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Dogs stealing each others food

3K views 25 replies 11 participants last post by  chip18 
#1 ·
Does anyone have a suggestion to help prevent my dog from stealing the other dogs food during meal time? We feed them in separate rooms at the same time. Once the chihuahua starts walking away from her food, Amor makes a bee line toward her dish whether she has finished hers or not. Then the chihuahua decides to go check out Amor's dish.

We cannot feed the same food to both dogs since Amor is allergic to chicken and eats a grain free rabbit blend. Kee kee eats hills ideal balance slim and healthy chicken formula (she is my mom's dog) so it's not good for Amor.

Short of standing over her and watching her like a hawk what do you suggest?
 
#2 ·
I dealt with this issue when Zoe was going through what I called puppy ADD she would take a bite a stroll around and come back for another one. Max in the meantime was gobbling his down and ready for hers if she was strolling. I had to teach him to come into the kitchen about 4 or 5 feet away from the feeding area and sit with me until she finished up her meal. It took a while but he eventually learned that her bowl was off limits. Good luck and keep on it.
 
#3 ·
Neither dog is a puppy. They are both 3, 2 completely different breeds. Amor waits until kee kee is done and kee kee very rarely ever finishes her food. She only gets maybe 1/3 cup per meal. Amor gets about 1 cup per meal. Amor knows what time it is to eat as well and can remember if she stills had just a couple kibble in her dish. There are also days where she ignores the other dish completely.
 
#4 ·
We had this problem when we got Winston. Maggie wouldn't always finish her food right away before we got Winston. Winston would head right over and finish it for her and then head back to finish his own. We fed them at the same time in the same room and just had to be there to redirect Winston. I think the key was correcting him before he even moved away from his own bowl - the second he thought about it we'd let him know we were there and wouldn't let him over. Now he knows to only eat from his bowl. It'll take time and patience (and a little hovering) but you can figure it out!
 
#5 ·
First just because this is kinda what I do.

I don't really think you need to explain why you do this?? If a dog is exhibiting a behaviour that the owner finds to be, unacceptable...that's good enough for me! VBut hey that's me.

My guys would do the same but they both ate the same food and for me it was not a big deal. Today I would not allow it. That behaviour has the potential to turn into a deadly situation and you know which dog would be on the losing end of a "dispute!"

So either training of one or both dogs is in order unless feeding one in and one outside is an option?? If that's viable, I'll give folks a break and stop now..if not I'll go on. :)
 
#7 · (Edited)
If Amor is the "offender" then she has to be handled. If you have to, put up a baby gate or feed Kee Kee in her crate. Otherwise, you just have to keep a close eye on Amor and don't allow her to eat from the other one's bowl. If you allow it, it will continue. After 15 minutes if they haven't finished their own food, take the bowls away until the next meal.
 
#8 ·
One word. Kennel. Even if you only kennel one of them until meal time is over.
 
#10 ·
To be honest, I don't know if kee kee has ever seen a crate. Amor is crate trained and I need to find an area in the house that I could put it that is not in the way of my mom's wheelchair. I had it in my room but my room is so small there was just not enough space for her to get in and out easily so I removed it. She can now be trusted in the house when we are gone for a couple hours. I've tried telling her leave it, but she goes deaf to it when the food is involved. If we are practicing the leave it she is usually great and almost never takes the treat before I say ok.

I'm not usually home at feeding time in the morning since I leave for work at 5:30. I do the evening meals and that's where I can step in. I'm not opposed to putting her in her crate but I was wondering if there were other ideas other than that. She actually hasn't been in her crate for about 6 months because there is usually someone home.

I was thinking that maybe teaching her not to go beyond a certain point while food dishes are down but don't know how to go about it. Also, thinking maybe to change place Amor eats to my bedroom instead of kitchen. It will take her longer to get to the other dish. Chip feel free to step in because maybe you have an idea that will help with more than one thing.
 
#12 ·
I might just have to try the baby gate. I'm sure an inexpensive one would work. We had a fancy one when I first moved here that connected to the door way and you push a button with your foot to seeing it open, but we abandoned that after we stayed trusting her in the house. My next paycheck I will have to pick one up. Try that first and see how it works, I can stick it behind my door when I'm not using it.
 
#14 ·
You can get one for usually $10. or under in a walmart. I have a very cheap one, its really not even very tall I just lean it between the door jam. I could expand it and use the pressure bar to secure it but all my dogs won't mess with it so I just lean it. Its an easy fix.
 
#16 · (Edited)
OK, a few useful suggestion so far but the block access would be in my view the least likely to solve the behaviour problem??

