The other dog is an older female who likes to try to dominate my male alpha dog. I tell him to feed him before her, he tells me I am wrong and feeds her first.
2007-03-24 16:32:04 · 22 answers · asked by jennifer g 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Animal behaviorists recommend feeding, greeting, petting the dominate dog first. That dog is head of the pack, second only to the owner. By giving that dog preferential treatment, the pack order is reinforced and should cut down on conflict/confrontations among the dogs.
2007-03-24 16:52:08 · answer #1 · answered by fdm215 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a question we just found the answer to ourselves after
playing 'musical plates'. The new addition has proved to be
the alpha, even though she's so small. She had been inhaling
her food, which has had to be meat for now (as she just won't
eat the good dry food we have for our other dog). Then she
would nudge the larger dog away fom her plate and squeeze
in front of her. I always thought when it came to food, a dog
would hold their ground. But our older, larger dog proved to
be a wimp.
So now we give a smaller portion of meat or chicken,
hoping they will eat some dry as well later. We let the alpha
eat, and then later feed the older dog. If the alpha dog seems
overly interested in the older dogs food, I simply pick her up
and hold her, 'til the older dog finishes eating. Then they
usually want a nap time. I saw at dinner tonight, the alpa dog
was content to wait for the older dog on the couch, while the
older one ate. So I'm hoping this will become the normal
routine.
2007-03-25 00:13:25 · answer #2 · answered by Lynn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
th3dogmomma offered some great advice/info.
You need to be the dominant dog. You need to be the alpha. (You can do this in the way the other member said she did - put out bowls, and then at your command, the other dogs are allowed to eat.) Try to catch an episode of The Dog Whisperer sometime, wow, that man works wonders. If you do what you can to show both of the dogs are on the same level, that level being lower than you, they should have no problem eating together, at the same time.
If you feed one dog before the other or show that you're being selective somehow, they'll easily pick up on that and it may cause fights, rank struggles, or otherwise grief to you or your dogs.
Have your bfriend read up or watch an episode of The Dog Whisperer with you so that you can both learn what's best rather than have a disagreement.
2007-03-24 23:47:24 · answer #3 · answered by t3h w17chd0ct0r 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Normally it is best to feed the more dominant dog first as it show the dog that you acknowledging and supporting her as the alpha dog, In a dog household with one of each sex it is often not that big a deal but in a larger pack it can be espccially if the alpha dog feels that their position in the pack is being threatened by a junior ranking member thinking that it is wheedling favors from you as the alpha as a means to overthrow the alpha, and can lead her to fight that dog to teach it it's place within the pack, in a larger pack there is often an alpha male and a alpha female and normally they are pretty much equal and take turn leading so rarely are there conflicts between them. So if you seeing signs of conflict then is important to support the alpha dog
2007-03-25 00:01:15 · answer #4 · answered by OntarioGreys 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All dogs are pack animals. There is a hierarchy in the pack and it's best to respect that order. It helps to keep peace.
Feeding the other dog first may seem like the right thing as the attempt is to punish the dominant dog for its status.
But, this doesn't make any sense to the dogs. It is purely a human emotion at play. Getting the human under emotial control may be difficult. So, for you, just stick to your idea and when you feed, do the right thing.
2007-03-24 23:39:37 · answer #5 · answered by www.zenhorsemanship.com 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
first thing is that there should be no alpha dog. YOU should be the alpha therefore there shouldn't be any fighting. What i would do is i would feed them in separate rooms with you and your friend feeding them at the same time and don't prepare the food in the same room you feed them in so that one thinks its eating before the other. Of course you should do your best to assert yourself as the leader because if you are not the leader then your dogs could become unstable and try to assert themselves especially if your dogs are already unstable (ex: they are nervous, aggressive - which they already show a food aggression, overly hyper etc.) You're the person, you're the alpha and just try to remember this, its not easy I'm having tons of trouble asserting myself as the leader of my four month old Scottie (notoriously strong headed, gosh darn terriers haha) but at the end of the day I realize he does listen to me and respects me not that he's perfect but that he realizes that I'm the one in charge.
2007-03-25 02:24:07 · answer #6 · answered by revenantxheart 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The dominant dog does need to be feed first. Otherwise there will be confusion. So you are right and your bfriend is wrong. Unless of course you want to change the status of the alpha dog.
2007-03-24 23:42:31 · answer #7 · answered by silkeng 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that the female should be feed last so the alpha dog does not end up in a fight with the other dog.
2007-03-24 23:35:39 · answer #8 · answered by Clay 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Feed them at the same time, letting the older dog gain dominance by positioning and body language.
2007-03-24 23:34:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
All three of my dogs are required to sit and wait for me to prepare their food. I put it on the floor and they aren't allowed to eat it until I say, "release." Then they all eat at the same time in close proximity to each other.
The only thing that really matters is that your dogs see YOU as the alpha.
2007-03-24 23:37:10 · answer #10 · answered by th3dogmomma 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