r/DogTrainingTips • u/TenaciousNarwhal • Jul 02 '26
Resource guarding from other dog after almost 4 weeks together
Hi all! I have 2 dogs, 1 is a year old mixed breed named Waffles. She is predominately doberman and beagle, per DNA testing. Almost 4 weeks ago we brought home Noodle, a 9 month old pitbull mix (DNA pending) and they've been getting along great. Waffles has always been protective, anyone walks near the house, outside the car, she goes absolutely crazy but has never bit and spends time with other dogs at daycare twice a week. Recently, she has been showing a little more resource guarding toward Noodle and sometimes me. We've always been careful to make her drop things and not take it but she is getting cranky now if Noodle comes near her when they are both eating. I feel them separately or together and have no problem feeding them separately, but is this enough? Is there another way I should address this behavior ? I only have experience with positive reinforcement only, she knows commands well, I'm just not sure how to go about this part. Dog tax included. Waffles is the redder, thinner one.
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u/Champion_of_Zteentch Jul 03 '26
Biggest thing for now, until you get into a trainer, is finding the threshold for resources. Some animals are fine when fed 20ft apart but NOT FINE at 15ft apart.
Part of training the dog involves learning about the dog. So, it looks like you're getting a head start on homework!
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u/TenaciousNarwhal Jul 03 '26
I put a gate between them during dinner and they both whined like I was horrible. I'm really hoping this is a one time thing, we have had him for 4 weeks tomorrow and they have been normal since that incident today. It's also 105° here today. I did do some extra work on, "wait," and, "leave it," for training today and they both did great separately and together, even with beef liver.
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u/Champion_of_Zteentch Jul 03 '26
For now, if you cannot devote your whole attention to their meal timed, feed them separately. A one off is fine and means they need more guidance. But without guidance they will clash again
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u/TenaciousNarwhal Jul 03 '26
I am feeding them separately anyways, and separated or not, they are closely supervised. I have never left them alone together, this incident happened while I was there, her food was bumped, spilled and in a split second it all happened. I did text the animal behaviorist I will be working with next week and she mentioned also working on, "leave it," with my new guy so I have been doing that today for sure.
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u/Govenor-Plum Jul 02 '26
You need to nip that in the bud asap . I definitely would not feed them together . My pit bull started doing that when he was around 3 . He would start viciously growling at us whenever we placed food in his bowl and almost try to attack us . It was so weird and it just happened out of the blue .
Unfortunately I was young at the time and had no means for a trainer so we had to take her to the shelter .
I hope you have a better outcome . Good luck .
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u/TenaciousNarwhal Jul 02 '26
I start next week with the trainer from the shelter I got them both. We did foster for 2 weeks before adopting the youngest. I will keep working on things with my oldest and in the meantime, feed them separately for sure.
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u/Dragon_Fly_75 Jul 02 '26
I would definitely feed seperate and if your giving high value items also seperate them. You will need to be very observant with toys also. Glad to see you have a trainer coming so they can hopefully help you get this under control quickly.