Fighting! Need Advice

[bossyboo]

Hi

I have a just turned one year old Australian Terrier Dusty. I have my mums little dog at my place a lot when they travel she is a Tibetan Spaniel who is 1.5 she is lovely a real gentle dog. Dusty not soo much she is great but bosterious and sometimes jumpy which I am working on. Lately though she is really food dominant and is creating fights with milly. If you feed them seperately she will devour her food then look at eating millys, before she will back off but now she will just charge in and grab it creating a big fight which she always wins. I have been seperating them but want them to be like before and eat together peacefully. Also I would like to get another dog and don't want this behaviour. I have 2 kids who I'm worried will end up in the middle of it and get bitten. yesterday my son dropped a donut outside and I went to pick it up before Dusty could eat it and she growled. I don't think she would ever bite but you never know? Any advice appreciated. She has always been the alpha dog but this food dominance has only just started.

[ChristineX]

Hi Bossyboo,

couple of quick questions:

1. do you have a crate for Dusty?

2. what sort of training has/is Dusty getting

I have two of the larger terriers, and they are crated at food time, or I stand next to my older dog (who eats slower. They also know the 'leave it' command. But I do constantly work at NLIF, and basic training - terriers can and will push boundaries just to see if you will let them. :)

[persephone]

My simple bit of advice for now is to have them in separate rooms or whatever when they are fed . pick up bowls , and then let them both into the backyard . NO treats/bones etc to be left lying around, either, and no dogs underfoot when kids are eating . This is just to physically avoid something nasty.

How did Dusty go at puppy school and/or obedience classes?Do you practice training at home ,or when she has her daily walk?

have you read up on Nothing In Life Is Free? CLICK HERE to learn more :) It is great, because your dog gets to have lots of praise/cuddles , but not just because it looks cute ..therefore, your dog will learn to watch its manners :)

[wiggly woofa]

Stealing food like that is a dominent behaviour. Dusty will not be trying to take on the dominent dog role if you are a strong calm assertive (not aggressive)pak leader. She will be happy to follow you. If she senses some weakness in your leadership she will take on the role of pak leader herself. Check out some of caser milan's vid on youtube for how to be a calm assertive pak leader.

[Salukifan]

Stealing food like that is a dominent behaviour. Dusty will not be trying to take on the dominent dog role if you are a strong calm assertive (not aggressive)pak leader. She will be happy to follow you. If she senses some weakness in your leadership she will take on the role of pak leader herself. Check out some of caser milan's vid on youtube for how to be a calm assertive pak leader.

Sorry but I don't agree that food theft or resource guarding equals dominance. Even lower members of a pack will guard grab and resources.

Resource guarding is hard wired behaviour and attempting to "be the leader" and take the resource can sometimes result in a dog biting. Growling is a warning - this is a GOOD thing. Heed the warning.

My advice is to crate Dusty whenever she or any member of your family is eating. Then get some decent professional help. I doubt you'll cure her of it but you will get lots of management strategies.

The first one I'd be introducing is that your kids don't eat outside unless Dusty is secure elsewhere.

Edited May 15, 2012 by Haredown Whippets

[megan_]

I agree with haredown whippets, food is an essential resource to live so a lot of dogs will guard it. It doesn't mean that you're a weak leader.

My dogs - who have never fought over food - are fed in their crates. I can happily take food away from them at any time. I did this by training them that giving something to me = you get something better back. Simple, but really effective.

[bossyboo]

hi

thanks for all the replys. So I have been crating dusty when its bone time or chicken wing/necks. The problem is Dusty will eat her bone, wing whatever fast. Whereas Millie likes to sit hers in front of her and look at it for an hour before she eats it. Anyway mince and things like that she dosen't seem as bad but millie does eat hers straight away. They are best friends in all other elements, although Dusty gets a tad jealous sometimes. She went well at puppy school and will sit and come on command. She is outgoing and friendly more so than Millie who only likes her family and not very trusting of strangers, although I've heard thats a Tibetan Spaniel thing. I do watch Cesar Milan and am trying to be assertive and I don't take the kids outside when they are being fed anymore. So we'll see how she goes i guess.

[tdierikx]

Maybe crate Millie then if she takes her time about eating.

Does Millie get fussed over when she stays at your place? Maybe Dusty is unsure of her position in your pack?

I agree with seeking some professional help - one on one help for your dogs and you. A trained behaviourist will be able to see the dogs' behaviour and then be able to advise on a course of action. They are worth a lot more than they charge really...

T.