Can Someone Explain To DH Why Not To Feed The Dogs Close
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Next time at dinner, when your husband starts to eat, you start giving him cold stares while eating, move close in to his personal space with suspicious unfriendly look on your face. When he asks you what's wrong, you ask him if that is annoying to him or what and that this is how the pups feel when they have to eat close together  |
It sounds like he feels they should "just eat by each other and get over it." 
I had this exact thing come up in class last week. The husband and wife have a 2nd corgi puppy. The 2nd one is in class now, the 1st one was several years ago. (and the wife is a retired nurse - coworker of mine as well.) They had a question about the food stealing and scuffles that went on every mealtime. Gary brought it up - and I asked him why they were fed close together. He really didn't have an answer. He said they stand between them - like a referee. 
I explained that I fed all mine away from each other. Some in crates, but at least in seperate rooms. The clincher that seemed to hit home was when I said that they deserved to eat without the stress that their food would get stolen. I said they are like us, we like to relax and enjoy our meal. Not be on edge thinking someone is going to take your food away. He said they would try it! |
| The easiest way would be to tell him that they are 'pack' animals, and each earn their rank in the pack.
In the wild they eat according to their rank number. If one trys to eat out of order it not only causes stress, but they look at it as a threat over their individual rank and are willing to fight to hold onto their rank. I had 7 OES that I fed at the same time. A couple went to opposite sides the living room and the others were spread out in the garage. Even spread out like that they still wouldn't eat until it was their turn. All but one would lay down beside their dish while the other one stood to eat. Once in awhile they'd grab a little mouthful and lay it in front of them to nibble on while they waited. I always made sure they had plenty in their bowls so they wouldn't have to go look for more in someone else's bowl, but on occassion I'd catch a couple of them sharing. If all else fails, tell him its like him wanting to go play golf, or go fishing without "you." |
| I have three OES at the moment, one of them came just six weeks ago as a young dog 19 mths old and I have never had this problem at all, I feed all our dogs together in the kitchen they get fed in rank order but all eat at the same time, when one of them is finished they know to leave the kitchen and go into the hall. We show or dogs this and enforce it, when they get treats it is alwys in the rank order and no other way, and by the way the rank order is oldest, second oldest and youngest. |
| Well, color my stupid. I don't know the rank order of my dogs and I don't care. I feed them in whatever order I want, they get treats in whatever order strikes my fancy, they eat at the same time, next to each other, and apart from Mad finishing her food and then picking up Belle's bowel and bolting with it if I don't tell her to leave it, we never have an issue.
I think we're a little to quick to assign pre-sumed wolf behavior (and even in wolf packs, status is not static, so how do you guage day to day who's who on the totem pole?) to domesticated dogs In our efforts to adhere to this dogma we probably create more problems than we solve.
Like Stewart, I expect my dogs to behave, and they do. The only rank they need to know is that she who buys the food and dishes it up calls the shots. Their only job is to behave. Simple. If I brought a dog into the pack who had a pre-existing problem, of course I'd feed that dog in his crate or another room or whatever. Why ask for trouble? Pam - it's my understanding that training dogs is *much* easier than training SOs. I tend to believe that's true
Kristine |
Gigi wrote: Next time at dinner, when your husband starts to eat, you start giving him cold stares while eating, move close in to his personal space with suspicious unfriendly look on your face. When he asks you what's wrong, you ask him if that is annoying to him or what and that this is how the pups feel when they have to eat close together
Thanks for the laugh this AM. |
Mad Dog wrote: Well, color my stupid. I don't know the rank order of my dogs and I don't care.
Pam - it's my understanding that training dogs is *much* easier than training SOs. I tend to believe that's true Kristine Phew thought I was the only one who had no idea (I know who thinks she is but I don't think the boys always agree 
My husband asked me the other day how I got the dogs to lay down when I raise my arm (I resisted saying "magic"). I told him well, I practice with them and THEY listen to me when I show them something.  |
Mad Dog wrote: Well, color my stupid. I don't know the rank order of my dogs and I don't care. I feed them in whatever order I want, they get treats in whatever order strikes my fancy, they eat at the same time, next to each other, and apart from Mad finishing her food and then picking up Belle's bowel and bolting with it if I don't tell her to leave it, we never have an issue.
I think we're a little to quick to assign pre-sumed wolf behavior (and even in wolf packs, status is not static, so how do you guage day to day who's who on the totem pole?) to domesticated dogs In our efforts to adhere to this dogma we probably create more problems than we solve. Like Stewart, I expect my dogs to behave, and they do. The only rank they need to know is that she who buys the food and dishes it up calls the shots. Their only job is to behave. Simple. If I brought a dog into the pack who had a pre-existing problem, of course I'd feed that dog in his crate or another room or whatever. Why ask for trouble? Pam - it's my understanding that training dogs is *much* easier than training SOs. I tend to believe that's true Kristine Ha Ha Ha...Ditto here...Very well said. |
| I just feed the furries in separate areas.
