Aggressive to other dogs when protecting his food

[Erin]

Today in our puppy kindergarten class my 15 weekold goldendoodle growled and snapped at other dogs that came near him while attempting to eat treats that had fallen. I believe this situation is related to competing with my 14 yr old chihuahua for food that my son drops from his high chair at home. We are now crating both dogs during mealtime but I need advice on how to stop this behavior. He does not growl at me when I take things from him, but I'm worried this behavior will continue and possibly extend to humans. Thanks in advance!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

What did the class instructor say about how to handle this?

[Erin]

She unfortunately didn't see it happen. It happened during play time at the end where we let the puppies socialize off leash. I did go to her and describe what happened. She told me to take the dog away from the situation and referred to the exercises we are doing where we take preferred items from the dog and praise them for giving them to us. I mentioned the situation at home with my other dog and she said I would need to fix the behavior in my senior dog because the puppy is learning the behaviors from her and she also told me to keep them separated for now during eating times.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

First, there shouldn't be any treats during the play time period when the puppies are socializing off-leash. That's just asking for trouble, and I would ask that the instructor enforce that for the whole class. 

This is going to be hard for your 14 year old dog, but as of today, I would initiate a new policy in the household: no dogs anywhere near the table (or high chair) when humans are eating. Typically, you use barriers such as gates or crates to keep them out of the eating area until they have learned their basic obedience commands, which would include being put in a "down-stay" in their designated place, which might be a rug or dog bed, in an area where they can see the family. Hopefully, you can teach an old dog new tricks, as it does sound like your Chihuahua would benefit from the same kinds of training you'll be doing with the puppy. :) 

[Erin]

Hi Karen! I have started crating during meals. Lots of whining in the crate but they'll get over it. At obedience class the dogs were playing and knocked over a bag that was on a chair and the treats spilled out. The dogs kind of went frantic over them. Otto happened to be in position to get them best. Also we don't give him a lot of big chewy treats at home so they were probably very reinforcing for him. I know my chihuahua was the leader of three chihuahuas I had (which she's outlived) and her attempts to keep Otto in check are not working. Neither dog backs down. When I picked out Otto I purposefully chose a male and he wasn't the alpha of the litter, but he drives her crazy to play and she's afraid of him at this point. When the food gets involved it's beyond play because my chi is used to her canine counterparts allowing her to be first with everything and Otto is testing that.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think the situation that happened in class with the treats accidentally falling and all the dogs competing for it was probably unavoidable and difficult to train for.  I think the important thing (especially at home) is to reinforce that YOU own all the resources, including the food.  Both of your dogs need to understand that.  One good way that I have found to reinforce that is to have each of the dogs sit and wait...put a treat down in front of each of them...and then give them the "okay" to eat it.  You may try working with your older dog on this exercise first and then start practicing with both of them together. You have to be ready to correct if either of them goes after it before that "okay" and at that point take the treat away and start again later.  They will quickly learn that "not waiting" does NOT get them what they want.  It's going to be key as your son gets older and may be walking around with food. I still do this exercise all the time.  Crating during mealtimes is perfect...my guys are not allowed in the same room with us when we're eating. 

[Erin]

Hi all! Thanks for your help. The crating is working. Unfortunately with three kids in the house sometimes I miss a piece of food that has been dropped and then the dogs do challenge each other...trying to be the first to get it and of course guarding it. I try to pick up as much as I can before letting them out. The training exercises are helping to keep the puppy's focus on me. My chi is used to being the alpha and the other chihuahuas I had let her have whatever she wanted. Otto isn't doing that. I did catch Otto laying next to her right outside her crate the other day. It's a little fuzzy because Otto got up to greet me as soon as he spotted me!