The need to get in there would still exist. And at some point your Boxer is likely to figure out she can get in there! And if she hops in there without knocking down the barricade? A barrier is still standing and now the little guy is trapped. What happens then?? I have no idea but it's better to not find out! :)

WholelottaBoxers and Lindar51 (hope I did not miss anyone?) already told you the simplest and easiest solution. Crate your dog, I'll add start feeding them in the crate, meals times in separate crates in separate rooms if you chose and give them 15 minutes, if they don't eat, meal time is over!



That will work they will figure it out and maybe in a few days it's problem solved! :)

"Kennel up" can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jWzHPEIY3U

Now you know how the Pros would handle it! Simple direct and to the point! The above if I do say so myself is solid advice! :p

So I'll let that stand, you also asked about "Sit on the Dog" and "The Place Command" so I'll post those up in a sec!
 
#17 ·
First Sit on the Dog giving credit to a former member here?? It did not get the attention it deserved. Most likely because he did not make as much "noise" as I tend to! :p

http://www.boxerforums.com/training/123089-sit-dog.html

And I'll be adding more but first an explanation of what it is I try and do.

And mainly because I feel the original article is a bit to "dense" and complicated for people to really understand it's value?? Pro's tend to be like that!

I luv my Boxers but the only thing I learned from them is the virtual of patience and that vocal inflections carry a lot of power! That served me well until I ran up my against GSD!! Then it was time to "fish or cut bait!"

As a few here know I had serious big time issues Rank Drive problems and Human Aggression! I got half solved ( some know what happened there) But the HA, I solved that on my own within the confines of Rocky's disability, essentially force free! :)

And then I went on to rescue work and walking "pullers" issue free pretty much in seconds if not minutes. That kept happening and while doing that I and then back at home, I would see Rocky performing behaviours "On the Lawn" comes to mind that I had not realized I had trained??

At some point I got curious as to what was going on and being on the GSDForum as it happened lots of Pros are there! And if you offer solid advice and "don't be acting like a tool" they are willing to work with you!

What I learn there I try and transfer here and "because" I started like everybody else. I "feel," that I have a very good understanding of how us "pet people" view dog training?? So I try and break down "concepts" into an understandable form!

"Sit on the Dog" is a prime example! "Bailiff" on the GSDFroum introduced us to that, well actually it was "Seltzer" but the first article above is what was posted and as I said it is kinda dense and it "looks" complicated ...to me anyway.

So using my standard KISS principle I asked "Bailiff" a pretty simple question. If your dog does not have "issues," why do this??

The answer was, it "trains "calmness" into a dog" I have all my clients do this with their dogs, you are training an "off switch" into your dog." Simple direct and to the point, Pro lingo-free! This and the more obvious "Place Command" are why you should do it with your dog and dare I say "especially" Boxers! :chair:

I must be doing a good job of breaking it down over there as Bailiff rarely mentions it anymore...I have to send him a PM and thank him!

Just thought folks should know where this came from or more acutely where I learned it! I just saw the value so I bring it up, it's been around for decades.

Just so you know. :)

Moving on.... "Sit on the Dog:"
Energy - it's all about confid-tude

It's simpler than it reads! :)

Hmm yet again kinda lengthy so I'll continue with the "Place Command" in yet another post! :)
 
#18 ·
Ok moving on the value of the "Place Command" is fairly obvious, it's just largely unknown by non-professionals!

I'll go so far as to say that if someone feels the need to hire a Pro for an issue that they can't solve themselves and hire a Pro and you have to ask about "The Place Command?" If they don't know it, the next thing out of there mouth had best be "but I'll find out and let you know!"

Anything other than those for an answer?? Just say thank you for your time pay them if you need to and move on! I doubt they could help you?? I don't have time for "tools" myself, kinda like:

:)

Anyway....

The Place Command and as always an articles first:
Why the “Place” Command is So Important and Your Dog Should Know It! - TheDogTrainingSecret.com
The Magic Of Duration Work | The Good Dog Life Blog

Last one has a video clip embedded into it.

And Jeff Gellman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIGq_5r0DeE

Also this and I have said this before quoting from Jeff Gellman "everything you need to know to properly train your dog is available for free on my website! You can do it yourself for free or pay me 4000 dollars to send your dog to me!"

Free Advice – Solid K9 Training

The only problem I have found is the volume of information is so massive that I even have a hard time relocating info, I know I have seen and wanted to use! But hey that's a nice problem to have!

So with that I'm kinda done here, these are the things a "competent" Pro would tell you and or show you how to do. And if you can do them these things "will" solve your problems and most likely in short order!