It started off because they were on food (puppy/adult, kitten/adult). I still don't understand why they always think someone else has better food, but my adults do not need the extra calories in the baby food. They continued to expect to eat in the same areas, so we oblige. At least they don't demand table food! |
Mad Dog wrote: ...Well, color my stupid. I don't know the rank order of my dogs and I don't care. I feed them in whatever order I want......
I think we're a little to quick to assign pre-sumed...... so how do you guage day to day who's who on the totem pole?)...... In our efforts to adhere to this dogma we probably create more problems than we solve. Pam - it's my understanding that training dogs is *much* easier than training SOs. I tend to believe that's true Kristine You can color yourself if you please, but I think you've misunderstood what I said. No where did I say I trained or fed my dogs according to rank, but......... What I did say is that I fed them all at the same time. Yes, I spread them out to give them room, but EVEN THOUGH I fed them at the same time, 'they' chose to eat one at a time according to the rank they had established amongst themselves. I had nothing to do with it other than saying their name as I placed their bowls on the floor. Having that many dogs, an understanding of and somewhat respecting the pack order they established amongst themselves is the first step in preventing unnecessary squabbles amongst the dogs by things I, the "pack leader", may or may not do. I learned more from watching my dogs than from any book. They also taught me a lot about people. Yes, it is much easier to train a dog than it is Some Owners's. |
mouthypf wrote: You can color yourself if you please, but...............
Hi, Pam. I don't recall that I was responding specifically to you. Just that the conversation had drifted into rank. I believe several touched on this. I have six dogs, excluding fosters who drift in and out. At it's core, that's a pack. Can't tell you about rank, though. I put the food down however I put the food down and no one waits for anyone else. They just eat. They don't care about rank. I don't care about rank. If there is such a thing as rank, they hide it well or it shifts day to day depending on moods, hormone levels, who got up on which side of the bed, whose having a bad hairday and the fullness of the moon. As best I can tell. Meaning I can't tell. And none of them tries to mount a coup if I feed them before I eat. One of the current fosters likes to wait until everyone else is done eating, then she makes a big production of protecting her food. It's a game. Only she'll play, though. The rest ignore her. I love her, she's adorable, but she's a little slow on the uptake, socially speaking.
Kristine |
| Both of my dogs squabble over food and resource guard. My trainer advised me that once I (and my husband) truely assumed the Pack Leader role they would stop because dogs don't fight over 2nd, 3rd, or 4th rank. I thought this was a bunch of BS but since I've started being more "alpha" they have improved somewhat. Also, we now feed them about 5 feet apart and this seems to keep the fighting to a minimum. |
I don't care who is alpha, dominant or whatever the word is. If I give my dogs something they really really like its likely one will snap at the other, not always the same one starts it. (although we always blamed the same dog until recently  )
I feed them seperately in the same room (one behind a gate) and I don't have to police them. |
| That's what it comes down to for me-- what's easiest and what's going to cause me the least work. It's easier to feed Clyde separately because it causes less tension. I'm not gonna fight to feed them together if it just doesn't seem to work. Bear knows how goofy Clyde is with his food so he'll walk by and steal mouthfuls and spit them on the floor just to upset Clyde. Clyde retaliates by eating Bears food and not moving even if Bear barks at him. They're like little kids taunting each other. |
| Oh, I tend to reinforce the pack by feeding in an order, but I'm not sure it's the same order they have
I've feed as many as 6 at one time in a small kitchen, currently just 4. They each are about 2-3 feet apart and I position the bowls so they aren't face to face or within eye contact......back to front. One of us uprights stands or sits nearby supervising. Cookies are fed all at once, but each has to sit before they get a cookie. One way to stay in control of the pack. |
Violet's food is set down in the kitchen and I feed China and Asia in the livingroom. Violet likes to chat while she eats,(I swear she is going to choke on her food someday. I try to teach her to not talk with food in her mouth, but she won't listen. lol) which can be disconcerning to China/Asia(I think she is talking "smack" to them, but I'm not sure )...so this set up works great for us. Usually I sit down in the livingroom and watch all of them eat because I am waiting for my coffee maker to finish the first pot. 
The more I observe my pack the more I question the "Alpha" dog thing. My advise is to give the dogs their space while they eat. Violet can't eat her meal next to the other dogs because she feels someone will take it. China and Asia can eat right next to each other and there are no problems. When I hand out treats, I give the treats to them in different order. I used to give to Violet first and then China which then made Violet more aggressive regarding food and treats. I stopped doing that and she has changed in that regard. All three know that when treats come out there is plenty for everyone so they just sit and wait to receive. Good luck...every day is a new learning experience as pet owners. |
| I don't do treats that often, but when I do it is orderly!
