My Chihuahua, Jasmine, has developed a strange mealtime ritual. She is not a morning person and prefers to eat late in the afternoon, while my other dog, Bella, would love if he could eat all day. Jasmine eats on a stool next to her favorite chair because she often feels more comfortable being elevated on a piece of furniture than eating on the ground.
This has nothing to do with her wanting to prevail over Bella; she just feels happier being higher up. The world can be overwhelming when you are so small; Being raised makes her feel safe and she can look out the window and watch the world go by from the comfort of her own chair.
During mealtimes, Jasmine will wait to eat her food until Bella has finished eating. I feed them both separately – Jasmine on her couch in the family room and Bella in the utility room right next to the kitchen, because I strongly believe that even though the dogs in households are large, Whether dogs get along or not, they should too. space during mealtime. Bella appreciates eating alone, but Jasmine won’t touch her food until Bella finishes eating and walks over to the otter.
I should also mention that Jasmine is a resource guardian. She tends to be protective of positions, toys, and food bowls, and I think this tendency plays a part in the ritual. Waiting for Bella to pass makes Jasmine’s food all the more valuable and worth defending. On the other hand, she may not feel safe enough to eat her food until she can actually keep an eye on Bella as she eats. I tested this theory by putting Bella in a completely different room, since my utility room led into the family room, but Jasmine would still wait for her to return and stand near the stool before she touch the food.
While eating is a fun social activity for humans, it can cause stress among dogs.
Helpful eating suggestions
Dogs develop rituals around many things, including food, because rituals provide comfort and predictability, especially in multi-dog households.
- All dogs need feel safe when eatingso I encourage my clients to stay in their rooms while their dogs eat or to feed them in separate locations.
- Same for feel safe during chewing. Schedule a time and place when the dog can chew on a bully toy or stick so that each dog is less stressed and enjoys alone time. This helps minimize the noise of arguments and ensures every dog feels safe doing an enriching activity.
- If your dog is eat too fast, use slow or skip bowls and feed your child several meals through interactive toys. You can also try hiding food in your house or backyard and chasing the hunting dogs to find a meal for them. (I don’t recommend doing this if you have a multi-dog household unless all dogs are individually searchable). Encouraging your dog to forage means he gets a valuable supplement and absorbs food more slowly.
- Pay attention to when you feed your dog. Although Jasmine likes to eat once a day with an evening snack, most dogs are better off being fed twice a day so they don’t go hungry between meals. Consistently scheduled feedings also help regulate bowel movements and prevent accidents.
- And finally, let the dog eat! I never reach into a dog’s bowl while they’re eating and don’t even go near their feeding area unless I’m working with puppies and dogs to prevent resource conserving issues. Possession is nine-tenths of the law for most social animals, and just as you would hate it if your dog stuck his muzzle in your plate, the same goes for your dog if you put your hand in.
While eating is a fun social activity for humans, it can cause stress among dogs. Take the time to understand your dog’s habits and make a plan to encourage healthy eating. Food helps build bonds between dogs and people, but it can also cause problems. Although Jasmine trusts me completely, I understand that food causes her a bit of stress, so I take steps to make sure she feels comfortable during mealtimes by managing the environment and taking into account The different needs of both my dogs.
