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Aggressive behaviour towards other dogs with food


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Hi all,

I adopted a rescue dog, who I instantly fell in love with. However as time goes on, I am noticing undesirable behaviours. Yesterday I gave my rescue dog (21 week old pup) a bone to chew on, with my other small 2yr old dog in the yard as well. I know the rescue pup is obsessed with food, and we have never fed them in the same room as the rescue pup is greedy and would eat our other dogs food. My plan was to let her have her bone, then bring her inside and give my other dog a bone of her own to eat in peace. However the rescue pup was pacing from the bone to the other dog and back to the bone a few times .. then my other dog, who was showing no interest in the bone, made a slight move to go and sit somewhere else or something, and the rescue pup went into full attack mode and had the smaller dog on her back yelping and getting stuck into her. I reacted badly myself and was yelling at the rescue dog to get off her and it upset me so much i'm ashamed to say I gave her a bit of a whack with my hand. My other small dog is now terrified, standing in stressed out pose for hours and won't give me eye contact. She is clearly traumatised by the whole ordeal and my behaviour i'm sure. The rescue pup also displays a lot of anxiety, needing to be under my feet 24/7.  I live in a remote town so access to dog obedience trainers is difficult. However she is booked in for obedience classes starting in 2 weeks from now. I am wondering if with the right training for me and my rescue dog, whether we can help the rescue dog from behaving this way with food, and with anxiety.... is there any hope? I am starting to worry after that attack that she may even get that way with my 6 year old child or any other child that may visit. My head tells me I need to let the dog go, but it's pulling at my heart strings because we love her, but I need to do what is right... I'm very confused. I'm not asking anyone to decide for me what to do, but opinions are greatly appreciated.

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I see red flags :( and you've had a warning. I believe your small dog, your original, has a right to live without fear in their own home. Sorry but I wouldn't keep the rescue dog on that basis alone. Please please keep them apart. :pray:

 

Please contact the rescue as soon as possible so they can take the dog back and get him/her to a place with access to temperament assessment or behaviourist etc. A good rescue will take their dog back and do what needs to be done for the dog. Mismatching can happen even with the best of planning on both sides, listen to your head.

 

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Edited by Powerlegs
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You gave a new dog a very high level treat with your other dog in the same vicinity, I'm not surprised of the attack, mine would do the same in that situation. You need to keep them separated around food until the are both comfortable with each other.

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You will also want to keep young children away from the pup if it has high value food/treats... just in case, OK?

 

I'm getting from your wording that you are already distancing yourself from the pup emotionally due to this incident... please contact the rescue you got her from and see if they can take her back. Training a dog out of the behaviour you describe will be difficult without the proper support for both of you...

 

T.

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OH :(  How disappointing and frightening .

My advice would be to contact the rescue ..be HONEST ..and return the dog . Put your emotions to one side ... at this age , to be so strong in her possesiveness is a worry - and with a lack of good professional support around you , returning her seems the wisest decision ..not the easiest , and certainly not the happiest , sorry  :(
You and your original dog deserve to enjoy life, and the presence of a new dog - not be fearful and stressed. 

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Take it back, food aggression is not uncommon but needs to be managed very carefully.

What happens if down the track a bit of food is dropped near your child? you cannot in all honesty police this with a small child, don't risk it.

I have had food aggro dogs before and its hard work, i nearly got bitten myself once when i gave her a bone walked to washing line , came to go back inside, had bare feet so she didn't hear me come close as i went to go back in the house and she turned and almost got me, big lesson learnt! you cannot drop your guard ever.

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