My labrador is getting grumpy, advice required.

[Number 5]

I have two labradors one female chocolate bouncy, very happy, very vocal 7 yr old, she is still as hyper as when she was a pup, she wont sit still for two minutes without demanding fuss. I also have a black labrador male, he is definitely the more chilled one out of the pair, he is 6 yrs old, he is a lovely dog, his whole life revolves around fuss, walks and food! (typical lab) I have always walked them for at least half an hour before i go to work and an hour in the evening everyday and on Sunday's they get their "mega walk" in the woods which always results in me washing fox poo off them when we get back (they love rolling in fox poo) My feeding routine is i feed them twice a day and i always feed them in the garage, they know its feeding time when they are in the garage, the older dog ( Abi chocolate female) has her food put down first and then the male (Lister) Just lately Lister has decided that he wants to be fed first but i have not let this happen i make him sit and wait until his turn but sometimes he has been a bit grumpy and shown a little bit of vocal aggression to Abi by growling and barking hence he is getting grumpy! I have always made a point of when they are being fed occasionally removing the food during mid feed just to let them know i am the boss. Neither Lister or Abi have ever shown any aggression to me or the family but i am a bit concerned that this aggression Lister is showing towards Abi may escalate. Another thing i have noticed recently is that on their walks when Abi takes a wee Lister has to then wee over the same spot as where she has just been. As far they are concerned Abi very early on established herself as the pack leader, she has always been the one that takes the bones or toys off Lister but he has never dared to try and take anything off Abi.

Has Lister decided that he wants to be their pack leader?

Should i reverse the feeding process and put Lister's food down first?

Should i change their routine?

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Am i right to be concerned?

[bexVN]

Are they neutered?

[Number 5]

bexVN said:

Are they neutered?

The male is but the female is'nt.

[bexVN]

Hmm, not sure to be honest, if he had been entire I might have blamed his change of behaviour on hormone levels changing but as he's been neutered that's unlikely. Unless he is detecting hormonal changes in her. When was she last in season?

There could be subtle reasons for his change that you may not even consider as relevant. Is he showing any signs of e.g. arthritis, pain can change an animals behaviour.

[Number 5]

She is due a season fairly soon, we always notice a slight change in her pre-season she starts to get lets say a little "excited" when it is season time Lister still gets very interested but we usually separate them by sending one of them to the Grandparents to get spoilt for a week or so.

Is it worth altering their routine, could this be a pack thing or are they too established for any change?

[nick_j007]

Number 5 said:

I have two labradors one female chocolate bouncy, very happy, very vocal 7 yr old, she is still as hyper as when she was a pup, she wont sit still for two minutes without demanding fuss. I also have a black labrador male, he is definitely the more chilled one out of the pair, he is 6 yrs old, he is a lovely dog, his whole life revolves around fuss, walks and food! (typical lab) I have always walked them for at least half an hour before i go to work and an hour in the evening everyday and on Sunday's they get their "mega walk" in the woods which always results in me washing fox poo off them when we get back (they love rolling in fox poo) My feeding routine is i feed them twice a day and i always feed them in the garage, they know its feeding time when they are in the garage, the older dog ( Abi chocolate female) has her food put down first and then the male (Lister) Just lately Lister has decided that he wants to be fed first but i have not let this happen i make him sit and wait until his turn but sometimes he has been a bit grumpy and shown a little bit of vocal aggression to Abi by growling and barking hence he is getting grumpy! I have always made a point of when they are being fed occasionally removing the food during mid feed just to let them know i am the boss. Neither Lister or Abi have ever shown any aggression to me or the family but i am a bit concerned that this aggression Lister is showing towards Abi may escalate. Another thing i have noticed recently is that on their walks when Abi takes a wee Lister has to then wee over the same spot as where she has just been. As far they are concerned Abi very early on established herself as the pack leader, she has always been the one that takes the bones or toys off Lister but he has never dared to try and take anything off Abi.

Has Lister decided that he wants to be their pack leader?

Should i reverse the feeding process and put Lister's food down first?

Should i change their routine?

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Am i right to be concerned?

It sounds as though a little management here would go a long way.

Firstly, I would feed them apart, not together in the garage. I have no problems with my two here and they are fed apart. This is good practice in my experience and helps prevent competitive eating etc. Maybe feed one in the garage and one in the kitchen?

Removing the food mid meal will not show them you're boss. Sorry. In fact, this is just the sort of cycle of events that can induce food guarding behaviour, and may account for some of the behaviour you're describing.
Your presence is then seen as a threat to the dog's food and feeding time. We would hate to have our meals removed mid dinner time! I understand your logic, but it's far better to add extra nice bits into the bowl whilst you are there rather than to remove it.

Dynamics can change so try feeding the male first for a time, and see how this goes. Maintain the good manners and waiting prior to allowing onto food.

You mention how they both revolve around a lot of fuss. Ensure this fuss is on your terms, not theirs. You may getting into a resource guarding situation, whereby they are competing between them selves for your attention? Something to be aware of anyway.

Over marking. I wouldn't worry about that. I have a 5 yr old spayed female terrier, and a 16 month old entire male wire-haired vizsla. They both over mark each other constantly. Little terrier is so keen to get in on bigger dog's mark that she gets pee'd upon sometimes! lol.

If the aggression is recent and sudden, I would consider a vet check to eliminate any physical symptoms.

What do you feed them btw?

Nick

[bexVN]

I would also suggest a vet check for both of them, which is why I was asking about the seasons. My worry is why this has suddenly started happening when there has been no issue with this set up in the past. The above advice is good but it doesn't explain the recent change in behaviour.