Puppy agreesive to new puppy when it comes to food

falabo

Good morning all,

I've got a four and a half month old Cocker Spanieln (roux). We've had a dog trainer and 95% of the training is going great. She doesn't jump up when we (or others) walk into the room, she sits, lies down on command and in the last 2 weeks has really go the hang of walking. she's great with other dogs and is really getting well socialised. She doesnt bite or nip anymore and loves being cuddled and played with.


The only thing is: she is very attached to me and I felt awful leaving her on her own all day. I decided to get her a friend, she is a 3 month old cocker spaniel. (Maxi)

She was introduced on friday. They instantly played together like they were best friends although Roux was a bit overprotective of her toys. she is now sharing her toys no problem and feels comfortable enough sharihng the same bed.

HOWEVER there is a side of her I have only just seen: she is guarding her food and I would be afraid for Maxi. Even when it just comes down for a treat, she gets hyper and could bite maxi. it's like she has no control when it comes to food although humans are allowed to come near hwer when she's eating.

Do you think it's a territorial behaviour as maxi is new and on her terrirory? Would you say it's only temporary until Roux gets used to Maxi ?

She is going to be neutered soon, would that eliminate the food agression problem?

I am thinking of getting a dog trainer to come in for that, as I would take this very seriously but in the meantime I would not want Maxi to get bitten EVER...

Please help ...

Here is a picture of them together, they are so cute

cjf

You should feed them in seperate rooms this will remove the territorial behaviour over food. When giving treats etc you should be working loads on the 'Leave It' command so that if you are giving a treat to the 2nd dog the first can be told a stern leave it so she will not try to take it from the 2nd dog. They then get a treat for leaving it and so they learn to wait and have manners!

By feeding them seperate this will not give her the chance to exert dominance when it comes to the food and let them both relax and eat in peace. This will also reduce the likelyhood of guarding other resources such as toys etc.

Also good idea to try and have some one on one time with both dogs individually. Even 10 minutes in the garden doing some training or bring one when you nip to the shops etc. This will give both the individual attention they need and will help with training in the long run as they will be more focused on you and less on each other!

They are super cute! Am very much a fan of keeping dogs in pairs every doggie should have pal where its possible for people to have 2 dogs!

falabo

thanks for your reply ... I do agree, I think it's super cool to have 2 dogs ... I got the second one because it was killing me to think that she was on her own all day. It even affected the quality of my work recently so I had to do something about it.

Now that I'm no longer anxious about her being on her own, I'm anxious about them not being able to eat toghether ever. I hope this will pass with time.

I will practise the "leave it" loads. I kinda stopped recently because she had became so good ... until maxi moved in ....

Thanks for your tiem to write, really appreciated

cjf

I feed mine seperate all the time its not a bad thing just gives them both a chance to eat it peace. One of mine is a good bit bigger than the other so scoffs his in 2 mins so dont want him hovering over the other while she eating! Just lets dinner be a relaxing time for both which means there is less chance of either one developing food issues!!

Its not a big deal just one in the kitchen and the other just outside the kitchen they both know their spots and when they see me going for the food go and wait in their areas!!

falabo

we now have the little one 4 days. yesterday and this morning feeding times went really well. we're delighted. they even started licking one another. huge progress in the last 24 hours.

Thanks for your advice !!!!

moving_home

oh god - just had to say they are beautiful!!
I have a 5.5 month old cocker and just love the breed. Would love to get another one but can't really justify it as I am home with her all day.
Until about 5mths our little one was scoffing down all her food straight away as if she was scared it would be taken away (or if maybe as if she had to fight for it in the litter) but she has got a much more relaxed attitude to food in the last couple of weeks.
Best of luck with them - they are beauties!:D:D

falabo

Hi cfg and moving_home

Thanks for your advice so far. yesterday evening Roux did really well, feeding times went ok

Now she even share toys with Maxi, no problem. So it was the perfect evening until ... I found Roux on the floor of my side of the bed, on a blnaket I';ve noticed she's very very attached to. Maxi approached and she went mental, thankfully I had time to push her against the locker. I screamed at her "BAD" and she left the room, tail in between her legs ...

She then came back to me, with that really guilty and sosr look, so I rubbed her belly.

I can't understand why she snapped, they sleep on the couch together and all, no problem ... Maxi is only in the house 5 days now, I guess it's still early.

I would say she has accepted Maxi 90%. Do u think one day I'll be bale to relax knowing that Roux won't prevent Maxi from sitting on my side of the bed? Roux is extremely attached to me.

I feel bad for Roux to have introduced a new puppy but at the same time I'm convinced in the long term it's for the best. The way they play together and share a bed/couch is a good sign I think.

Do you think I should call a professional trainer or wait for a while? (she has already improved her behaviour)? I really want them to be best friends and I feel really bad for Roux cos I know she's wondering whats going on at the minute ... the chemistry between us is unbelievable.

Thanks for reading ...

cjf

If you are very worried and anxious then perhaps contact a trainer as if you continue to be worried everytime they are together the dogs will pick up on this and it will create a negative experience for all of you! To some extent the new pup must learn to respect your existing dogs boundries. If your existing dog is saying leave me alone when Im sleeping then that is different to dont come near my blanket. This is where a professional should be able to tell you which behaviour she is doing.

Has Roux actually bitten the pup intending to cause injury or is it growling and showing of teeth or snapping to say leave me alone?

My two sometimes still have the odd spat if one is pestering the other or disturbing them and sometimes it is best to let them work it out. I do keep an eye though and if I felt that it was getting out of hand I would step in but have not had to as its finished in a matter of seconds and they back to being best pals! They might snap or growl but its never to actualy cause harm to the other just to say 'seriously enough leave me alone now!'

falabo

cjf wrote: »

If you are very worried and anxious then perhaps contact a trainer as if you continue to be worried everytime they are together the dogs will pick up on this and it will create a negative experience for all of you! To some extent the new pup must learn to respect your existing dogs boundries. If your existing dog is saying leave me alone when Im sleeping then that is different to dont come near my blanket. This is where a professional should be able to tell you which behaviour she is doing.

Has Roux actually bitten the pup intending to cause injury or is it growling and showing of teeth or snapping to say leave me alone?

My two sometimes still have the odd spat if one is pestering the other or disturbing them and sometimes it is best to let them work it out. I do keep an eye though and if I felt that it was getting out of hand I would step in but have not had to as its finished in a matter of seconds and they back to being best pals! They might snap or growl but its never to actualy cause harm to the other just to say 'seriously enough leave me alone now!'

I'm not worried at all when they are together ... well except when Roux wants to be on my side of the bed. ok I should let them do their business then.

Roux has never bitten the other puppy, she only snapped but she gets all worked up, it's not nice see ... it is more of a "leave me alone now"

I think I will probably get a proffessionnal trainer to come in, but more for me, to show me how to deal with this and reinsure me ....

cjf

Yea getting professional advice with these things is the best way to go. If Roux not actually trying to hurt the pup then it is most likely her laying down the law of the house to the new arrival and should sort itself out! One thing I never allow is one of them pushing the other away from me this means they see me as a toy or blanket they can own and this would be a problem!

Best of luck!