Food Agression

[gemjunkie]

Ok, I'm planning on getting another dog and do NOT want this to escalate any farther with my girl.

She got a rough yank to the scruff and a loud 'NO!' today when we went for play time with her mastiff friends. I always bring cookies... Sophie started growling and snapping when I gave the big girls some cookies. Sophie won't even eat these things but had a FIT knowing someone else was getting something she wasn't. She did submit when I scolded, at least she does know who's boss.

She wasn't like this with her litter-mates, doesn't snap at the cats (although she will take treats if they aren't fast enough) but she has not had any food competition since leaving her litter.

Will I have to separate her from food and friends? Will just making a separate place for 2 dogs to eat be enough? I'd rather not have to worry about her getting her head bit off... Suggestions please, I want to fix this...

[glencorgi]

She's growing up, "you" are "hers." Food and multiple dogs is the best combination to start a fight. When you get the second dog, feed in crates - that prevents a problem from being created. You can also practice hand feeding her now, putting your hand in her bowl and stirring kibble around - she'll learn you control the resources.

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

I would never give treats/tit bits/meals to other dogs in front of mine unless I was completely at ease that no adverse reaction would occur. I wouldn't lay blame at the feet (or the scruff) of your dog. With some dogs they need to be fed quite separately from other dogs even if they are part of a family environment.

[gemjunkie]

I knew I must have done something incorrectly this time... USUALLY, I make all the girls sit in a line for treats. BUT this time, I had the kids with me so any semblance of order went *poof* right out the window. Dog 'cookies' were being handed out willy nilly instead of in an orderly line where I keep everyone at 'arms length' from each other. The big girls are pretty sloppy eaters and crumbs fall (not to mention the drool) AND what does a corgi do when her domain is so close to the floor and they're so good at finding crumbs? *sigh*

After thinking it through, I KNOW what I did wrong and will NOT do it again. When I get another dog, I'll have to make an effort to do things differently to avoid any issues. I always got adult dogs before so starting with puppies is a totally NEW experience for me and I don't want to 'wreck' them too bad with my inexperience.

Thanks once again for putting up with the silly questions and the advice. Sometimes I just have to stop and think about what I did and REMEMBER they're dogs... GEEZE!

[Chip's Mom]

Pam:

Don't feel badly, I have found that sometimes the unexpected happens when you least expect it. I had an experience with mine not to long after I brought Dale home and a rawhide bone was accidentally left unattended and one of the dogs snapped at Dale and they made an awful noise. I thought poor little Dale had been hurt seriously or killed by the sounds of the growling and yelping and it scared me to death. Fortunately, it hasn't happened since and cookies are passed out to all five of my group on a regular basis and they all wait their turn. When I feed them, Jasmine goes on the deck, Lady in the bathroom and Chip, Dale and Maybelle eat together in the kitchen. When Maybelle finishes, she will sit and watch the boys eat and then cleans up what they leave behind while the two boys go and sit in front of the bathroom door and wait for Lady's leavings which is maybe a couple of little pieces to the whole bowl depending on the day. I always leave dry food down all the time so my dogs always have food available. You will do fine with your new puppy.

[Jane Austen]

If I left food for Duchess down all the time she wouldn't be able to fit through the door she would be so fat.
Maybe all your dogs are not corgis? But corgis generally will eat till they drop!
Does anyone else leave food down for their corgi all day?

[Chip's Mom]

Jane:

I have two corgis, one corgi mix, a shepherd mix and a rottie mix and none of mine eat til they drop. I fill the bowl once a day and Maybelle and Jasmine eat most of that and they are large dogs. Lady will not touch it and Dale and Chip may nibble a little bit during the day. I feed small portions of mixed canned and dry morning and night for Lady, Chip and Dale. Maybelle gets some too and Jasmine gets a taste so knowone is left out. My dogs have almost an acre of fenced in yard and they run and play off and on all day long so they burn alot of calories. jasmine is fat but even if I picked up the dry dog food that wouldn't change her weight any. Chip and Dale are odd corgis out because they are not heavy eaters.

[Lovemycorgi]

Jane, I give Zachary dry food in the morning. Sometimes he eats it and sometimes not. I leave it for him to eat when he feels like it. This works well for us. For whatever reason he is not a chow hound. He will guard his food if he thinks the cat is going to eat it. The cat never does eat it, he just sniffs Zachary's bowl. I think they have a little game going. They are funny to watch!

As far as giving treats to Zachary and his friends; at first he was very possessive of me giving another dogs anything including treats. I have taught him to share by having all dogs "sit" and giving each a treat. I also make him "wait" while I give the other dogs treats. Sometimes he is first, sometimes not. When we are home and he has a friend visiting I always, out of respect, give him the treat first.
He is okay with this now. I think this comes with practice and maturity.

Edna

[Chip's Mom]

Edna:

I do the same thing with my dogs and it works well for us. I always say I am teaching them to share.

[Michael Romanos]

There are more than one reason why food should not be left for any dog for more than a few minutes.

[Chip's Mom]

Michael:

If the food is dry, what is the harm? I agree that moist food shouldn't be left out for any length of time but dry doesn't hurt.

[Lovemycorgi]

Michael,
What are some of the reasons why food should not be left out? Zachary's trainer at obedience school said, as a rule, she would not leave food out if they did not eat it within minutes; she would take it away so that the next time he would eat it right away. But this does not seem to matter to Zachary. I never leave it out over night.
Edna

[ColColt]

From what I recall reading about "free feeding", these are some reasons why it's not recommended.

1) Housebreaking - can make it harder
2) Can make pickey eaters.
3) If you you have more than one dog....can cause *food fights*
4) Its harder to make sure everyone is getting the correct amounts of food with multiple dogs if you free-choice feed.
5)Potty schedules can be difficult to access

Moreover, I've read that it can cause dominance issues. He who controls the food rules the pack. If you don't control the food is becomes harder to establish yourself as pack leader. Some dogs will eat whatever you leave out immediately, and be hungry later on. Other dogs in the home will share dishes, so you don’t have a true picture of how much any one dog eats.

There's a lot of info and opinions on this but, it seems to me bloat could also be a problem at some point.

Just a thought.