Why are my dogs fighting at mealtime? How to stop food aggression?

Question

I have a 5 year old rescue Great Dane. He is aggressive toward strangers and other dogs as he was abused but I have handled it in the past. I also have a 7 year old dalmatian and the two normally get along very well. Recently, the great Dane has started attacking the dalmatian around meal time. I separate them both and make them sit and feed the alpha dog (dalmatian) first. The great Dane attacks her before the bowls have even been brought out for the past few weeks. Please help. Pet's info: Dog | Great Dane | Male | neutered | 5 years old

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Mealtimes are a common trigger for aggression between dogs in the same household - this may be a resource guarding issue related to the food itself, or could be redirected aggression that is happening when Harvey gets excited and/or frustrated while waiting for his food. The simplest solution would be to put both dogs in separate rooms with the door closed (or in their crates, if they are crate-trained) prior to getting their dinner ready. Feed them in their separate areas (again, in different rooms with the door closed if possible - separate parts of the same room isn't enough), then let them out once they have both finished eating. Pick up the bowls and put them away afterwards to avoid any resource guarding issues with the empty bowls. If this doesn't help, or if you are interested in a more detailed training plan to work on this behavior over time, I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist. He/she can evaluate both dogs in person to hep determine what is causing this problem, and put together a detailed plan for you to work on the problem. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Why are my dogs fighting at mealtime? How to stop food aggression?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

What's the best way to feed my hamster when I'm going on a trip?

Can chickens eat bell peppers daily and what about veggie salads?

Is Purina Layer Pellets good for chickens? What other feeds exist?

My newly adopted pet won't eat hay. What can I do to encourage it?

My mice eat all their food together from one bowl. Is this normal?

Share