Why is Mz Izzy doing this?????

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

At dinner time for the past 2 nights Izzy ( 1 1/12) is not allowing Lucca (3 1/2) to go to his bowl and eat. Izzy inhales her food and Lucca is a casual eater. She also knows not to eat Lucca's food if he hasn't touched it yet. There has never, ever been competition with food. Last night Lucca was standing near his bowl but not going to it. I noticed Izzy close by staring at him with that dominant stare stance and Lucca looking away from her submissively. Total role reversal. She went to his food and started to try to eat it!! I made her go to her bed to let Lucca eat.  Tonight she did the same darn thing and tried to ignore me when I tried to get her to back down. Where did this dominance thing come from. Why would it only be at dinnertime? This has me absolutely baffled.

They get along great and play together. Lucca tries to hump her a lot but she basically just sits or lays down and ignores him. But, last night she turned on him for the first time. He DID back off.

Is she rebelling and telling him that she's "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore":) Any ideas????

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Hi Carla, what if you try putting Izzy in a down stay and then give Lucca his food first and make Izzy wait a few minutes before she gets her bowl.  Do you have a trainer that you work with?  Maybe he/she can offer some good advice.  I know that our trainer was very helpful when we first brought Ollie home and had some issues between him and Cubbie.  Other than that, I don't really have any suggestions.  Hopefully other members will be able to offer you a bit more help.  Please keep us posted to the situation though.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try it. I always give Lucca his food first. I doesn't mean he eats it right away though. I also make both of them do a sit/stay before I put their food down. We'll see what happens tonight. this morning was fine;)

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I really don't know what this could be, especially since it just started.  Maggie inhales her food too & then kind of watches Bexter eat, hoping he leaves some for her, which he usually doesn't.  I can't imagine why she all of a sudden would keep him from his food unless she is just super hungry lately for some reason???  I'm sorry I can't be of any more help!  Good luck!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

She's back to normal.Maybe she was just testing the waters. Who knows with these doods sometimes:)