Food Agression - Realised Is Not Just With Food

[Flaves]

Okay, Mitchi my jrt is great. She plays nicely with others, she shares toys, she loves playing rough, she listens.....

BUT

SHe does not like to share her food.

SHe will growl and snap at other dogs if they get to close to her.

I can pat her, put my hands in her food and everything. She just does not like other dogs near her food.

I would prefer it if she just ignored them as Barker does, he makes a face but thats it.

I can feed her and other dogs treats at the same time. Last night for example i had Bella nd her two over, i gave them al;l treats, the four of them, at the same time, one after the other - no problems. Nothing not a sound.

She has a bone or food in her bowl and if they walk passed she cracks it. I do step in early adn tell her off or remove the other dog but how can i get her to stop being food aggresive?

EDITED: 4th entry.

Edited November 24, 2006 by Kristie

[Rascalmyshadow]

Sounds quite normal, I personally wouldn't call that food aggression jusy warning the other dogs not to touch unless of course there's fighting involved.

[Akitaowner]

i would also suggest that this is just defence - does she crack it if you remove her bowl after you give it to her? (ie with food in it?)

its a way they ensure they are higher in the pack than the others around - especially if the others dont live there.

My boy does this every night with our pup - she tries to sneak in and steal his dinner so he snarls at her - never hurts her - very rarely touches her but it makes her back off (at least until hes had all he wants), although i know being boy and girl eventually he'll give in and she'll become alpha when ill prob have to feed them seperately so he gets some!!

[Flaves]

I have discovered that it is 'higher pecking' order syndrome on her behalf.

So we have gone back to basic and are being very strict withg her.

She growled and snapped at me last night when i went to move her off the leather couch, she is not allowed on it, so her pig ear was removed and she was put outside.

We are back to tough love, no bed to sleep on, she will be sleeping on the mat on teh floor, no couch to sit on.

I am really annoyed at myself because it is my fault she has become like this.

But it is not on.

Any other suggestions?

[sas]

I feel a dog should be entitled to have it's own space whsilt eating and other dogs shouldn't be entering this space and a dog giving another dog a repremand for this would be fairly typical behaviour.

Mind you when does a repremand turn into resource guarding, I guess only you can see how much she is doing it and how much it looks as though she will follow through with her threat.

Don't be too annoyed at yourself, these things happen, some dogs can happily be on sofas and beds without climbing up the ladder.

Sounds like you're on the right track to putting her back in her place. Ignoring can do the trick even though it's very hard to do initially.

Ignore when you come home for about 5 minutes will see you seeing results in about a week.

If the dog is challenging you go into full ignore mode, that may be for an afternoon, a day, 2 days until the dog realises there has been a change in leadership in the home.

I personaly feel it's ok to have dogs on furniture as long as you're the one who invites them up and they get off when they're told.

Good Luck, I'm sure it won't take too long

[Muttaburra]

As well as withholding some "priveleges", I have found it helps me with my JRT to also increase motivation. Maxi responds incredibly well when motivated. It will mean offering an irresistable treat as a reward, you can get Home Brand dog choc treats that are based on carob. (they have choc ones too, so you have to read the packet.) I agree with others, give her some security when eating her food, and a place to call her own in the house - basket, crate whatever.

It might also be a phase where she is trying to work out her position in the pack and you may want to consider if she could be elevated above any of the other dogs (laid back ones). Once this all settles down you may have to go through it all again when she reaches 2yo etc.

It would be good if she could have her own basket or bed on the floor somewhere, not just sleeping anywhere on the floor.

How old is she now?

[Flaves]

Thanks for your replies Sas and IDWT.

Mitchi is going on 8 months now.

I ignored her, except for feeding her and walking her and did not let her get away with anything. She has had a change in attitude that is for sure!

When i said sleep on the floor i meant in a basket or her crate not actually on the floor. I could not do that to her.

She is still a little annoyed if someone gets too close to her when she is eating. Maybe i am expectng too much cause she is pretty good with Barker, my other pup, it is more with Bellas' 2 when they come over. If she has food in her bowl or they go to close to the water she can get cranky - and i know it is fair ebough cause it is her food, i suppose i just thought she would continue how she was being really good with everyone around food. it could be she is growing up and realises she has more power.

I know that with her behaviour towards me, she pushed too far and there was no way in the world i was letting her get away with that. I don;t approach her each adn every time she has food but i firmly believe that i should be able to approach her when the need arises and calls for it without being worried that she will snap and carry on.

None of my dogs have EVER shown the slightest behaviour like this except when they were small pups, they were all told once and then i never had an issue again.

IDWT: Is it a JRT thing that they are more domineering and bossy? Or is it just mine?

She is such a contradiction: She will roll on her back when you approach adn when another dog goes up to her or she will go up to another dog and roll on her back in a submissive pose but then acts like this or get snotty adn cranky when they want to play with her.

She does it with people too.

He body language is saying one thing but her snapping says another, it is lke she is passive aggressive.

How do i help change this behaviour or at least redirect it?

[SALTWOOD]

Have you read "The Dog Listener" books by Jan Fennell or seen her DVD's?

If you haven't then her methods might help!

Sounds just like the JRT's she has problem solved!

[sas]

Ditto, that would be a really good book to read, I remember the JRT story.

It takes times, little by little.

Passive aggressive dogs don't snap, they don't need to do anything like that because their confidence/body language tells other dogs what to expect from them.

Has pooch had any bad experiences in the past such as larger dogs beign too rough in play or anything like that?

[Dogsfevr]

In our house all main meals are done ins epearte areas,no ne fights but some eat quicker so its easier to give each dog there peace whilst eating so they feel relaxed & not threatened,all get treats together .

It sounds like maybe somone has made an attempt for her food & now she is sticking up for herself when she has it

[Muttaburra]

Kirstie the word I would use for JRT's is intense. They can be intensely sensitive, sooky, alert, determined, loyal, playful etc. whatever it is at the time that captures their attention. I believe it is a feature of the breed, working dogs would have been selected for tenacity and bravery in digging out a fox, and also bred to work with a certain amount of independence. The original breeder, Parson Jack Russell also kept his dogs inside the house so also selected them for thier loyalty and companionability.

They are a dog that responds particularly well to a lot of attention, so if you can keep that attention with a good component of training and activity they should be fairly settled. Although your girl is still young and learning. I suspect that the female is the dominant one of the breed.

I think it might be asking too much for her to not gaurd food with visiting dogs. So stand there while they all eat, and any that finish must leave the room, try to put her in a place where the others do not have to go near her to get out or past. Once they have finished eating, food must go away until next feed time. Also you could consider having a big bowl of water outside as well as inside.

Every few days try and have a training session where you extend her skills. Things like a plank resting on a couple of drums and teach her to walk along it, agility poles, something new. This will also help bond with her and she will be more likely to respond to you at other times.

I would love to tell you every amusing encounter I have had with some of Maxi's "challenges", but most times I have managed to achieve respect with my own determination and without raising my voice.

It will definitely be an ongoing thing with a JRT, but they are worth every minute of it. Once they mature, at about 3yo, you will have the most amazing dog.

[Flaves]

THanks IDWT.

We both love her dearly. She is great an di know she will improve with age with making sure she does not rule the roost.

[Akitaowner]

sounds like your on the right track - sometimes they just manage to slip thru the net - its not always obvious when your with them all the time - a bit more training and youll get there - ive gone back to basics with some things for my boy so i know how u feel!