Dog Community

Puppy eating growled at older dog

Pam

Posted : 8/21/2006 9:03:04 AM

Our 5 month old female bulldog puppy (we've had for 1 month) while eating her delicious canned food with kibble growled at my 4 year old sweet golden/gorden mix as he stuck his nose near her bowl. He has decided he loves her food too. (He gets his own delicious homecooked or raw) on the porch. She is feed in our bathroom while the potty training is going on. I picked up the bowl for a minute to show I was boss of the food.

Help - I need to nip this in the bud now.

For the last 2 years when our old bullddog was alive, we fed her int he kitchen and the golden on the porch,,,just to keep the bulldog out of his food and give him time to eat ( slow eater).

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/21/2006 11:14:47 AM

The problem here is that your dog should not be sticking his nose into another dog's food bowl-- it is appropriate for your puppy to give a warning growl under the situation. You should not be grabbing your puppy's meal away either. Both behaviors are highly rude among dogs, and rudely snatching your puppy's food away like that, especially when the other dog caused the situation, can create a resource guarding problem. It's not "leadership" and it's not "being boss of the food"; to a dog, grabbing his food away is the act of a rude bully. He may start attacking you or your other dog for just thinking about going near his meals.

So feed them in separate rooms or in crates.

Pam

Posted : 8/21/2006 1:40:24 PM

Oh Lord - Perhaps I should give some other info. The puppy has been testing my older dog trying to take his bone from him. He shows his teeth but doesn;t isssue a warning growl. I tell her "no" or "leave him alone" when she is pushing him too far. She takes the bones away from our new old rescued bulldog (age 7), right out of his paws. I am jsut waiting for either to bite the puppy, she needs to be put in her place by the older dogs.

I don't know what is appropriate puppy behavior towards another dog. I've only had 2 puppies in my life and they were solitary

uppies . I just want to get ahead of the 8 ball .

If you say, it was an appropriate reaction for her to growl at the other dog, then fine.

spiritdogs

Posted : 8/21/2006 1:57:06 PM

If you don't know what is appropriate, it's time to enroll the puppy in class and get an idea from your instructor.
www.clickertraining.com
www.apdt.com
Both sites have trainer searches.

I have five dogs and they all have separate eating quarters. And, they all get trained not to guard food from humans - but, there's little you can do to keep them from guarding it from each other, so it's safest if they get toys, treats, and meals separately, especially if you are not yet a good student of appropriate pack behavior.

Pam

Posted : 8/21/2006 2:16:43 PM

Good advice, we will go to school, she's only 5 months tho....

I always fed my 2 older dogs separately, just so the slow one had time to eat his food because the other one took it from him..

My alpha or dominate female bulldog just died and I wasn;t sure how my submissive male golden mix would change or adjsut to the female puppy. I see these signs of the puppy wanting to be the alpha. Maybe that is ok with my golden male.

Look, just be gentle with me....I am greiving for my dog...&.tyring to do the right thing with this puppy my DH insisted we get when I was not ready. I have not had a puppy in 10 years. I think calling me a bully was a little rough (if you only knew).

glenmar

Posted : 8/21/2006 2:33:36 PM

I think that the dynamics between these two will change several times before they settle into any sort of "pack order", and that's ok.

I do agree that you need to feed in crates or keep them strictly separated during meal times. Even Sheba and Tyler, who don't eat in crates, eat in separate rooms. Doing that eliminates any need for YOU to step in and perhaps be perceived as the bad guy.

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/21/2006 2:36:56 PM

Young puppies don't don't make "alpha" challenges-- basically, they are just plain rude. Like a toddler. And like adult humans who tolerate a lot from toddlers, adult dogs tolerate a lot from puppies. Eventually they stop tolerating so much and start insisting on good manners.
Appropriate puppy behavior is up to you- it's your household. You can let the dogs sort out bone ownership and food ownership amongst themselves; or if you prefer peace and quiet, you can insist all dogs stay in their special "spots" during eating and chewing. Enforce with tethers, crates, doors, gates as needed.

Pam

Posted : 8/21/2006 2:52:50 PM

Thank you for that information Glenda and Mudpuppy and Anne. I think these 2 have the makings of a great friendship when its all said and done.

jones

Posted : 8/21/2006 4:12:10 PM

Hollysmom - they probably do. Just thought I'd chip in that 5 months is definitely not too young for training classes. I started my pup in puppy training class at 9 weeks. In fact puppyhood is a great time for group classes because you can socialize them to other dogs in a controlled environment (as opposed to a dog park for eg). Some classes require pups to have all their shots - some only rabies - some are not as concerned about shots - just research a little, and look for PR or clicker training.