

Sounds like the Saint warned the GSD away from his food.. a perfectly reasonable response IMO. In dogs terms the GSD over stepped the mark but you disciplined the dog whose meal was threatened.

Feed them separately. Don't create the situation where one dog feels compelled to defend his meal.

When you put it like that I guess I may have over reacted (or at least reacted to the wrong dog...)

Thanks poodlefan

Edited October 27, 2008 by BIG-DOG-LOVER

[persephone]

ABDL- it may be possible to'fix'- altho why would you want to further stress out the old lady of the house, and put BOTH dogs under pressure?

Just totally separate them at feed time- they can eat in peace, and you don't have to worry.

Make sure tho- that bowls are picked up,and scraps scrounged, before dogs are let back together

[BIG-DOG-LOVER]

ABDL- it may be possible to'fix'- altho why would you want to further stress out the old lady of the house, and put BOTH dogs under pressure?

Just totally separate them at feed time- they can eat in peace, and you don't have to worry.

Make sure tho- that bowls are picked up,and scraps scrounged, before dogs are let back together

Thanks Persephone,

Good points there. Yep I will make sure I pick up their bowls.

They get feed their bones separately but I just didn't even think that normal feeding time would be a problem.

'Tis all a learning experience

[persephone]

Tis all a learning experience thumbsup1.gif

Indeed

[poodlefan]

BDL:

'Tis all a learning experience

Amen to that. Aged dogs can also be forgetful of previously existing rules. You may need to help her out a bit more now.

[BIG-DOG-LOVER]

Tis all a learning experience thumbsup1.gif

Indeed

BDL:

'Tis all a learning experience

Amen to that. Aged dogs can also be forgetful of previously existing rules. You may need to help her out a bit more now.

Thanks both of you for your help

[Vickie]

you may also find that as time goes by, they will work things out themselves, 6 weeks is not very long.

I would continue to feed separately but also know that they may need some more time to work each others signals out.

Do you hand feed them treats while they are both sitting in front of you?

[BIG-DOG-LOVER]

you may also find that as time goes by, they will work things out themselves, 6 weeks is not very long.

I would continue to feed separately but also know that they may need some more time to work each others signals out.

Do you hand feed them treats while they are both sitting in front of you?

6 weeks isn't long I know. It all seemed to be going ok though.

Yep we hand feed them treats together and they are fine with that (well so far, can never say never )

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I feed mine in separate rooms and I never even leave so much as a biscuit lying around. I can feed mine treats and there are no problems but I wouldn't leave a bone or anything else around if I was going out.