[Alicia]

Hello -

This seems so sudden and weird I'm hoping someone can give me some advice.

Our puggle is 1 year 4 months old. She's always been very good with the kids. My youngest who is 20 months old has been sitting with her when she eats for months now. He often takes food right out of the bowl and feeds it to her. I thought this was a positive thing they were doing because she reacted well to it.

After months ALL OF THE SUDDEN yesterday she had the hair standing up on her back when she was eating and growled at him. I instantly spanked her hard and yelled so she knew that was awful behavior. And kept my son away for the rest of the feeding.

Today he attempted to walk up to her as I watched and she instantly turned and bit him. Nothing too serious but my GOD!?

Also for these last two days she's acting at these feedings as if she is starving, eating fast and furious. So today I gave her an extra feeding and she ate it quickly again. So today she's had DOUBLE the food she usually eats and still is hungry for more. She's had 1.5 cups a day for a year now. Is she all of the sudden needing more food and that is why she is aggressive because she is hungry?

I just want to understand it more. She's been on the same food since the day we bought her (a year ago). And I can't think of any reason she might need twice as much food as she's been getting OR why she is suddenly so aggressive.

Ideas?

Thanks!

Alicia

 

[Wisconsin trainer]

Don't know why she "suddenly" got aggressive about her food bowl - but perhaps you should start hand feeding her and I do mean YOU. Put her food in a bowl and give it to her out of your hand, a little at a time. This puts you back in charge of meal time. And do keep your little one away from her at meal time. My take on her gobbling food - she is now nervous about eating since you struck her. Feed her in a quiet area and go back to normal amounts. I have been an instructor for many years - and do not want any type of food aggression from my dogs - but I do give them a quiet space in which to enjoy dinner.

"Wisconsin Trainer"

 

[Nicole]

Does she have any problem doing her poo?

 

[DoggieTreasures]

Hello, I agree I find that very strange. I to also have a 1 year old puggle, he hasn't show any type of agression other than when he gets in trouble he has started to show minor agression and we're trying to nip that in the butt right away! I know that they seem to be very needy and attached dogs also very senitive. Best of luck Hope it works out.

 

[FancyPaws]

I agree with you trying to hand feed her at least part of her food. Also I practice Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) which is a good way at keeping your leader position with your pooch. Before Xander gets anything, whether it be a treat or his regular food he has to do something for me. Sometimes its just sit or down, other times its a trick like give me your paw, just something to kind of make him earn it. And ever since he was a puppy I periodically mess with him while he is eating, sometimes I pet him, other times I stick my hand right in his bowl just to be sure that he doesn't start getting defensive over food.

If the hand feeding doesn't seem to soothe her sudden hunger problem you might want to consider a trip to the vet, especially if you notice any new odd behaviors lately.