AboutDave Expertise My wife and I are active Sheltie owners. Helpful hints on discipline, training, disposition, selection, and of course acquisition. We think like dogs, so we can help you understand yours!
Experience 2 Shelties currently owned. Rescued and placed 9 dogs (3 non Sheltie).
Expert: Dave Date: 2/9/2008 Subject: Quarreling at feeding time
Question QUESTION: Hi Dave!
We have 2 shelties 8 months old. We have had them since they were 8 weeks old and we got them from a reputable breeder. They are from the same litter and are brother and sister. They really love each other very much and get along very well but they have just started quarreling at feeding time. They each have their own dish of food and the same amount and are fed the same food and at the same time.This has been going on for about 3 weeks. Prior to this there were no problems at all. They will share a water dish with no problem and sometimes we let them lick out bowls after we have ice cream and they will share this with no problem. They were spayed and neutered at 6 months old. They sleep in the same box together and share a crate when we go out for short amounts of time. When they are going to be alone for a long time they are in my laundry room with a baby gate and there have been no problems in these areas...no quarreling whatsoever.
We have been sheltie owners for 27 years. We just love the breed. They are so gentle and loyal not to mention very pretty dogs. We had two at one time before but they were 3 years apart and they would quarrel from time to time but nothing serious. But these two will show their teeth at each other and get their backs up and go for each other but I am there to stop it. I usually stand near them now when they eat and remind them that I won't tolerate any nastiness. They both have wonderful temperaments otherwise.
Any advice or suggestions you may have will be greatly appreciated!
ANSWER: Hi Karen,
This is a relatively easy diagnosis. It's a pack order issue- which one is superior to the other? In the pack, there are no equals. It's either 2 or 3 (with you being 1 in their case).
Who gets the attention first?
Who gets the treat first?
Who gets petting first?
Who gets the toy first?
Whose bowl hits the floor first?
Determine who is primary. Which is the more dominant persona? Try to watch them and let them tell you who is ahead of the other. Then follow their lead and give that list in a consistent order so that you endorse their choices and thereby seal the pack order for them.
If you have a hard time deciding, choose the pack order for them and trust your instinct.
In regards to the snarling, I seriously doubt they would do actual harm to each other. However, what you are doing is a good idea in the kitchen by keeping them apart.
It is a good idea that they each have their own individual crates and toys at this point. I'm not too worried about the laundry room right now. However, do provide plenty of chewies (4+) for them when they are alone so there is always one available if the other is taken.
You are head of the pack. Work on establishing and enforcing pack order with you as boss and any other human is superior to the dogs of course.
Hope that helps!
Dave
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi again Dave!
Thank you so much for the fast response! I have been trying to implement your sugestions without much luck. When Sophie and Simon are fed the bowls go down at the same time. I tried putting Simon's first and that didn't work so I put Sophie's first and again a no go. I tried feeding them from the same bowl because as I told you they will share with milk and occasional ice cream bowl without a problem. That was a disaster! You mentioned separate crates; they really love being together and are extremely upset if they are apart. As I said,they sleep in a very large box in our bedroom at night that I have filled with old towels and sheets. They have been doing this since we got them and I never hear a peep out of them until I get up in the morning. They have a crate in the laundry room and I find them sleeping in there together a lot...it is a large crate. They really are very good dogs and the least high strung of any shelties I have ever had. They have several toys and of course when one has one the other ones wants it! It isn't a quarrel though it's really a game to them and they play like this all the time...no growling or snarling. This feeding time thing is our only problem. Is it something that they will"grow out" of? They are such happy dogs and very smart.
Just as an aside..........We are definitely the bosses when it comes to the dogs and they know it but this instinct at feeding time a little difficult to alter.
Thanks again for anything you suggest. I love reading your questions and answers!
Answer No problem!
My best answer is to feed them in different rooms. It sounds like they are great together otherwise. Don't change any of your previous behavior. Do try to let them determine their pack order so allow a small measure of growling, snarling and nipping (does their nose dive into the fur or angle at it when they argue? angling is nipping and ok).
However if you just feed them separately in any way that works I think you'll be fine.
