Dogfights over food - what to do?

[Codys ma]

A little background, I have a 2-3 yr. old female foster dog, Lucky. She was a neglect case, almost starved to death.

Naturally, she has some food issues, but only with dogs, not with me. My problem is she will instigate a fight with my 3 yr. old Cody over anything that may even resemble food.

I feed them both outside of their crates. I've worked up to this. She is fine with that as long as they are strictly supervised.

However, I can't eat a thing without a possible fight. I don't feed them from my plate, but when I am eating Lucky stands guard. For example, last night Cody was at the other side of the room and Lucky was by me. I was eating dinner. He moved a little and she attacked.

These fights aren't deadly. There has been the odd scratch, but they are easily stopped when I stand up and shout something like "STOP". But they are noisy, and they are showy, and I don't want it to continue because I fear it can progress into something more serious, and I don't think Cody should be attacked for doing nothing.

Now, I know the simple solution is for her to be crated whenever there is food near. But she is a foster, and I really want her to be prepared for anything when she goes to her new family. What if they have a smaller dog or a cat? That would be deadly. I want to try to fix the problem rather than avoid it.

Also, she guards the drawer where I keep the dog cookies. She used to guard the bag of dog food until I moved it to another room separated by a door. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe she's beginning to guard the refrigerator.

Aside from placing her in a home with no other pets, what can I do?

Kim

[Codys ma]

Thnaks for the responses. I am working on her transition to a new home.

When she first came to me she wouldn't allow another dog even near her when she was eating. I started her off in her crate. Now she's out of the crate and eating with Cody in close proximity without incident. It is, however, only with very strict supervision. As soon as Lucky is done eating (she always finishes first) I call her over to me and make her wait with me until Cody is done.

We are also working on obed. I know she shouldn't be guarding me when I'm eating, and a good down stay will fix that problem, but until then I don't want to simply crate her and not work on the problem. Somehow she needs to learn that she will be fed everyday, and she won't go hungry anymore, and there is no need to try and guard any type of food.

If I place a bag of chips on the counter and she can smell it, she'll guard. It's not just at mealtime. How pracitical would it be to say..ok, you can adopt her, but she can't be in the kitchen, you can't have any food near her at any time, you can't have your other dog next to her whenever any food is present...etc, etc, etc. It's not. They'll feel like they have to be at Defcon 3 at all times. At that rate she'll be with me forever.

Kim

[Dale Green Young]

Food is of very high value to some dogs. I have a dog that can not eat in the presence of other dogs, and can not have a toy int he presence of another dog. Your dog's intake condition MAY have something to do with it, but most likely it's about DOMINANCE and not about hunger.

My boy eats in the bathroom with the door shut. The door isn't opened til the rest of the dogs go out, and I know his bowl is empty. He will guard his empty bowl. He will guard the dishwasher. He will guard my food. He will guard a canvas bag with a cookie in it. It's a dominant thing, not a hunger thing.

If your bitch is being inappropriate around guarding something that's not even HERS, crate her when you're eating. This is NOT her place to be making the decision. It's YOURS. I have spent thousands of dollars repairing punctures inflicted by my boy, and I'm very careful about it. Still, a toy that's been sitting out for three years cuased a fight that sent one of my other boys to the vet for $250 in vet work. One puncture, not dozens of punctures.

YOU have to be in control here. This bitch's behavior is NOT OK, and you are the one who has to enforce it. If it's not OK to leave htem out together while you eat, then DON'T do it. It is likely your bitch is stressing over having to protect your food from the other dog anyway. Give everyone some piece of mind - you, your bitch, your dog - crate the inappropriate one.



------------------
Dale Green Young - precious@shore.net
North East Rottweiler Rescue
http://www.rottrescue.org

[AngelBunny]

Codys ma:

We volunteer with NERR and look upon fostering as helping the dog transition from whatever environment the dog was taken from to the dog's forever home. I believe that it's important for you to start working with her so that she understands her paranoia about food must end.

Lucky shouldn't be standing guard when you're eating. What about putting her in her crate with a beef marrow bone or a Kong or hollow bone stuffed with cheese or someother goodie?
If she's starting to guard the fridge, can you make the kitchen off limits by babygating the kitchen?

[RottiVet]

Please continue to work on this problem. You'll find many people who'll tell you to seperate dogs who fight over food. This is the exact opposite of what you should do. You need to create fun and playful environments for your new foster to learn to share.

Good luck.

[WorkinDogz]

I agree 100% with Dale (sorry RottiVet)

Desensitizing dogs works very well for some. Others you HAVE NO CHOICE but to accept THEIR (not our; THEIR) limitations and do what is necessary to protect ALL of the dogs in the given situation.

Just as Dale said...it's no fun having to take a dog in to be treated for bite wounds.

Every dog deserves to be comfortable in their own enviornment and to be SAFE.

Obviously; intensive obedience training for this dog is a MUST. I would focus my attention on that rather than trying to reprogram a dogs mind that "routine" reconditioning has proven ineffective.

In placing this dog; a ONE-DOG-ONLY home would be my suggestion....but even considering adopting her out would be a long ways away. She has much work to do.

My vote is to crate the dog when feeding, put baby gates up in the kitchen and crate the dog when YOU are eating.

You have much work ahead of you...I wish you the best of luck.

[Codys ma]

I had hoped for some better news, but somehow I knew I was going to have this girl for awhile.

I am currently working with a trainer who specializes in rescue/abused/neglected dogs. Our rescue works exclusively with her because she's so good.

I would like to at least work to stop the refrigerator, cupboard guarding. I am willing to keep her as long as it takes to make sure she's a good candidate for adoption. Our turnaround time has been pretty slow lately anyway.

Ideally I would like to see her placed in a one pet only home. She's absolutely wonderful with people, kids included.

Thanks a lot for the advice. She is crated when any type of food is out, and I did go and buy a baby gate for the kitchen last night. Of course, she jumped it in no time flat, but it does provide a barrier and she doesn't attempt to go over unless I'm in the kitchen.

Kim

[AngelBunny]

Codys ma:

Sounds like you might need 2 baby gates for the kitchen--one on top of the other. I agree with the others who recommend that she be the only dog in her forever home. Probably placing her in an experienced home would be a good thing too, if you have that option.