Post by funnymamma on Mar 5, 2014 23:08:26 GMT -5
So in September we adopted 2 adult Maremma LGDs. They are brother and sister and are for the most part excellent dogs with a few bad manners. The primary issue I'm concerned with is food aggression. The previous owner indicated when I picked them up that Sadie was "bossy" about food and he simply put their food bowls 20 feet apart when feeding to avoid issues. Well it's more than just bossy. She's down right aggressive, especially with raw food (which they never got before). We also have a GSD house dog that for the most part gets along with the LGDs and is definitely submissive to them. I usually feed them 2 meals a day, the morning meal is dry kibble with eggs, clabber, milk or whatever mixed together. Their evening meal is raw chicken. Sadie is not so fond of her kibble, but she will eat it and will definitely guard her bowl to keep the other 2 away. The chicken on the other hand is the BEST thing ever and she wants everyones. I feed them outside, make them all sit and wait before they are given their chicken and then I stand and supervise. Sadie will usually finish first and then, if I'm not there (which is rare) will rush and attack one of the other 2, usually the GSD. If I am there, and keep myself between her and whomever she is eyeing at the moment, I can usually keep that from happening. If she does attack, usually she will back down as I run in yelling. I never grab either dog in that situation as I was attacked by a Maremma so I know how getting bit feels. So I know I can feed them separately and avoid this scenario all together, but that's not convenient and more importantly, she is the same way if she's found something dead that she's decided is "hers". Can I do anything about this behavior at all? What techniques would you use? In every other way but food, she's as sweet as pie. I did not know the farmer that I adopted from as it was a craigslist find and he sold them because he packed up his life and left town rather suddenly so he's not available for further conversation either...