Dog fight

[Kathy]

I need help on what to do.  I have posted a few time but am a lurker so I know some of you have two different breeds of dogs.  I have four doxies and one golden retriever.  Well for the past two weeks or so one of my doxies has been very aggressive over the food bowls.  She goes to the point of moving them all together and guarding them.  Well thats not the problem, or most of the problem. well last night my golden knocked down a small bowl of meat and then as far as I know the doxie went after it.  Then  I heard growling.  I ran in there and the golden had the death grip on the doxie and messed here up pretty good.  (the golden is ten months old,  and has always been a very happy wiggly sweet girl.)  Now I don't know what to do.  I have to crate the golden when we are gone, because I scared not to.  When I went home today for lunch the three doxies where outside the crate growling at here.  And when I got the Golden out the one that was hurt tried to attack her,  so I put the golden on a leash and she had to bee with me all during my lunch.  Does anyone have any advice?  I want this to work out, but I scared for everyone.  Also, we have had the golden for seven months.  Please help I love all my babies

Thanks

[Doxherding Karen]

At the risk of sounding like the Dog Whisperer, let me paraphrase Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer.

One of your doxies is getting the idea that she is in charge.  Food is not hers to patrol.  YOU own the food and who get fed first is up to you. 

When you say the golden "messed her up pretty good" in a grip, it sounds like the golden used the type of discipline dogs use to control other dogs.  Cesar Millan demonstrated this all the time, using his hand like the teeth of an alpha dog and getting the offending dog into the submisive position.  YOU need to be "calm assertive" not yelling or fussing at doxies if they act out.  Dogs will sense your mood - no fear, only calm!

You should come home, ignoring the doxies. Then go outside and get the golden and bring her in, again calm assertive.  Anybody growls - you step in calmly.  Dogs will follow your lead.  If YOU are in charge, everyone else is beta.  Get that growling girl at the end of the food chain for a couple days, in the crate while everyone else eats.  Then let her out for her meal.  NO FOOD LEFT AROUND AFTER MEALS FOR PUPPERS TO FIGHT OVER!!  It's a meal, not an all-day and night cafeteria.  (I don't know how you feed, but I feed all four at the same time.  Dinner's done, bowls are empty and clean and put away!)

Cesar Millan, he's the Man
If he can't help you, no one can!

Good Luck!!

Karen

[papbouv]

With 4 dogs you have a pack what I would do if i were you is do the NILF training ( Nothing in Life is Free) Takes some work but way worth in the long run.First I would make sure everyone in the pack knew you were the leader.NILF teaches all dogs must do something before being fed.Example: Buddy my Doberman has to sit & wait while I put his food down for him to eat he cannot eat till I tell him OK. I go first through all doorways, Buddy & Patches have to wait at all doorways & the car till I tell them they can come though,No one gets petted unless i want to pet them if they get pushy with the nosing I ignore them or make them do a sit or a down.The dog knows who is the boss I think feeding the guarding Doxie last is a great idea or just feed everyone in their crates.
Papbouv

[krs123]

I definently agree with Karen and Papvouv! They need to know who is Alpha! You are! Ceasar Milan IS GREAT! I DVR his shows on National Geograhic. I will take a little work and consistancy on your part, but i have seen him (Ceasar) work miracles with agressive behavior from dogs and multi dogs!. Check out his shows if you can and he also has a website and a book out.
Good Luck!  :xfinger:
krs123

[Kathy]

Thanks to everyone that responed.  It has been a very challenging week but I have worked hard with all the dogs and will continue to do so.  Its has improved  since I posted.  I still keep the golden separated when no one is home.  The dogs have always been feed twice a day once in the morning and once in the evening.  They get 20 minutes to eat then the bowls are picked up and out of sight and there is absolutly NO human food left out.  The doxie hasn't shown any aggression this week towards food, but I not convinced that she is over it. I will start feeding Penny last once the stiches come out (I am scared to crate her and have her stiches rip out they come out this Sat.) so for now Jessi gets feed outside and the other 4 have a separate corners.  The golden (Jessi) keeps making sure the doxie (Penny) is okay.  Jessi  knows she hurt Penny, and has responed to comands much better this week. Penny is responing to commands but not as fast as Jessi. I know I have a long way to go but it is a start.

[Doxherding Karen]

Good for YOU!!

I got three Herd members last October.  I make everyone sit, stay, and wait until I release them to eat.  Today I decided to try feeding all four simultaneously and outside on my deck.  Since I'm going camping in August for a week with them, they need to adapt to changes in feeding.  I'm not taking my master bathroom along, which is where I feed them here at home!

I got old man Guinness to start off, since he is such a slow eater, and he always attracts Herd members to "help" him with his food.  So he started off on the deck chair.

I got Roscoe and Beau Leaky in a sit-stay.  Merlin just stood there staring alternately at me, the food bowls that I was holding in my hands, and each of the other dogs in turn.  He's probably thinking, "You dumb critters - what's she gonna do, not feed us?"  Then after 10 or 15 seconds of making sure I know he doesn't really HAVE to sit, he s-l-o-w-l-y sits down.  All three waited until I put the bowls down in a nice sit-stay.  When I released them they bolted for the nearest bowl.  It was kind of like musical chairs.  Merlin, the slowest sitter, was also last to find a bowl that didn't already have a dachshund chowing down at it!

You too can have this happen!  It can be done!  Be strong, Miss Alpha!!!! :apls: :meme:

Karen