Sharing (or when they won't)

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

I have decided that Shiloh is a bully! I bought the boys some new bones yesterday....the bones are identical, but there is one for each of them. Shiloh happily started chewing on his...then when he saw Fenway settle down with his....Shiloh went and took it from him. So Fenway let him have it....then moved to the bone that Shiloh left behind. As soon as Shiloh saw Fenway get that other bone, he took it too! He just did not want Fenway to have one at all....and every time Fenway had one, Shiloh would go for it....what do I do?

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

When I give them their own treats and want them to have like a time out with their own bones, chew sticks, I give them to them in their crates or sepreate them, one in the living room, one in the kitchen. This way they get to enjoy their own treats at their pace and not stealing or trying to be dominate over each other. Hope this helps

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

I did end up putting Shiloh in his crate with his bone....I would also like to figure out something that I can do so that I won't have to crate him....he should just be happy they both have a bone, Fenway is....he doesn't want to steal Shiloh's.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Dominace is a part of a dogs pack life, if you try and come between that you might be asking for more problems, just a suggestion but i would use the gate to seperate them in different rooms or parts of the house. Fenway is probably the less dominate one so it's easier for him to be submissive. You might also want to try some submissive exercises with Shiloh, and see if that helps. While tossig a ball or toy for Fenway, make Shiloh lie next to you and be submissive to you, these are all just suggestions and ways I have dealt with different things with my dogs.

[Kyoko]

This is so true!!
Charlie would take bone, hoof, etc... away from my old Chow who is the alpha, and go under the coffee table where he can get to!

[Adina P]

Rosco is my bully...but he won't take things from Cass EVER. If a toy is even 1 cm closer to her than him (and it can be a foot from her) he will merely bark at her to move. If I touch him he thinks it is permission to dive in and take it.

He also barks at Thule, but occasionally gets brave to take things. So his bullying is more 'demanding' the other dog to give it up.

If what I give them is yummy enough (stuffed kongs) they usually are careful to take their individual kongs in separate areas of the house...but they don't really share. I think it is unusual for two dogs to share.

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

I guess that sharing isn't really what I am hoping for, I just want them to both be able to have their bones and enjoy them without the other one taking it away....when he has the exact same thing! I like the tethering idea....it says that he can stay out of his crate, but he can't take Fenway's bone. I just didn't know if it was any kind of a training issue that could be solved with a technique.

[Ginny Nightingale]

My two are exactly the same way as yours and have been from the first day they were together. I keep them separated when they have bones, etc.-- I think that there is a possibility that a person will have two dogs that have the same traint and neither one cares about what the other one has--this gives the appearance of "sharing", when in reality, it is indifference. It seems much more common to have one dog who wants it all. And I agree that it is insecurity. My Bully is so sure that she is not getting something that the other dog has and gets nervous about it. The funny part occurs when I call her a "bully" --the other dog knows the word Bully stick (her favorite treat) and her eyes widen and her ears perk up whenever I say the word "bully"!

[fergie11]

Fergie always does this. Before we got Lucy she did it with her friends when they came over and now she does it to Lucy. Sometimes now though it's changing and Lucy does it to her. Most of the time it turns into a fun tug-of-war. It's so fun to watch. Every once in a while i will tell Fergie to "leave it" (we're working on that in obedience school). Most of the time I figure they will work it out.