They all have to sit in a nice arc around me. I say each dog's name, and only that dog can lean forward for the treat. The rest have to ignore me. I do a random order, so they all are left guessing who is next! It is kind of a fun activity - I am serious about them behaving, but we play it like a game. I also do the same thing for going out the door into the dog yard. I say 2 names, and only those 2 can go out. I mix it up, so they are all thinking "it could be me!". If I am in a hurry I say "everyone out" and they all know they can run out the door in a wave. |
| I have a two year old german shepard, and recently got an oes. Well the pup just took over the food bowl. He'll go right in there and stick his head right in the bowl while the big one is eating. No problem. But if it's the scrap bucket.. GS gets his nose out of joint if thepuppy comes too close. He'll growl and the pup will just lay down and wait to see if there's anything left for him. |
| My 5 dogs eat together, each has his or her dish. They respect that... but it was not easy. At first I would scold when one of them tried to steal food from another. Little by little they began to understand, and now they don´t even think about eating from a dish that is not theirs. |
Corina wrote: My 5 dogs eat together, each has his or her dish. They respect that... but it was not easy. At first I would scold when one of them tried to steal food from another. Little by little they began to understand, and now they don´t even think about eating from a dish that is not theirs.
How long did that take? We've never had two dogs at the same time, so this is a little startling to me. Riley (who came to live with us in March) thinks he owns the two bowls. Luckily, Brooklyn doesn't care, unless she's really hungry, but she'll go to the one he's not at, she doesn't feel possessive of any bowl. If he's at one, she'll head to the other, and Riley will cut her off and stand still with his head cocked as if to say, "I dare you......" I've now assigned bowls, and lead him back to his own. Of course, Brooklyn doesn't get it because she's always had free reign. I've always believed grazing is healthier. East when you're hungry. I wish I could adhere to that myself! Any words of wisdom greatly appreciated! |
| I little girl Laci takes several pieces of food and goes to the other room to eat. I have never seen this before she came. Mony eats from the bowl and doesn't leave it until she is done. Inchhigh (mini schnauzer) eats when Mony and Laci are done. One bowl, three dogs. |
| Hi,
Wish I could film my Merlin as those of you that doubt the Alpha behavior have to see Merlin in action. Merlin has a very dominant personality. I can throw down 1 bone or 100 and neither Blue or Panda will touch it with Merlin around. He simply walks towards it and they back away. Merlin doesn't fight or growl but his mere presence in front of them will make them jump off the couch and allow him that place or spot on the floor..or grass. They always relenquish it if he stands there. They wouldn't dare walk infront of him while on leash, nor climb the stairs first. Blue tried to be alpha over Merlin only one time and the challenge ended quickly. Merlin pinned him and placed his face close to Blues - Never fought him, but let him know he was the boss. Blue, from that moment on allowed Merlin to be the leader in the household. A true leader doesn't always have to fight others if they accept his leadership and they sense his dominance. If the dogs in the household are basically all the same easy going furkids then the alpha role isn't that noticable. Especially if they are of different genders, but usually the older pre-existing dog in the household will be the one the others view as leader. Merlin is the youngest and that is unusual ,but he took leadership over aging Blue and Panda who arrived years later was the new kid on the block. Luckily Merlin does view me as alpha over him. In order to avoid chaos I feed all mine in seperate rooms and each can eat at their leisure and not worry about the other taking their food. Blue used to wolf down his food so fast that feeding him seperately allowed him to eat slower and not be stressed. Previously with just him and Shaggy he would pick up his bowl and carry it off in another room to eat. I just take out the kibbles container in the mornings and each race to their designated area- all three in separate rooms and another room for kitties. Feeding is not a problem this way for me. I realize that many have been blessed to have easy going dogs and many are like children in some ways - some are easier to raise than others. Interestingly enough the Humane Education Society in my area does not advocate feeding dogs together. Overall, mom or dad know their furkids best and it's what you are comfortable with. Kinda like raising your kids - their are hundreds of books out there and what works for some may not work for others. For Simons Daddy - Guess my advice to you would be..if both dogs seem happy and content eating in seperate rooms..why not go for it and listen to your better half. Can't hurt to try. |
Merlin  A big guy who rules simply by his presence.
Gotta love a dog who rules without bloodshed
I think a lot depends on the individual dogs. We feed 4 in the 4 corners of the kitchen and two in other rooms. There's about 6 or 7 feet between them and we supervise meals. We don't allow the dogs to go to another's bowl. When we first started training, if we saw them showing interest in another dogs meal, we tried to step in before they could do something stupid and told them to "leave it". It took repetition and reminding them of their limits but they settled in in a few months... though just like kids, they would test the limits at times. Panda had some food aggression when she arrived... one corner of the kitchen is hers. She went after the other 3 girls a few times, telling them to leave her alone before we figured out what to watch for. One big woof and a head butt was all it took to send them away. This is the same dog that would hang over her food dish when it was empty... I thought oh-oh, food aggression. I was cautious for a long time about picking up her dish... turned out she was waiting for me to pick it up so she could see any fell under the lip of the bowl
They all had to learn what was going to be tolerated. As soon as the dishes are empty, they're picked up. Food vanishes quickly except for Meesha's... she's a slow eater. |
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