Rescue dog and existing dog
Discussion
I need a bit of advice please !
We have a 5 month old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, she was the runt of the litter, very small but perfect and loving and very healthy now. We bought a rescue dog a few weeks ago, same breed but a male, 6 months old and he was in some distress . . . hadn't been fed properly, had open sores on his legs, stained in his own urine, he stank and didn't wash, his stomach was distended and was rock hard to the point he could hardly walk . . . he cowered every time I belt down to stroke him and it was clear he had been neglected and abused. He'd never been outside, wasn't house trained and didn't know what a toy was.
We've treated him and loved him and he's now doing really well, much fitter and looks like a normal puppy and is really doing well, but with one problem. He's very jealous of the other dogs toys and food.
We have to feed them separately but even playing with toys, the male can be happily chewing a treat or toy but if he sees the female with a treat he will leave his and aggressively take hers from her, eat it and then go back to his.
He has his own toys and food bowl and we leave food down for them both all day - the female used to eat when she was hungry but now needs to be hand fed separately as she's scared of the male dog stealing her food and aggressively pushing her out of the way. Even with a toy he will growl and bite it out of her mouth.
What's the best way of dealing with this ? Will he grow out of it ? Any suggestions welcome.
We have a 5 month old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, she was the runt of the litter, very small but perfect and loving and very healthy now. We bought a rescue dog a few weeks ago, same breed but a male, 6 months old and he was in some distress . . . hadn't been fed properly, had open sores on his legs, stained in his own urine, he stank and didn't wash, his stomach was distended and was rock hard to the point he could hardly walk . . . he cowered every time I belt down to stroke him and it was clear he had been neglected and abused. He'd never been outside, wasn't house trained and didn't know what a toy was.
We've treated him and loved him and he's now doing really well, much fitter and looks like a normal puppy and is really doing well, but with one problem. He's very jealous of the other dogs toys and food.
We have to feed them separately but even playing with toys, the male can be happily chewing a treat or toy but if he sees the female with a treat he will leave his and aggressively take hers from her, eat it and then go back to his.
He has his own toys and food bowl and we leave food down for them both all day - the female used to eat when she was hungry but now needs to be hand fed separately as she's scared of the male dog stealing her food and aggressively pushing her out of the way. Even with a toy he will growl and bite it out of her mouth.
What's the best way of dealing with this ? Will he grow out of it ? Any suggestions welcome.
Jasandjules said:
If he goes over to her then stop him taking the toy/food. If he does take it, give it back to her. Tell him off for stealing her stuff. Various things you can try...
Also, while telling him off when he is doing the wrong thing, reward him with loads of praise when he is doing well. Try to get him to realise that his toys are not her toys (and vice versa), though I realise that that is difficult with dogs: possession is 10/10 of a dog's law!! Perhaps a nice "doggy choc" when you give him his toy and no choc when he takes her toy will help.Unfortunately, he is "Top Dog" at the moment. I've often found that the b
hes end up being the boss - and are more sensible about it; perhaps as the younger dog grows a bit, her brains will overcome his brawn! I hope patience is rewarded in the end - it is never easy having two young dogs at the same time. One of our neighbours has two Cocker dog pups from the same litter and his wife had to send them back to the breeders while he was away at sea as she couldn't handle them (I don't think she's a natural dog-person). He came back last week and has to walk them individually now!
Morningside said:
Wow, I have never heard of an aggressive Cavalier. We have had two and they are as soppy as anything and I would happily have another. Sorry I cannot help you in your quest, but any chance of a photo of them?
He's not aggressive normally, just near food but I suspect this is because he had to fight for his food when he was with the previous owner. He's absolutely fantastic at other times, a real gem.
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