Just had this recently start happening... I usually feed Dixon and Jake in the kitchen while I eat my cereal in the morning, or while I'm having a snack in the evening so I can watch them. Over the last 2 or 3 weeks I noticed that Dixon wasn't eating as much. I would bait the food with some treats or something and he would eat. Now over the last 2 or 3 days I've noticed that it looks like he won't eat until Jake is done. I didn't realize and encouraged Dixon to eat while Jake was eating (which is what they've done for the last 2 years) and Jake went after Dixon. I scooped up Jake and his food and put him in his crate to eat. This has happened twice now.

It seems like this is out of the blue? I can and will crate Jake or Jake and Dixon for meals, but I'm more concerned about why this has just popped up recently? I'm sure there are other warning signs but I'm just not seeing them...

Any thoughts are welcome--

Thanks,

How do they get along otherwise?

Have there been any other changes in the way they behave around each other? Any changes in the house/home?

I've always had an issue with Jake 'picking' on Dixon when outdoors... for a while now I've kept Jake on a long line anytime we're all outside. With Jake on the long line it only took a few times of me saying "no" and stepping on the end of the long line when he started to trot Dixon's way before he would stop at the "no". But without it he'll still go after him. The cause seems to be me... if I'm paying too much attention to Dixon, Jake will act out. If I'm not in the yard (I'm watching through the window) I never see any trouble; they play or kick back. It's a problem we've been working on; they've never had an issue with food before, though.

The only big thing I can think of is that I've been crating Jake at night for a few months because I still cannot trust him not to pee when he's left to his own devices (another very aggravating ongoing problem that I've been trying to correct for way too long). I tend to let Dixon sleep on the bed, or if it's too hot for him he'll go sleep in his crate.

I hate to say this but sometimes it seems like Jake is just the "problem dog"

Carolyn, this is only my experience and opinion with my ankle biter and I am NOT an experienced trainer.

It sounds like it may be social climbing pack dominance. I hope I said that right. I think it would be under pack structure if you read the articles here.

I have read that many feed their dogs separately and in crates.

I have only the one dog, but my ex is here frequently when we have the grandson. He has an 80 lb Boxer, female neutered. I have a 10 lb Schipperke, female neutered.

Our dogs play together wonderfully well. However, at feeding time we separate them into separate rooms. Sometimes I either crate my dog or take her outside if it is not feeding for her.

A few times when they have both been in the house at feeding time, my dog will do her damnedest (is that a word?) to get out of her room and go the where the boxer is eating.

Without so much as a word, a grunt, a growl or whimper, the boxer will back away from her dish and let the little dog have it.

My dog has done this without so much as even sniffing her own food (both are fed the same except for quantity). She is trying to dominate the big dog, and does quite well.

I just tell her 'no, no' and she moves away, but I still think it is a dominance thing, I just try to be dominant of her.

So, I have to be ever vigilant to make sure they are separated at feeding. I don't want any accidents and after the last time when she just walked up and bossed the big dog out of the way, I knew that I must never let her have another opportunity to be in the same room with said big dog while eating.

Hope this helps.

Not only do I want no food fights -- I don't even want one dog to be unable to eat without anxiety.

I'd separate them for meals, Carolyn, and I'd probably be super-observant about whatever the behavior is that you called "acting out."

Yes, Connie, I don't want any dog to have anxiety, too.

I probably posted like this happens all the time, but it does not.

However, the couple of times it did happen, I corrected it immediately and like I said, I am ever vigilant with keeping one in the house and the other out, or I take my dog to my bedroom and wait.

I know, spoiled dog, but I don't want her to have anxiety thinking the other dog gets to eat and she doesn't, so I do other things with her. (Redirection?)