Why do dogs growl at one another and not humans around food?

Question

I'm afraid fido will tear at my neck off as I pour the chow, but his eye moves to a smaller compertitor.

Answer 1

They know you are alpha. So its up to them to figure out which one of them is more dominant than the other one.

Some dogs will growl at a human because the dog is food aggressive.

Answer 2

All dogs being different just like people, determine dominance between one another. I always left dry food down incase they needed it or became hungry before I came home from work. This also seemed to help in keeping the one growling dog more satisfied at meal time. He didn't growl as much at the other 2 dogs. I know his eating pattern was much different because he was a sickly dog from birth. Vomiting and diaahreah since birth. Vet bills out of this world to go with that free dog. We always, prepared their food on the counter and set it down for each dog and stayed and watched them. If Gunner growled I tapped his tail. When he was hungry he was a gluteon and he would and could finish off all three dogs meals. And we were generous with their food. I often thought that Gunner was overhungry sometimes, so hence, the dry food.

Answer 3

Food aggression usually stems from the cronic need to fight for an adequate amount of food. It can be seen in nursing pups who growl and claw at litter mates while trying to feed. Weaning kittens are famous for this behavior. Typically, as the animal grows and is continuously fed properly, this behavior will diminish. However.... if you have a dog who's been malnourished at some point or if you're feeding two dogs from the same bowl you're creating a potential problem. If using two bowls and the more aggresive dog guards both, then move one bowl to a different room.
Not all dogs will seperate food aggression toward other dogs and humans. Some dogs will bite YOU when you get yor hand too close to their bowl. Many a neglected dog has had to be euthanized due to extreme food aggression. If they still go at it with two bowls.... I would plant myself between them at mealtimes until they've learned or leash the more aggressive dog until the other eats. If the leash is necessary, over time he will learn that even if his companion eats from the bowl first, he will still get fed.

Answer 4

That's easy. You've never tried to eat the dog's food. The other dog did. Besides, you're the Alpha dog. You are in charge, next in line is fido, and fido's going to make sure he gets his portion before the other dog eats it all.

TX Mom

Answer 5

You've already hit the proverbial nail on the head. You're not the competitor, but the other dog is. They see you as the leader of the pack, and the provider of the food; if you're doing your job right, they won't touch the food until you say so, and they won't touch each other either. You need to correct the growling before it escalates to fighting; make it clear to all your dogs that growling over food is NOT acceptable.

Answer 6

You're the alpha male, sweetie. They won't fight you for food because you can always keep it from the both of them. It's a dominance thing between them. If it gets really bad between them, feed them separately, or in completely different rooms if necessary. Also, you might try obedience training for both of them.

Good luck, and I hope that helps.

Answer 7

Because they are pack animals, and because humans control the food, they are automatically in charge of the pack -- but the rest of them are fighting for dominance and rank.

Answer 8

dogs know that they are competing against each other to get the food. they know the owner provides the food, so they wouldn't take it back. and when other humans are around their food, they know that it's a human so it won't try to eat it's food.

Answer 9

Because they know you don't eat the food that you give them. They don't see you as a threat to their food supply.