Preventing Food Aggression In Your Multi-Pet Household

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Waiting Permission

Perhaps you have heard the term Resource Guarding? It's related to Food Aggression in that both behaviors involve a dog vigorously protecting what he wants to retain for himself. While this may sound like a normal behavior, it actually can lead to more serious aggressions and should be prevented.

Here are a few tips that can be used with both puppies and adults throughout their lives. Continuing a program such as this will help your dog to understand that you are in charge of the food, while also knowing that you will always share it with them when they behave appropriately. Trusting you as a benevolent caretaker that always has the dog's  interest at heart will help to build a bond over time. Bonding with your dog is the ultimate way to increase the loyalty that each of you have to one another, making memories as the years roll on. 

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Chowtime!

Here's how we make sure that Tanner, Oliver and Jacque never try to steal food, treats or toys from one another. Further, it's important that housemates enjoy the give and take of sharing a toy in play. 

• Start by introducing a toy or food by holding it yourself. Ask the dog to sit and wait until you are ready to offer the item to the dog. Wait until he's behaving as you have requested: sit, stay, down.
• When your dog is enjoying the toy or food appropriately, without any tendancy to guard it from retrieval by you or a fellow housemate, praise vigorously! This is your goal and you must assure that the dog knows when he is behaving appropriately.
• Practice sharing a toy among your dog housemates with supervision, praising each dog as they release the toy to another willingly.
  
• Continue and you'll see more and more sharing.
• To further prevent food aggression, feed each of your dogs together, waiting until they are calm. Release them to eat when you get the behavior you desire. Praise lavishly when your dogs behave accordingly.
• Continuing these practices will help build a closer bond among you and your dogs.
• Here's more!

Happy tails,

All Things Dog Blog likes to share tips for a happy pet family. While today's post links to our primary advertiser, Castor and Pollux Pet, we want you to know that we feed their food because it is the best. 

#Doga Lovers Win Refillable Bottles

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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Stay Hydrated While You Bond

Our first Doga poses have been well received, based on views. I'm not hearing much from you guys, and am hopeful that's simply because you're busy giving this new exercise and bonding method a chance. If that's the case, keep up the good work, but please do leave me some comments. I'm looking for your thoughts, ideas and hopes for the future of this series.

One think I've learned for sure is that flexibility requires good hydration. During the workout shown in the above photo, I was not quite half way through the water in my bottle, seen on the fireplace hearth at the right. I've scolded myself now for not doing a better job of pushing the fluids. Hopefully I'm improving.

My first giveaway that is Dog related includes a group of assorted reusable water bottles. The winners of these bottles will each receive one from the assortment. If you see this announcement and your name is included, please give me a shout with your full name and shipping address at AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. 

Wondering what's next up in the Doga giveaways? Inspired by my own need to keep a record of my workouts that helps me to gauge my progress, I've got a few journals and a Doga Calendar to hand off, a blanket, and some tote bags for carrying your supplies to the yoga studio. Has anyone out there located a Doga class near home? Please dish if you have. We'd love to hear more. I found a few online, but have still continued to work from home; old habits die hard.

Following these giveaways I'll be offering up 3 yoga mats to wrap up my promotion of this Doga series. That should get really exciting! Are you ready to hear the winners now? Congratulations to today's lucky ladies: Iliana R., Marilyn N., Danielle E., Saki A., and Jenna Z. Please send your shipping addresses to AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com if you see this announcement. I'll be in touch over the weekend.

Happy tails,

While the photo above was a poor rendition of Side Angle Pose, you'll be able to see our video instruction of this pose coming in May. One thing I have learned from practicing it is that a larger dog like my Tanner can work much like a block to aid you in managing the stretch without trying to go to far. I also enjoy a quick petting session when I'm leaning over to get into the pose. That's what was captured here. Watch for more later. Thanks for joining in!

Fido Freebie Friday Revisits the Weekend

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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Super Dog Sunday™ is behind me and our beautiful Florida Winter is here. It's so nice to enjoy the outdoors without sweating :)  This weekend's Weekly Wag article promoting bonding with your dog will feature a not-to-be-missed piece by our Ask the Vet Columnist, Dr. Julie Buzby. I plan to practice what she inspires and enjoy the weekend with my dogs.

Now let's get to today's Fido's Freebie Friday. Bloggers are invited to list below their currently open giveaways, freebies, and prizes for pets and pet lovers so that readers may visit and explore items to win. You can help to get more awareness by sharing the badge you see in the top of my post. Feel free to put it in your sidebar, if you wish, but don't feel obligated.

Fido's Freebie Friday opens each Thursday afternoon for linkups at 4:00 PM ET, and renews each week at the same time with a new listing.  Link up anytime during the week--24/7. We make it easy to be seen here by keeping our rules simple:

•You have up to 45 characters to describe your prize and include an expiration date.

•Fido's Freebie Friday Blog Hop is open to posts with prizes for pet products or services, including pet-related or pet-themed items for owners. Use your specific post url to link up.You'll find assistance at our HELP PAGE, where there is other useful information for bloggers doing giveaways and reviews. Your hosts are All Things Dog Blog, Doggies and Stuff, Dogtipper and To Dog With Love. Happy shopping!

Individual rules of entry and guidelines for winning may apply to each listing. All Things Dog Blog, Doggies and Stuff, DogTipper, and To Dog With Love take no responsibility for the legality of the rules governing the listings on other sites and giveaways that are posted here. We simply provide this forum as a gathering place for pet product giveaways to be offered. Please consult All Things Dog Blog's Giveaway and Contest Rules for more detail. Fulfillment of each giveaway is done by the blog conducting the giveaway, not by the hosts of this giveaway hop; please contact the giveaway host with any questions regarding a giveaway or giveaway prize.