Any advice about a dog with new food issues.

[hedgehog]

Since Pooka came home from the boarding kennel, he has been guarding food. We left Pooka and Guinness at the kennel for about 2 weeks. The owner had them in the same run at first, but had to separate them because Pooka wouldn't let Guinness near the food dish. When she hung two food dishes at either end of the run, Pooka was darting back and forth to keep Guinness from either food dish.(Pooka is half the size of Guinness.) We took them for a walk when we got home and all seemed normal. Guinness even managed to snatch a package of butter off the counter. For the last hour or so, Pooka has been standing over the remains of the butter giving an occasional muttering growl even though Guinness didn't seem at all interested. Both dogs have free access to a food dish we keep filled and neither appears hungry. We suspect Pooka may have been underfed before he ended up with the rescue group we got him from.

[PJPhreak]

1. We have a new canine critter in our house,

An 8 month old Alaskan Husky With the same issue,She came from a woman that runs a Mushing Team of Alaskan Huskies.

Luna was one of 17 or so that the woman had and she fed them twice a day,Making Luna compete for food...We haven't found a solution yet either.

My other critters deal with it somewhat individually,Cosmo our 5 year old PomChi just gets Alpha on her ass and runs her away. Timber our 4 year old Husky/Aussie gets a sad look on his face and waits till I chastise her.

Luna has a stubborn streak a mile long,She is a Fast learner but with a F.U 'Tude.

I'd be interested in the advice also.

[WolverineDG]

2. I have a dog that occasionally gets food-aggressive

I've had to separate their bowls far apart & even then the big dog wants to bully the little dog out of her food. My next step will be to feed one in the garage with the door shut & the other outside.

dg

[flvegan]

3. You put the food down, yes?

You should be the one deciding who gets what, not Pooka. Two weeks is enough to temporarily screw up a pack dynamic. How long have they been home?

I'm curious how long you had the both of them before the kennel visit, and if any of these issues were present before, like maybe when you first got one/both of them.

[hedgehog]

5. Things seem to have settled down. I put down a treat - a pan of wet cat food

that the cats are done with and Guinness picked up the pan and walked away with it. I guess when Guinness wants something, he lets Pooka know who the boss is!

[Brickbat]

4. I feed my dogs at the same time with a child gate between them because they both get testy when I

don't. One is clearly dominant and will growl and lash out to protect his food, but the other will keep trying to steal it. They eat side-by-side with no problems when the kid gate is between them, though.