Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

So upset and shocked

46 replies

procrastinationstations · 15/03/2022 18:34

Ddog 8, dpup 11 months.

Ddog dislikes pup but never angry with her. Dpup isn't scared of ddog as such but knows she's in charge.

Dpup is the friendliest, happiest, sweetest little thing I've ever met, loves all dogs and humans.

Dpup LOVES her food, she's been good though lately and has stopped nicking Ddog's food (isn't particularly into food and doesn't seem to care at all when she does). Dpup is a quick learner and eager to please.

Just given them both tea, a biscuit flew out of pups bowl so she went off to retrieve, older dog sniffed at pups bowl and nicked a biscuit.

Pup attacked her, I mean attacked. Ddog backed away and pup still went ballistic, biting at her neck. It was awful - absolutely awful - I just can't believe it. Ddog was shocked - pup looked non-concerned and went back to food. It was an attack not a quick warning.

I'm so upset and shocked and don't know what to do. DH saw the whole thing too and feels the same as me.

I can't believe pup was capable of that and I don't know what I should do to help this to not happen again.

OP posts:

LunaFortuna · 15/03/2022 18:45

That must have been horrible to watch, I went through similar with mine and it’s not nice at all.

Sounds like Dpup is a resource guarder so for the time being I would make sure that they are not in that situation. Feed them well apart, ideally different rooms, and make sure any times where food is about are well managed. If it was me I’d have a chat with a behaviourist to help with this.

Good luck.

Original poster

procrastinationstations · 15/03/2022 18:45

I went on for 5 seconds which if you count it - it's very long to be a quick warning. It was so aggressive - I'm so stunned - I couldn't speak. DH and I just stared at each other and then I put puppy out in garden and said something like 'very bad dog' in a loud, firm voice. She knows I was cross but I don't know if she knows what she's done?

She's behind the gate in the kitchen and she's crying to come out. Do we let her out?

OP posts:

Original poster

procrastinationstations · 15/03/2022 18:47

Didn't see the reply when I posted the 2nd post.

Thanks for the advice - I will contact a behaviourist.

OP posts:

Hugasauras · 15/03/2022 18:49

Feed separately from now on. Food is a high-value resource and a frequent reason for guarding behaviour.

FleurDeLizz · 15/03/2022 18:51

There’s a Facebook group called dog training advice and support you could ask there for advice. The admins are all behaviourists.

For now I would keep them entirely apart if there is any food around

Original poster

procrastinationstations · 15/03/2022 18:53

I know i'm banging on, but I've seen dogs snap, growl and warn but pup properly attacked her. Ddog had backed away immediately with first snap and pup just carried on, red mist, vicious and violent. Cannot believe that little, sweet, silly dog could do that. I wouldn't have believed it if anyone had told me and I'm a very pragmatic and accepting person.

OP posts:

Spudlet · 15/03/2022 18:54

It sounds like it was over quickly, and food is a high value resource. Feed separately for now and maybe call a behaviourist. However if no blood was drawn (I assume not as you’d have surely mentioned a vets trip?) then it may have been more noise than actual intent.

Your pup is also a teenager now and is probably testing her boundaries with your older dog. They can be little shites at that age [narrows eyes at 10 month old pup]

Hope you’re ok, it sounds like a nasty shock for you all.

Dancingonarainbow · 15/03/2022 18:57

My dog is 14 and has always been like this . She is wonderful with other dogs .... until food is involved. Feed you pup separately at all times and beware of other times food may turn up unexpectedly, such a well meaning visitor offering treats . My dog has the sweetest most patient temperament in any other situation but she was rescued from a deserted farm in a shed full of other jack russells and has never over come this despite plentiful food .

LunaFortuna · 15/03/2022 18:57

It’s ok, it’s a shock to see especially when it’s so unexpected. Actually, that Facebook group is great and definitely worth a try.

Original poster

procrastinationstations · 15/03/2022 19:00

Thank you so much for the replies.

What do I do with pup now? She's behind a gate and I've given her back her tea.

Is there any point continuing the consequence? Will she just not get it now? She's crying to come out. She's so, so lovely - I've never ever had any hint of this....not one. Older dog had already snapped at me by this age when suddenly disturbed in sleep or shocked. She's never got any worse and we've learned to Gently warn her first etc. Pup is just so relaxed and just lovely.