But... "cpudinski" has an X factor, another dog in the house that they may or may not have control over and other people handling the feeding that may or may not do as instructed??

I have one more "trick" that I don't know if anyone short of a Pro could pull off?? I had a "problem" with a "vacuum cleaner" "Min Pin" and last weekend I decided "enough" of this crap! And solved the problem in secs!!


Plus I don't know if it stuck with the dog?? Most likely not?? I never told the owners so I'm sure Miss Min Pin is back in the house acting a fool with the vacuum cleaner again?? :crazy:

But instead of burying that story in this thread, I think I'll start a separate thread so stand by folks. :)
 
#19 ·
Crate one of the dogs easiest solution. I crate Loki at dinnertime and Kippah stays out and eats in her normal area. Once both are done I let Loki out. If I didnt do this from day one with Loki there would have been HUGE problems trust me I know Kippah and what a dominant biotch she can be. Loki freely goes into his crate now and started doing so maybe 3 days after I got him. One dog stealing anothers food is asking for a fight IMO.
 
#20 ·
Mine play "musical bowls" for dinner. They each start out at one and then switch and then sometimes eat from the same one until that is empty and then go to the other, but they are on the same food so it doesn't matter.
I do feed raw for breakfast though. I put 2 towels down on the floor (always in the same spot) and they know whose towel is who's. I am usually in the kitchen making coffee though so I do supervise. Mongo usually finishes first and he will just lie down on his towel and lick it. If Maggie finishes first she will try to go to Mongo's towel, but I stand there and redirect her.

:)
 
#21 ·
Fortunately Amor is not food or treat aggressive. She has stood there as kee kee has taken her bone from her. I can stick my hand in her food dish while she is eating and even hand her some of her food. Started this as a young puppy from the moment she was brought home. Kee kee on the other hand is possessive of her bones now do not allow either dog bones/chewys in the main part of the house only in their respective bedrooms around quiet down time.

Amor does not push kee kee out of the way to get her food, more of a lie in wait kind of approach. She waits until kee kee had had enough and walks away from her dish and then goes in. Kee kee will then go to Amor's dish to lick it.
 
#24 ·
This time to just switch up a bit I'm going to say what a couple of the folks that deal with multiple dogs are saying. :)

This is from someone who's dog's also did the bowl dance thing. As long and you have "two" dogs and they do this and they get along fine no problem (in most instances.) But if you even "think" you will be adding a third dog someday??? The bowl dance thing can come back to bite you in the butt (no pun intended. :)

That habit can make you sloppy, unaware and slow to recognize "problems" heading your way with three or more dogs! I ran into that with Rocky ( GSD) and it did not show up as a "issue," until Seven months after we had him. Kinda of a "my dog changed thing??" Quite common in GSD land to those with "poor" management practices!

I had been free feeding until that time and only did the separate bowl on occasion. I remember one fight Gunther went to get a bite to eat and saw Rocky move towards him and posture. I stood behind Rocky on his flank and I "dared" him to start something!!???

Well, he took that dare! I was fast, but Rocky was faster! That may have been the fight where I wound up with stitches? Needless to say, the free feeding was now gone from the household and the bowl dance thing was gone!

I also learned the value of a drag leash (short leash for indoor use with no handle to get caught up on furniture) and that you don't dare a dog to do something! Frist lessons learned! No more, free feeding the dogs eat separately, use a drag leash, once you see have problems starting! Oh yeah and the proper way to break up a dog fight! And dogs require "structure and rules!"

As long as you never plan on adding a third dog?? You can get away with a lot of "sloppy" practices but if you add a third...you make get your "clock cleaned," if you routinely have "sloppy management practices!"

Two dogs are a pair, three dogs are a pack! Now you "know"

Hey this was kinda brief! :)
 
#25 ·
Fortunately, there are no plans to get a 3rd dog. My dad won't let us. I think two are plenty anyway. When my uncle visits he brings his dog and the chi and him are "friends". Amor pretty much gets ignored by the other two dogs and toodles (my uncles dog) is kinda skittish.

Any way, I like the suggestion of different feeding routine. Chi gets feed first and Amor second. I can do that when I do the evening feeding. My dad does the am since I'm at work. My dad has a harder time keeping an eye on them because my mom is disabled and he has to get her up and take care if her business.
 
#26 ·
Yep the "x factor" other people! I still have my vacuum cleaner thing.

But it's pretty "esoteric" in all modest...I have to say think...Cesar Millan! :)

Not something to hang your hat on. But I go out to "Vacuum Cleaner" dog tomorrow and I can see if it stuck??

I'll report my findings. :)
 
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