My dog growls at new dog over food. How can I feed them together?

It's very common for dogs to growl or show other types of resource guarding behavior towards other dogs when they are eating. This is probably causing stress for both dogs, so I would recommend feeding them in separate rooms or in their crates (if they are crate-trained) to avoid this problem :)

Hi there. Aggressive behavior over food or other high-value resources is very common, and can even be considered normal in dogs. I would recommend managing this issue by continuing to feed the dogs in separate rooms or parts of the house, and picking up the food bowls before allowing the dogs back together again. As long as you're consistent about doing this, you should be able to avoid any issues.

Hi there. Resource guarding behavior, such as growling at other pets who approach their food bowl, is a very normal behavior in dogs. Some cats may show this behavior as well, especially if they have come from a background where food was scarce. If this is the only time there are any aggression issues between the animals, it's best to just make sure that everyone is fed in a separate area so that they can eat in peace. Then pick the empty bowls up and put them away to avoid any problems.

This is not a terribly uncommon problem and should be somewhat easily resolvable. I would consider feeding the dogs in an area that you can keep them separate but still in visible contact with one another. If you are able to keep the two apart with a baby gate that could probably work fine. Another option would be to feed one of them in a crate, which is actually what I do with one of my own dogs. Another option might be to feed your female with a bowl that requires her to eat more slowly. This might give your other pup some additional time to eat in peace. This has the potential to backfire however, if Xena gets annoyed by the difficult bowl and just decides that her son's is easier to eat from. Hope this helps and at least gives you some ideas about how to resolve the issue. If none of this seems possible, you may need to consider some additional training for Xena including some commands to force her to come to you when she is called, and to divert her attention away from the other food bowl.

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

Until you are able to consult with a qualified trainer, I would advise feeding them separately. (Feed them in separate rooms, and pick up the food after 20-30 minutes if they don't eat it right away). Don't leave food out for "fair game" feeding. When the possibility of a fight over food is removed in this manner, it can alleviate stress for everyone. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Although this behavior can be common, mild aggression can very easily escalate and quickly. Especially, if your older dog decides to challenge her or not back down.It's not aggression you are seeing, it's resource guarding. I'd recommend always supervising them during feeding times and when treats or other high-value items are around. Teach your younger dog that there are no shortages of great things, ever. This means working with her around your other dog and showing her if she has something good like a bone/treat/toy there is another one coming. I call them treat parties where you have both dogs sit and give them rewards, alternating back and forth. This teaches them that they have to wait their turn, but they both will get something. Start with something basic like kibble, and every turn "trade up" for something more scrumptious each round. And offer plenty of "treats". This should help with some of the resource guarding you are experiencing. Keep practicing this regularly and it should help. If things begin to escalate more please call a professional trainer for a consultation and help. Nip this in the bud, before it gets to be harder to control.