Lana is my border collie mix, very sweet girl, couldnt hurt a fly, and very easy going. Lately however she has become very snappish with Bear. If she has a bone, toy or bowl of food by her and Bear walks by, she jumps up and snaps at him, sometimes holding on to his lip for a second. Bear isnt fazed by it, infact it doesnt bother him at all, he just walks away. Lately this snappish behavior has been becoming more frequent. They never fight, and I know Lana is just telling him to back off, but what can I do to fix it? Should I take what ever Lana is gaurding away? Or do I let her keep it?
I think this all started when I first brought Bear home. Bear always wants what the others have, like most dogs. During dinner time I put Lana and Bear's bowl on the floor in the kitchen, about 3 feet away from eachother, if Lana would start eating Bear would come over and eat out of her bowl and push her away, Lana would then wait till Bear was done, then she would eat out of the other bowl. Im thinking this is what started her gaurding behavior, cause she only does this to Bear, and Bear is the only one who ever tries to take over Lana's food bowl or tries to grab a bone she has.Bear is also only 4 months old and still learning.
Lana isnt being aggresive, just warning him, but i dont want it to continue. I have 5 dogs and have never had a fight here, and I'd like to keep it that way. I'm worried if I let Lana continue this behavior it could eventually esculate into a fight, especially as bear grows bigger, I think he will be 100 pounds full grown.
Im just not sure how to go about it. Or do I let them work it out themselves?
That's a tough call. I had a dog shred it's mate's ear over a food bowl, once. It was so quick that the injured dog and I were both surprized. I no longer give food except when they are locked in individual kennels. I don't give toys that are so desirable they cause a fight, and I put several of the same kind out at the same time. I would say to assert yourself as the alpha, that she is less the boss, but I have one girl here that gets much rougher, if I try to interfere when she is mauling her playmate, so I don't say it works with all dogs.
