Scenario was supper time.

Mugi and Chase were both given their Breast of Lamb in their crates and tucked in. Brice and Fred were given theirs in the living room as normal, Brice tucked in and Fred lay down to gaze possessively at his supper. (Piper is still on JWB and fed in the kennel).

So an hour and a bit later Brice, Mugi and Chase were still being tormented by Freddy and his supper.............

Bear in mind Freddy came to me with Food Aggression (towards me and any other dog) and for months I slid him his bowl and retreated.

So what would you do with this scenario??? - I am not needing advice as I have dealt with it sucessfully but it struck me as perhaps a useful subject for anyone new to having more than one dog who may get stuck with a similar problem.

Well, as the first to reply, I’m bound to be wrong

If he doesn’t want to eat, then I’d lift it – and I wouldn’t have waited so long. Probably put the other dogs somewhere else first. Not really into swapping, but if he’s really likely to have a go then maybe I’d lure him away.

If the scenario was centred around my two girls I would take the food away.
Cassie eats her food straight away but dottie always seems to keep a little bit on the side Cassie seems to know that more food is just around the corner dottie doesnt seem to know this. She was the first born of 7 puppies but was bullied by her litter mates and was made to eat last so every meal could be her last as far as she is concerned.
Cassie is the dominant dog and could easily take it away from dottie .
Cassie is a fair dominant dog and lets dottie have a growl now and then she could take the food from dottie but never bothers too . dottie gives out a growl sometimes if cassie walks by when she has food even though cass isn't bothered or even after the food lol.so I take it away from dottie knowing that she has eaten enough and she is guarding a prize.

I'd call him out of the room and remove it, after about 10 minutes. If he's proper hungry he'd eat it you can't have that kinda messing around with multi dog households can u !

Looks like Freddy would like to spend more time in the living room...on his own I think I would have to move the others away from him and leave him be for a while and if he didn't eat up then entice him away from his dinner and put it away.

I would be wondering why he didn't down it quick though, when you have more than 1 dog it seems that food gets eaten a lot quicker. If it were 1 of ours Sue I would have had no trouble removing the dinner, they seem familiar with me taking things from them.

I'd be interested to know what you did with Freddy

Steve

Meal times isnt a problem at ours but when they have bones as a treat Barnie tends to save his to torment the others with. I take it away from him

Well, I made him sit and just took it off him - he may be Top Dog but he certainly isn't Top B***h, I reserve that honour for me . Brice was still in the room and I didn't restrain Freddy...........even he doesn't mess with Mum nowadays.

If he were a hooman he would probably end up on Freaky Eaters as he uses food as a management tool - git!!! He is the only dog I know who has previously starved himself (clinically malnourished) because he learned food was a way of manipulating me.

This morning he has eaten his food first .

It never seems to happen with my gang (piglets!), but personally I would remove the food bowl after about 15 mins or so, by distracting or swapping.

i find this really interesting. Do you always take his food if he doesnt eat it after a while, as him eating first this morning seems he know you mean business and if he doesnt eat it it will be gone.
It shows how clever a dogs mind can be. Personally i have only one dog who eats it before i have even turned my back but if i had this situaion i would do as you did and remove the food each time he wasnt eating it.

Gracie our whippety thing, does this sometimes. She gets as long as it takes the others to finish, then I take it away. I actually think with her, she is self regulating as opposed to being manipulative - either way if she doesn't eat straight away, I take it away.

Ernie is what I would call a fine diner. He appreciates each kibble and takes his time, but doesn't daudle. Chip and Robbie are gulpers and will go after Ernie's chow when they are done. I kennel Chip and Robbie to eat and give Ernie peace and quiet to eat his food. If he isn't interersted (never) I would take it away and turn the hounds loose.

When it comes to things like yummy bones or pig ears, I have to be sure there are no dissagreements. Any growls and I take it away. I make sure they know I am the goddess of all things good and bad talk gets your goodies taken away. Even a little! If one isn't interested I take it away. I try to keep it from getting to aggression. But I must also say none of them have been really bad to begin with and I think that makes a difference too! I've had a few fights in the past two years and I won't stand for it (scares me) and then they don't get big treats for a long time.