Question:
i thought pretty hard about posting about this week but i decided maybe i could use some support and hopefully some advice.
joey has always had aggression problems ( food only !!!!!) and only with other animals. as it so happens yesterday i was giving the boys a treat and molson walked passed joey and he jumped on him, molson was bleeding from his nose and crying in pain. i called my vet and rushed molson in, a long 4 hours later i got the results from the xray and thankfully he was doing ok, but..... he has a skull fracture at the frontal lobe ( between his ears) and right on the fontenelle, because he is still so young his skull is soft, the doctor put him on some steroids and he should be healed,
but i am not healed, i am upset and angry with joey, i am terrified this will continue to happen and i am also sick and tired of dealing with the food aggression. i was ready to drop joey off at the humane society yesterday, i just have run out of patience with him, i talked with my vet and she was trying to give me options and has someone she went to school with that is a behaviourlist who worked with the detroit humane society doing temperment testing, ( she has a degree in animal behavior ) she is a referral only for aggressive dogs and i had a long chat with her yesterday ( for 40 mins) she lives about an hour away and does temperment testing with the animal and spends 2-4 hours in your home observing the animal, she is going to come by on tuesday and see what options i have with joey, i owe him that much and i also feel as though i have some how created this , as we started seeing it with joey after we got pippin, and if i had only just kept joey as a single dog we would not have any of these problems,
my parents are offering to take joey but i know it would be too hard for me to always see him over there and i think he would be hurt and confused by the situation, plus i just dont think he will be treated the same, my dad believes the "dog is just a dog" mentality, the trainer i talked with thinks that joeys problems is quite "manageable" and thinks he sounds some what mild, if this is mild i couldnt imagine haveing a truly aggressive dog,
i am torn because i keep getting all of these "suggestions" i put it in quotations as that they are not the kindest suggestions, they vary from putting the dog to sleep to getting rid of him to this is all my fault. everyone keeps throwing in the fact "what happens when you have kids", i am not ruling out children for scott and i, but i definetly dont see this happening in the next 3-4 years.
please help me, i am torn between what i should be doing and what i can do, i am in tears over this situation as i type this and i just dont know what to do.


Answer:
First, what breed is Joey? Does food aggression run in his breed?

2nd, where are you feeding him? If he is taking it out on other dogs, I would crate him and let him eat away from the other dogs. Make everyone eat seperate, and only allow them out when everyone is done. Give them treats seperatly as well.

The key to keeping food aggresion fights from happening is to keep the dogs seperated while eating. That way there is no competition for food, and no one feels threatened by another dog near by.

I wouldn't jump right out and say it's your fault...sometimes, unfortantly--these things happen. Dogs can be fine with given treats together- and then boom decide to fight over a treat.

wanted to edit: Just saw the aggression problem is only with other animals- so editing the part about human aggression out.


Answer:
Hey Rossgirl:
By consulting with a behaviourist, you are doing all you can for both Joey and Pippin right now. The best course of action is to not listen to the advice of well-meaning but inexperienced / untrained friends, family members and neighbours, and simply try to continue being an excellent dog owner. This would be an upsetting experience for anyone -- so try to take it easy, and try not to panic or stress over the situation, until the behaviourist comes to work with you next week.


Answer:
IMO, both Megan and Green have given excellent advice. I'm just glad Molson is ok and will heal. That's the cute little tabby you showed pics of some time ago,right?


Answer:
Teresa, I am sorry you are going through this and hope the behaviorist can help. I think Megan's advice sounds very reasonable. At least it is something to try until the dog specialist comes in order to keep peace and keep everyone safe. I think you are doing the right thing by consulting the behaviorist, and I would certainly bring up the fact that you may eventually have children or maybe even visiting children and see what she says about that too. I am glad Molson will be okay.


Answer:
Teresa, you know how I feel. I am thinking of you, Molson, and Joey.


Answer:
That's more than enough to stress out anyone! [i]You[/u] know that you are a wonderful, responsible pet owner, and you are doing everything you can, considering how your patience has been stretched so thin.



I really hope that you and Joey and the behaviourist are able to work things out!


Answer:
I'm glad that Molson is okay. I'm sure that the behaviorist can give you some really good advice on how to make the situation safe and happy for everyone. In the meantime, take things one step at a time.


Answer:
megan, joey is a chow/brittany cross, he was abandon at the humane society with his litter at 10days old ( the puppies didnt even have their eyes open) we adopted him at 7 weeks old from the lady at the hs who had fostered him from the 10day. he is 3 years old as well,
we never saw food aggression as a puppy, he was started in obeidence when he was 12 weeks old, he was well socialized, he was always around people and other dogs ( my parents had multiple dogs at the time) we got pippin two summers ago, and that is when we started to see some aggression, but that was at the age joey was starting to mature, both of my dogs and the cat are all neutered, joey started showing it to the puppy about toys and food,
so we did as advised and put all toys away, the dogs were fed seperate, and still to this day are fed seperate, one in my kitchen, the other is on the basement landing. we have no problems with the boys sharing a water bowl, but that may have to stop depending on suggestions from (vickie, the trainer)

so...we started all over again, I started feeding joey from my hands, ( the entire dinner was fed that way for many weeks) they could only have treats if pippin was crated and joey was out, side note, we could never successfully crate joey, he would scratch and scratch at everything until his toenails and pads of his feet would bleed, he hates to be in sight of us and not be able to reach us, but... that maybe my best resort??? some dogs feel being seperated is a greater punishment then neck shakes or other things,
so things were cruisin along, we got molson a couple months ago, joey and molson bonded instantly ( i thought great we arent going to have problems) they even shared the water bowl together, but then the attack happened on mon and we are back to square one, i have been researching alot on the internet about dominant dogs and how to train them, i am also going to give entirely to the trainer, we plan on keeping joey in our home while we train and she comes to us for 45min-1hour session 2-3 times a week.
the kitten is being seperated at this time, he is all set up in his room and is out when joey isnt out, or when joey is upstairs with scott i let molson out, that is just how it will have to be until tuesday and i find out more answers.
greencolander: thank you for helping with the "suggestions" i know that they are just untrained etc, but it cetaintly helps ease my guilt with the situation just hearing it out loud from others,
mollymitten,fertmom,and denise, thanks for the support !!! it means the world to me


Answer:
If he is only acting aggressively to other animals, I can't see the need to put him down. If he were aggressive to humans, I would see how it could be a good choice.

It really does seem you are doign all you can, and are seriously trying to do what is right. I will see if I can do a search and find anything about food aggression, and what they suggest you do to curve it.. I know the seperation thing was said; but you are already doing that.

Let us know how it goes with the trainer---and good luck!