My dog is becoming a right little git. What to do?

[Kladdkaka]

He started getting really narky at my soft gentle female. No all the time just random acts of gittiness. But now she's avoiding coming in the room if he's there. They've lived together for 7 years so it's not like she's new or anything. And it's not like it's because he's ill or anything. It is just gittiness.

For example, they have an endless supply of kibble in the kitchen. They can eat whenever they are hungry. So never any need to fight over food. So little git dog goes and gets one single kibble and puts it on the floor in the living room and then guards it. Poor little girl gets savaged if she comes near the guarded kibble. So poor little girl has learnt to stay well away. So little git dog takes it one step further. He moves the kibble closer to her and then waits for her to move so he can go all angry killer westie on her.

What is he playing at?

Would it work to have a separate food bowl for him in another location, rather than two bowls down together? Perhaps it could be near his chosen location on the living room floor? Does it seem like your female is eating more than her fair share of kibble? It must be hard to tell if you have two dogs that are "nibblers" (like my Westie) rather than "wolfers"

I know there are specific things to do about resource guarding but not sure what to do if it's dog/dog resource guarding rather than dog/person. I'm sure an expert will be along in a minute...

I'm not sure it is resource guarding though. It looks more like he is using the kibble as an excuse for a fight. Almost like he's daring her to go near it. Then when she spoils his fun by staying away, he moves it closer to her so she can't avoid it.

Today he has been putting one in the middle of the doorway and then 'hiding' so that she'll come in, thinking it's safe and he can then have a go. He's setting a trap for her. He doesn't look upset at all, he looks like he's enjoying it.

Oh my word, my dog's turning into a chav.

That's hilarious .

This is easily solved....don't leave the food down!

With some dogs it doesn't matter if there is an apparently limitless source of something they'll still get funny about it. Feed them separately and remove the source of conflict.

How do you react when he kicks off? Have you tried giving him a time out?