In a pack of wild dogs, the leader or “alpha” always eats first. When this instinctual behavior arises in domestic dogs, it can present problems at mealtime. This is particularly true for families that have three or more dogs.
When a pet dog asserts itself as an alpha, it may exhibit food guarding behaviors, often stealing food from the other dogs in the household. This can trigger high levels of anxiety and fear in the less dominant dogs.
To address these issues, experts recommend alleviating potential food anxiety by feeding dogs on a consistent schedule. It is a good idea to schedule feedings after exercise, which satisfies the canine instinct to hunt.
Dog owners should condition their dogs to accept human management of their food or “win the bowl” by both placing food in the bowl and feeding dogs out of the bowl by hand. A dog owner can also interrupt their dog during mealtime with a special food treat. This teaches the dog that it can turn its attention away from its regular meal without suffering negative consequences.
