IndieTaj Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I have brother and sister Bullmastiff pups who are 16 weeks this week. They are the best of friends, play together, sleep together and are practically inseperable however I have noticed that Taj is becoming increasingly aggressive at food time towards Indie. Until the last few days they would eat out of the same bowls, (despite having their own each!) and would finish each others meals off, swapping back and forth and so on, but now Taj is barking and growling at her, taking her food and not letting her eat. There is a lot of noise and barking and Indie backs off. If I go out and stand between them they are ok and Indie will eat but obviously I want to nip Taj's problem in the butt. As soon as the food is gone, they are back to loving brother and sister. They are starting their obedience classes this weekend and I have already decided to feed Taj on leash for a while but does anyone else have any ideas?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ams Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I have brother and sister Bullmastiff pups who are 16 weeks this week. They are the best of friends, play together, sleep together and are practically inseperable however I have noticed that Taj is becoming increasingly aggressive at food time towards Indie. Until the last few days they would eat out of the same bowls, (despite having their own each!) and would finish each others meals off, swapping back and forth and so on, but now Taj is barking and growling at her, taking her food and not letting her eat. There is a lot of noise and barking and Indie backs off. If I go out and stand between them they are ok and Indie will eat but obviously I want to nip Taj's problem in the butt. As soon as the food is gone, they are back to loving brother and sister.They are starting their obedience classes this weekend and I have already decided to feed Taj on leash for a while but does anyone else have any ideas?? Feed them separately. Having two pups from the same litter will be darned hard work. This sounds like the start of dominance issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Feed them separately so they can't physically get to each other's bowls. Sometimes a little management goes a loooong way. It's not fair on your dogs to make them feel like they are competing over food. We know there's plenty to go around, but they don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndieTaj Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 why will it be hard work to have 2 from the same litter? I've had brother and sister before and never had a problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ams Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 why will it be hard work to have 2 from the same litter? I've had brother and sister before and never had a problem It is just easier for pack dynamics if the dogs are not the same age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndieTaj Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 ok fair enough! they are both sitting quietly on my feet now and I can feed them schmacko treats without scuffles its just for their proper dinner and breakfast! Indie has always been the more dominant one and Taj the slightly goofy one but it seems the roles are being reversed! What is the best way to correct him for doing this? I obviously dont want it to turn into biting (either Indie or me or my kids!) but he needs to know its not on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 (edited) Do not let them eat out of the same bowl!!!! Do not let them wonder between bowls and pick and choose as they like!!! It's not cute it just causes trouble. With any breed of dog you are looking for trouble if you let them wonder up to another dogs bowl whilst it is eating. You are the boss you have to let them know it is not acceptable to move from their own bowl. Use a loud voice and tell then 'no' if one starts heading towards the other ones bowl. Use a water spray bottle for reinforcement. If you can not control them with these to things then puppy pen them seperatley or feed them in sperate rooms or parts of the yard. Edited November 25, 2009 by puggy_puggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Feed them in separate rooms- or one inside, one outside, but make sure they cannot seeach other , and remove bowls immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndieTaj Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 ok so this might sound a bit dumb but if I feed them in 2 separate areas (which I will try in the morning) who do I feed first as I cant put 2 bowls down in separate locations at the same time!! Should I continue to let Taj eat first or let Indie eat first and make him wait?? (I dont have any other adult in the house besides me and my kids arent really old enough to help yet) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Put your pups in the chosen areas..THEN get the food bowls.. feed whichever one you want first..get them to sit & wait.... an excellent opportunity for a bit of training and one-on -one atention. It is also getting them used to being alone and doing stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndieTaj Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 ahh I feel so stupid for having to ask that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 ahh I feel so stupid for having to ask that! I think I was told on here that there is no such thing as a stupid question ..It's often easier to 'see' a possible solution from the other side of a computer screen ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndieTaj Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 right well I shall report back in the morning how they go being fed separately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvsdogs Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Feed them in separate rooms- or one inside, one outside, but make sure they cannot seeach other , and remove bowls immediately. I prefer this method. They shouldn't feel threatened by each other or you while eating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiwogabull* Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 I had a major problem with my 16 wk pup eating his food too fast and guarding his bowl not growling but looking intently at it. but I think he feels less pressure to eat everything fas It was suggested to feed him out of sight and alone... he now eats at leisure and is alot slower.. he still has to wait for his food ect but now I feed and leave and collect his bowl when he's finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDaz Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 I have two female Staffy litter mates who are now 2 years old. When they were pups I always fed them together and I now know I can leave food out if I need to and there will be no fights. I don’t know if I lucked out or it was a result of them growing up eating together. When they got older I did start separating them for dinner as we started feeding RAW and chicken necks, so we wanted to let them eat slowly. When we feed dry food even now they get two bowls next to each other, one tips one bowl over, they eat that together, then she tips the other bowl over and they eat that together. I could also leave them with bones and feel confident there will not be any issues, but I don’t, bones are more of a treat and I wouldn’t risk it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndieTaj Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 well I have started feeding them at separate ends of the yard. Indie wouldnt eat if I separated her completely!! She would wait till she could see Taj again and then eat. Taj is happy to eat whatever, whenever with whoever!! So separate ends of the yard is working at the moment,. I also wait outside with them while they are eating and Taj will come to me once he is finished for pats while Indie finishes off. Not the best solution I dont imagine but its working for now. As for bones and chicken wings etc, there is no way Indie will give in to Taj with these! It is only dry kibble that she seems happy to forgo. In saying that also we have just started them on the Royal Canin diet and they are both eating everything in the bowl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvsdogs Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I had a major problem with my 16 wk pup eating his food too fast and guarding his bowl not growling but looking intently at it.but I think he feels less pressure to eat everything fas It was suggested to feed him out of sight and alone... he now eats at leisure and is alot slower.. he still has to wait for his food ect but now I feed and leave and collect his bowl when he's finished. This is not a good idea because he will begin to see it as his alone & may guard his food bowl. We teach beginner members at my dog club to stay with their dogs at least 2-3 times a week while they eat. You are not going to take the food away, but have something more desirable like roast chicken to drop into the bowl while he's eating. I pat & can even groom my dog while she's eating & she doesn't mind a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 (edited) I had a major problem with my 16 wk pup eating his food too fast and guarding his bowl not growling but looking intently at it.but I think he feels less pressure to eat everything fas It was suggested to feed him out of sight and alone... he now eats at leisure and is alot slower.. he still has to wait for his food ect but now I feed and leave and collect his bowl when he's finished. This is not a good idea because he will begin to see it as his alone & may guard his food bowl. We teach beginner members at my dog club to stay with their dogs at least 2-3 times a week while they eat. You are not going to take the food away, but have something more desirable like roast chicken to drop into the bowl while he's eating. I pat & can even groom my dog while she's eating & she doesn't mind a bit. I always let my dogs eat in peace and I have no problem taking food from them. They work for their food and they look to me for permission to eat, once they haven earnt their dinner they can eat in peace. Neither of them are resource guarders or ever have been. Hassling a dog while they eat (not saying that you are necessarily hassling your dog at eating time, I'm talking generally) can create resource guarding. IMO what you do before you let your dog eat (i.e. a program like TOT) is just as important as what you do when the dog is eating. Edited December 2, 2009 by huski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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