Could he be traumatized!

[AjaBrown]

This has stumped us. We brought up the dog from downstairs to visit with our two dogs. They were playing and everything was fine, until Chewy went into Daygo's space where he eats. There was no food there but Daygo was really ticked and started to get on Chewy and fight. No blood was drawn, thank goodness. So Daygo was put into his crate and scolded at. Chewy apparently is a picky eater so while Daygo was in his crate we thought we would try to give him so of the raw chicken. I gave a little piece off my finger to Chewy and Daygo went wild...growling and barking. We took Chewy home and ever since that episode when we feed Daygo we set down the food he looks at it won't eat it but will guard it. The other day my husband and I were trying to get him excited so he would eat I guess I came to close to his mouth and he almost bit my face....yikes. He has never done that before, he would always eat and then i would say kisses and he would lick my face. He'll be playing and then when its dinner time we set down the food and its almost like he gets depressed. He curls in a ball and no one can even go near the food. My questions are is he traumatized after me feeding him? Did Chewy have an effect on him? Or is he just plain bored of what we are feeding him? We are currently feeding him raw food. Or is it something they go through at 6 months? Thanks Joy.

[mynameislola]

That's about the age that males start to get aggressive. There are lots of good sources of information regarding dogs and food aggression. Here is one.

http://www.doglogic.com/possess.htm

If you haven't started basic obedience training, you will be safer around your dog if you do.

What exactly are you feeding your dogs? I am interested in feeding raw but have a dog who arrived with rickets because they didn't balance the minerals correctly.

[AjaBrown]

That's about the age that males start to get aggressive. There are lots of good sources of information regarding dogs and food aggression. Here is one.

http://www.doglogic.com/possess.htm

If you haven't started basic obedience training, you will be safer around your dog if you do.

What exactly are you feeding your dogs? I am interested in feeding raw but have a dog who arrived with rickets because they didn't balance the minerals correctly.
Thanks for the info I will check it out. We have a store in Vancouver called True Carnivores. They sell different meats. We feed chicken 4-5 times during the week. This is mixed chicken with veggies, bone and organs. The other two days they get red meat, beef, bison rabbit. I also give tripe and salmon. My vet says to mix up the meats, because if you don't they could develop allergies. www.truecarnivores.com. The owners name is Dakota she has lots of knowledge about dogs. Maybe you can email her and find out if she knows of any raw food store in your area. Thanks Joy.

[Jerica]

Is he neutered yet? That could be part of the problem if he isn't neutered. However, occasionally my dogs get into a fight over food even if Willow is just gaurding her bowl and Shiloh sniffs at it she snap at him and then he goes after her. They never draw blood, just make a lot of noise and Willow holds Shiloh down to tell him she is dominant and then it breaks up. I just keep them seperate when this happens (which isn't easy). I also thought I'd point one thing out, a crate really shouldn't be used as punishment, it should be a good place.
My suggestions are to keep them apart and out of sight of each other when either is eating and when they finish put the bowls out of sight. That should help prevent anything. As far as not eating since that episode, but still defending it, you can try well he shouldn't be defending it from you since you should be alpha, maybe try hand feeding a little of it, but if he gets defensive just take it away. Make him sit and wait while you set his food down then tell him ok. This should start to establish dominance and hopefully he'll know its ok to eat too. I hope something works for you. Good luck.

[AjaBrown]

Is he neutered yet? That could be part of the problem if he isn't neutered. However, occasionally my dogs get into a fight over food even if Willow is just gaurding her bowl and Shiloh sniffs at it she snap at him and then he goes after her. They never draw blood, just make a lot of noise and Willow holds Shiloh down to tell him she is dominant and then it breaks up. I just keep them seperate when this happens (which isn't easy). I also thought I'd point one thing out, a crate really shouldn't be used as punishment, it should be a good place.
My suggestions are to keep them apart and out of sight of each other when either is eating and when they finish put the bowls out of sight. That should help prevent anything. As far as not eating since that episode, but still defending it, you can try well he shouldn't be defending it from you since you should be alpha, maybe try hand feeding a little of it, but if he gets defensive just take it away. Make him sit and wait while you set his food down then tell him ok. This should start to establish dominance and hopefully he'll know its ok to eat too. I hope something works for you. Good luck.

Thanks Jerica for the info, I really like that name Willow for a dog...never heard it before. He isn't neutered yet. And yes you are right his crate should be his happy place. I thought of that while reading what you wrote. Yesterday and today I let him eat out of my hand and all was well. It seems like he is getting better and that was only Day 2.....can you imagine how he will be by Day 14!!! Hahahah! I always kiss him and hug him and let him kiss me do you think that has anything to do with him thinking he is more dominant over me? He is just sooo cute that I just love hanging on him. :rolleyes:

[Tigs-rific]

I had a male dog once that was like that with any dog getting near his food. He just did not like the thought of another animal near his space. He was okay with people though. With my current dogs, I feed them all seperately, however my AB and Pointer will eat out of the same bowl if I allow it. I don't though. To me, it could be inviting problems later so they know that if I say no, they go to their own bowls. When my sisters beagle visits, she and my AB will bowl-swap half way through. I never allow children to be near the dogs while they eat. Myself or my husband will though. All of my dogs have been hand-fed by both of us so they are use to seeing our hands near their food.

[Tigs-rific]

oh... get him nuetered. It helps!