[doggeedaze]

I have two adult male dogs (both neutered) who have been living peacefully together for about 3 1/2 years. They are both rescue dogs and are 4 and 5 years old. One is lab/border collie ish and the other is a mystery (about the same size, tho). The slightly larger, younger one, Shea, has developed a bit of a bully problem as of late. He steals all toys from Gino, even if he already has one of his own and he has been eating all of his food then attacking Gino for his. This is very recent. I would say the food thing started a few weeks ago. Yesterday it escalated quickly and I had a difficult time intervening. My dogs have never shown any aggression to me, but I was not comfortable getting between two feuding 75 lb dogs.

Gino has not been as interested in eating the last few days and I suspect the attacks are the reason. I will be feeding them in separate rooms now, but does anyone have any other ideas to help deal with this behavior? I don't want Gino to feel threatened and I certainly do not want Shea to become a bully.

Thanks for any help!!!

[TooneyDogs]

Originally Posted by doggeedaze

I will be feeding them in separate rooms now, but does anyone have any other ideas to help deal with this behavior? I don't want Gino to feel threatened and I certainly do not want Shea to become a bully.

Good solution! My dogs don't go after each others food but, I still feed them in separate rooms...I don't want the hassle either.
It's your house, your rules, and you own BOTH dogs (one of them does not own the other). I stop all petty bickering and address it with the offending dog. For my dogs, a verbal, "(Dogs name) - Enough!" is sufficient to stop the action but, on occassion I've had to pull one of them off the other. In earlier days, I had to use a time-out (sent to the laundry room - to cool off).