There probably isn’t a factual answer to this, but I want people’s opinions.
I have two dogs and one cat. We keep two bowls fo dog food on the ground at all times and a bowl of cat food on the counter where the dogs can’t get it.
We also keep two bowls of water out for the three of them.
Now the dogs don’t seem to care which bowl of food they eat out of. Normally, the one closer to the kitchen door is gone faster, probably because that’s the first one the get to, but they will eat out of either. Now if one dog is eating and the other comes sniffing around that bowl, the dog that is eating will start to growl. There has been a few fights even with food in the other bowl.
Yet, they often drink out of the same water dish at the same time with no growling.
Why are they more protective of the food than the water?
You said the bowls of food are always out but do they have food in them at all times? What about the water bowls? That could be a factor.
If not that, I have to agree with wnorthr’s basic premise: food, by nature, is just more important psychologically. While I have to drink more often than I need to eat, I won’t get as upset if someone takes my soda or tea but I’ll bite anyone that tries stealing my steak.
You said the bowls of food are always out but do they have food in them at all times? What about the water bowls? That could be a factor.
If not that, I have to agree with wnorthr’s basic premise: food, by nature, is just more important psychologically. While I have to drink more often than I need to eat, I won’t get as upset if someone takes my soda or tea but I’ll bite anyone that tries stealing my steak.
In the wild water is just either there or not. Animals don’t have to do anything but go to it. A lot of their instincts are probably dedicated to hunting down food. Fortunately we heven’t bred everything out of dogs and I think that this is one of the leftovers. I would guess that if they didn’t have this they wouldn’t be the dog we know.
As far as I know herbivors don’t do this. I think it’s for the same reason - the food is either there or it isn’t.
Just my WAG, naturally, but I think it might also have something to do with the “portability” and “guard-ability” of food. Dogs / wolves can drag a piece of food off to a private place and eat it. They can take a hunk o meat and guard it, designate it as “MINE” and gnaw on it in private. They can’t do that with water - water’s not self-contained. So I too think it’s a case of instinctive guarding that has evolved from the “what I can guard of mine, I darn well will.”
Just my WAG, naturally, but I think it might also have something to do with the “portability” and “guard-ability” of food. Dogs / wolves can drag a piece of food off to a private place and eat it. They can take a hunk o meat and guard it, designate it as “MINE” and gnaw on it in private. They can’t do that with water - water’s not self-contained. So I too think it’s a case of instinctive guarding that has evolved from the “what I can guard of mine, I darn well will.”
Gargle. Sorry about the double-post; I accidentally hit “refresh screen” when I got the “HAMSTERS DIED AND I WILL NOT SHOW YOU THE PAGE NYAH SO THERE” screen instead of “back”.
Duh me.
As mentioned dogs guarding their food is a natural behavior. One you can see in nearly any documentary on wolves (they’ll snap and snarl at each other over a kill).
First off I assume this guarding behavior does not involve any humans. If it does you need to be more careful in your approach to this as you do not want to be the one who gets bitten. Depending on how strong/serious the guarding behavior is you may want to seek the help of a professional behaviorist.
When it is down to two dogs displaying aggression over food I am not sure all what can be done. This may well be a natural sorting of the pecking order that dogs do with each other. While it can look scary to us it may not be all that big a deal to the dogs (its just how they relate to each other). As long as there are no real fights/injury and the less aggressive dog still gets its fill of food you may consider letting them be.
If you want to stop this then I think the only sure way to deal with it is to feed them separately. If dogs display food guarding to humans one of the first things to do is to feed them at defined times of the day and not leave food out. Leaving a bowl around gives them something to guard all the time. Feeding them twice a day and removing the bowls (food eaten or not) 30 minutes or so later teaches them to get on with eating. Feed the dogs in well separated spots as well. Either lock the dogs away while preparing meals for them if they fight during this or if they are well trained have them do a sit and stay till you put the food down. Teach the dogs to go to “their” bowl and eat what is there. Do not let the dogs approach each other while eating. After a while they should get the clue and just do it without much intervention from you.
I have two cats and they eat and drink out of the same bowl. I mean 2 bowls, one for water and the other for the food. They never growl or fight. How come? Does it mean my cats are way up on the evolution chain? Will they have me sit on their lap sometime soon? Purrrrrrrrrrr…that feels nice and warm!
wnorthr - Actually, my old horse was very food aggressive. If I’d give her grain, she’d take a mouthful, then bite at the boards of her stall above her food. If someone (besides me) would come close, she’d lunge at them.
My dogs seem to respect each other’s food bowls. They don’t try to sneak food or encroach until the other dog has finished. THen they may check out the other bowls. My cats need separate bowls or they’ll fight.
Maybe it’s how they’re raised, then.Could it be that if the cats and dogs were together as puppies/kittens they’re more amenable to interference from the other guy.
Does anyone’s experience bear this out?
I only have one experience with two dogs. Original dog would be very protective of both bowls of food til she ate her fill, then she’d let new dog at it. It was weird seeing her run back and forth between the two bowls to keep new dog away while she tried to eat. New dog never fought her on it unless she persisted in attacking him if he even got near the food. If she kept at him he’d turn on her and have her on her back with his mouth around her throat in no time. Never hurt her, though.
It always seemed to me that original dog was way too obsessive about the food.