Edited some things after you responded.

Thanks Steven...I wonder if I should try hand feeding him his meals for a while...I forgot to add, he raised his hackles when he growled.

Has the Yorkie ever bothered your dog or approached the crate while he's eating?

I was wondering about the yorkie too, when did the yorkie come on the scene, is that a new dog or has it been there? With Evander coming back, then leaving, if there are other "shifts" in the pack, perhaps he is "speaking up" attempting to test his rank in the pack.

Chances are, if you are questioning leadership or thinking along the lines of it being a rank issue, IMO, you are likely on the right track.

I do know from experience, that walking away when he is growling will empower him and he'll believe that his growling made you leave. Make sure, if you are going to do the treat thing/feeding from your hand, that you have treats in your hand while you stand your ground while he growls...do not give treats immediately after growling, but only when he is calm/submissive with you.

 Quote: Karla Armendariz

I'm kind of thinking now that it is a pack structure issue??? Anyone else?

I personally don't think it really matters. Do you have any other pack or dominance problems? If not I would treat it as food guarding and worry about how and if you want to fix it.

If your goal is that you want to feed the dog in the crate and not have it growl you have a couple of options. You could correct the dog, and for that you would have to get advice from those who would know how to correct a dog in a crate while eating and have had success with that. I am not the person to give you that advice as I have no experience there.

If it were my dog, this is what I would focus on.

I would make the dog sit to get in the crate for dinner as usual. I would then put the dog in the crate with no food. I would then hand feed the dog it's kibble (you said it was kibble you feed right?) For example I would walk up to the crate and feed the dog a handfull of food. Then walk away. Then walk back to the crate and feed some more, then walk away, then back to the crate....and so on until food is done.

I would do that for a while to get the dog used to the idea that when you approach the crate food will be provided.

Then I once I could sit there and feed the dog with no growling, I would give the dog something better than kibble, like cheese for example. I would try to make it so that the dog thinks that something better than kibble may be provided as you walk past the crate while the dog is eating and then the dog may look forward to you approaching the crate.

You would want to start giving the cheese while the dog is eating kibble and you are sitting right at the crate, then you would move back and approach to feed the cheese. This should be gradual.



It should be worked so that the dog does not growl when you to give the cheese. Once the dog anticipates that if you approach the crate while kibble is being eaten something good like cheese will appear, I would put the cheese on a variable reward schedule.

Or you could just not approach the when it is in the crate eating.

Just some ideas for you.

No, he was raised with the yorkie...however, my daughter (almost 20) didn't neuter the yorkie, so the yorkie became a little creep in the past several months...challenging Jonah. My daughter is hopefully moving out soon and will be taking the yorkie with her...
I think it is a rank issue.
Good idea on the treats...I will have them with me first with the next meal and will not leave until he is calm/submissive. Should I let him know I have the treats...like holding them in the treat bag?
What about trying the hand feeding?

Thanks for the idea's Jennifer...kind of along the lines of what others are suggesting.

Yes, I do feed him kibble...the treat is a natural balance meat roll, which they love...I just cube it up.

To go along with my post it is important to not let the Yorkie near while your dog is eating. Whatever you have to do to make that happen.

Maybe the treat should be the yorkie...hahahahahaha
Just kidding, of course.

When we feed our pack of 6 dogs,they all have to fisrt lay down. When all are calm we layout their bowls and they waite for the release command to go ahead and eat. Have your dogs ever fought over their food. Jonah is diffently claming his territory. When my dogs are eating no one is to bother them but i always am there to supervise