Food Aggression!

[goldiemoldie]

I realized this morning that Goldie seems to be showing signs of food aggression. I'm not sure if it really is, or how to go about correcting it. Any advice would be much appreciated!

The other day, I was dogsitting a beagle for my friend, and Goldie had already eaten. I tried to feed Luda his breakfast out of Goldie's bowl, but any time Luda would go near the food, Goldie would growl/attack him (this happened multiple times). I eventually locked her inside the gated kitchen area so Luda could eat his food.

This morning, I was scooping out kibble for her and she was sitting nicely next to her bowl, waiting. The cat started walking towards us, and she immediately growled and attacked the cat for him to back off. I got really angry at her and I made her wait for her food for 5 minutes before I would pour it for her (probably not the best way to correct it...)

Just some background information - Goldie is 15 pounds and I feed her twice a day, 1/2 cup of kibble each meal. She also gets about 3-4 treats, sometimes a kong too, in between. Let me know if I am not feeding her enough and this behavior is due to possible starvation? I have researched how much to feed a 15-pound dog and "1 cup a day" is the most common answer I found so that is what I've been sticking to.

I really don't want this to turn into something horrible, so I want to correct it before it's too late!

[tall grass pugs]

I doubt that she is starving, but that is her dish. Not the cat's dish, and certainly not the beagles. Always feed her seperately, if she expects the food in her dish in the kitchen, feed the cats and the visitors in the bathroom. You're not seeing food aggression, simply a pug shocked beyond words. Give her a cuddle for me.

[puglover22]

it's called "resource guarding"
try hand feeding her so she knows that you're the one in charge, you're the one who doles out the food......

[goldiemoldie]

Oh, I didn't know it was a somewhat natural thing. The funny thing is when she goes over to other people's houses, she always eats out of their dishes and no one has ever had a problem with it, but when it comes to her's, she's gonna be a selfish brat! Oh well, as long as I know it's not an issue I'm just relieved

[groverthepug]

Goldie isn't showing signs of food aggression...and there isn't anything to 'correct'.

She just got miffed about that damn Beagle eating from her bowl, which is fair enough! Next time, feed the Beagle outside instead of Goldie...after all, it's her house!

I don't think a Pug is going to appreciate the human logic when it comes to eating from OTHER animals bowls. To a Pug, it's food, therefore, it's theirs!

I think it's up to you to be more rigorous with feeding ALL your animals, cats and visitors included, separately. They take this food thing very seriously, you know!

I'm not sure what 15 pounds is in kilos, but 1 cup of dry kibble doesn't sound like enough. Perhaps, you could add some (raw or steamed) vegetables to her kibble?

[goldiemoldie]

I'll be sure to ask my friends to bring their dogs' bowls next time I dogsit for them! I was just worried there was something wrong because I know of 3 other PUGS who have let Goldie eat their food and all was well. I guess I still have to learn that every dog is different and Goldie is just a bit more protective about her goodies!