Feeding Time

[Ivy]

I was wondering how others would handle this scenerio:

A new pup is introduced into the home. All the dogs are feed in the same room, and they all have their own bowl of food. The original members of the pack already know not to try to steal the others food once they are done their own.
The pup will obviously not know this yet.

Would you:

1) Keep the pup from getting too close to the other bowls

or

2) Let one of the other dogs correct the pup

[bubbatd]

I'd move the pup's bowl away from the others and stand over it until he's eaten . If he moves towards the other bowls , bring him back to his .

[Ivy]

That's what I was thinking, but you find so many mixed training methods out there.

[PoodleMommy]

I always correct the new puppy on my own... it usually only takes a few days and they are eating at their own bowl.

[Maxy24]

Block the puppy with your body(preferable, this way he has to give up on his own, you don't force him physically) or if you are not fast enough to block bring him back by his collar or by a leash. if you let your dogs do it you may create or worsen guarding (may become very weary of pup near anything and lash out more frequently/when the pup is further away) in the current dogs.
Plus dogs can get pretty nasty when guarding food, they could do serious harm to the puppy and possibly cause the puppy to be fearful of the other dogs in many circumstances, not just concerning food.

[lizzybeth727]

Originally Posted by Ivy

I was wondering how others would handle this scenerio:

A new pup is introduced into the home. All the dogs are feed in the same room, and they all have their own bowl of food. The original members of the pack already know not to try to steal the others food once they are done their own.
The pup will obviously not know this yet.

Would you:

1) Keep the pup from getting too close to the other bowls

or

2) Let one of the other dogs correct the pup

What makes you so sure one of the other dogs will correct the pup?

[Ivy]

Originally Posted by lizzybeth727

What makes you so sure one of the other dogs will correct the pup?

The older dogs do not have resource guarding issues. But they do give a "polite" warning when one of the others used to get too close to their food bowl during feeding time.

[lizzybeth727]

Originally Posted by Ivy

The older dogs do not have resource guarding issues. But they do give a "polite" warning when one of the others used to get too close to their food bowl during feeding time.

Maybe it would be good for the puppy to learn that he needs to heed those warnings?

[mrose_s]

In our house I definelty would remove it myself. Buster tends to be very protective of food with the other dogs. Depending on the daily dynamics of the dogs, if Sophie tries to steal from him it could be a simple growl/snap to actually jumping up and attacking her.
Weird thing is he has always tolerated Mac stelaing his food whihc is ridiculous. I saw her come up the other day, stick her head in his bowl and start eating and then decide she wanted it and started growling and snarling at him. Buster ofcourse ignored her completly and kept eating while I removed her. lol little weirdo.

We now feed Harry and Sophie outside and Buster and Mac inside to avoid any fights.

[Maura]

Supervise the situation for the time being with a leash on the puppy as well as the aforementioned body block. Position the puppy's dish well away from the others. When he's finished you bring him out of the room, then put the dishes away. Depending on how old the puppy is, the other dogs may let him eat from their dish, then when he gets older they will correct him. Might was well avoid the situation.