Preventing Your Pooches From Fighting During Mealtime

April 21, 2019

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As canines are primarily pack animals, they see other animals, as well as humans, as pack members and this can cause them to show possession aggression over food at mealtimes. If not prevented or stopped, this behavior can result in aggressive fights and even injuries.

Steps to Take

Put each pooch in a separate room to feed them at the same time, and make sure you close the door between the feeding areas.

If they can’t see and reach each other, the two pooches won’t get into a fight over food. Do this for a week, or so.

Now it is the time to open the door separating the dogs. However, be sure to stand in the doorway while they eat and never allow either dog to leave his bowl and go toward the other dog.

Step 3 is the tricky one. Move both bowls into one room, but place them as far apart as you possibly can. If they don’t interact with one another while eating, praise the dogs for good behavior. However, make sure you stand between the dogs and watch for signs of possessive aggression (long stares, growling, showing of teeth).

Final step is moving the food bowls closer together in the room. Do this slowly and gradually. If the pooches show any signs of aggression, move the bowls farther apart.

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