OP posts:

Aria20 · 15/03/2022 19:01

Definitely feed separately from now on - behind a gate ideally. Hopefully the older dog isn't too stressed by it, maybe keep them separate tonight so they can both calm down and fingers crossed they are happy around each other again soon.

GenialHarryGr0ut · 15/03/2022 19:02

We've always fed our dogs separately as food can be a huge trigger for many dogs.

NoSquirrels · 15/03/2022 19:04

What breed is your puppy?

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 15/03/2022 19:05

I wouldn't punish the pup - please let her back out and treat her normally again. She was acting naturally and defending her resources, not being naughty.

Food is really high value to some dogs and they just act on instinct and defend it.

Never ever feed the dogs together again - always have a physical barrier between them (door or babygate) and that goes for when you give them treats or chews too.

Original poster

procrastinationstations · 15/03/2022 19:08

@NoSquirrels

What breed is your puppy?

A tiny little poodle x shitzhu - fluffy and silly but just a brilliant dog - much easier than my pure bread older dog

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 15/03/2022 19:08

Treat her as normal just make sure you feed separately.

Happenchance · 15/03/2022 19:09

@procrastinationstations

Thank you so much for the replies.

What do I do with pup now? She's behind a gate and I've given her back her tea.

Give her her food back. She won't understand that she's being punished for her perfectly natural response to having her food stolen. Removing her from her food like this could actually make her guard food from you.

TedMullins · 15/03/2022 19:13

Dogs don’t understand being told off of punishments/consequences. Agree with all the advice to feed separately, but if I were you I’d also seek advice from a qualified behaviourist who uses positive reinforcement methods to deal with resource guarding. My dog is food obsessed and has also had an incident like this. It’s shocking at the time but entirely preventable.

Staryflight445 · 15/03/2022 19:13

‘ I can't believe pup was capable of that’

First mistake of dog ownership sadly.
Thankfully you found out this way and it didn’t attack a child.

I hope your other dog is ok though, very scary.

pantherrose · 15/03/2022 19:15

I would let her out but try and keep them separate if possible. Too much time has elapsed since the ‘crime’ and she is unlikely to associate it with being excluded. A good example is a dog that escapes and is chastised when it returns. The dog won’t understand why you are not pleased to see it and won’t associate it with the original misdemeanor ( and won’t understand that after trudging the neighborhood for hours, that you are tired and thoroughly pissed off!)

Hugasauras · 15/03/2022 19:17

Honestly it sounds/looks scary but if you've grown up in multi-dog households it's not massively unusual. If dogs want to hurt then they will, so the fact that no one was injured then suggests it was just slobber and noise. There's no need to punish, that's counter-intuitive. You know food is a trigger now and it's an easy enough one to avoid so just make sure feeding/treats are done separately.

devildeepbluesea · 15/03/2022 19:23

It sounds a bit like you’re anthropomorphising your pup. As plenty of PP have said, food is a very high value resource and you pup will have no thought for the rights and wrongs of attacking the threat to her food. Dogs don’t understand things like that.

Try not to let her outburst colour your feelings towards her. She was behaving like a dog, it’s what she is.

And agree with all the PP about feeding separately and talking to a behaviourist.

Original poster

procrastinationstations · 15/03/2022 19:25

@Staryflight445

‘ I can't believe pup was capable of that’

First mistake of dog ownership sadly.
Thankfully you found out this way and it didn’t attack a child.

I hope your other dog is ok though, very scary.

What I meant is that the puppy has been eating her food and treats next to ddog for 9 months and has never exhibited any kind of guarding - just takes stuff back if taken - doesn't happened often though as ddog has little interest in food.

I am conscious that all dogs are capable of any behaviour. I wouldn't ever leave either of my dogs with kids etc - I'm a responsible owner (and don't think my dogs are perfect - although I love them deeply 😀).

The puppy is so silly and friendly - this was aggressive and primal - just shocking.

OP posts:

Original poster

procrastinationstations · 15/03/2022 19:28

And you can tell I'm shocked because of my grammar. Lack of apostrophes all over the shop and I called my older dog a pure 'bread'

Need a lie down....

Really appreciate the replies and support / it's the first place I came to - thank the lord for MN

OP posts:

Hugasauras · 15/03/2022 19:32

Is she spayed? Bitches going into season can display quite different behaviour. My own dog became a horror during her seasons.

Flip

1 2