Hey everyone, I have a slight problem with my dogs. My first dog is a 2 year old female, the second a 20 week old male. They are both inside family pets. The problem is, they looove to chew on their toys and raw hide bones. But, when one dog has one bone, the other just HAS to have it, even if he/she has a bone for him/herself. They both do it. Houdini, the pup, will be chewing happily and quietly on his bone. Suddenly, Kieron, the older female, drops her own raw hide bone and marches right over to Houdini. She stands there staring at him, watching him chew for a few seconds, then growls and digs her paw into Houdini's body. Houdini tried to ignore her, but Kieron insists that she have the bone he has. She eventually steals it from him after digging and growling at him. The same happens with Houdini, except the other way around. Kieron will have her bone and Houdini suddenly doesn't like his and wants her's. I always tell them no when they try to steal the other's bone, but it doesn't work. They hear me say no and back off but then watch me for when I'm not paying attention. The next thing I know, they're fighting over the bone again. I counted five bones laying around. There are ovbiously plenty to go around. They even do this with toys too. Anything one has, the other wants, even when he has the same thing.

What should I do? I really can't take away the raw hide bones because the dogs will start chewing on anything else they can find. They are an active breed, Siberians, and must have something to entertain them. What are your opinions on this? How can I teach them to share?

-Tara

Sorry, no advice to give, just sympathy.   This problem is as old as the species tho ~ I'm sure Aesop wrote a fable about it (a long time ago.. :) )

Regards
Dill

Wasn't it the fox and the manger? 

As long as there are plenty to go around and the squabbles don't end in bloodshed, I wouldn't interfere because it will exacerbate things.  If you are worried that the squabbling will become serious then they should be separated to eat their rawhides. 
Sally

I agree with Sally

My two do excatly the same thing so what i do say if buster steals from bengi when he's decided his is not good enough i give his to bengi and vice versa. Sounds daft but it does seem to work.

My two are the same, I just let them get on with it. I agree with the person who said as long as it doesn't end in bloodshed don't worry. Keep an eye out for when your lad starts to mature though, he may decide that he wants to be the leader of the two and fighting could ensue. People may disagree here, but again I would leave them to it and only intervene if it gets serious.

Hi Tara,

Dogs don't share.  There motto is, "what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine."   Yours appear to be happy to steal from each other - so I don't think you have a problem. 

Some of the funniest memories I have of dogs involve stealing from each other.  One year I had a Christmas party.  There were three dog "guests", plus my three dogs.  A friend gave a present to each dog - a squeaky or rubber toy of some kind.  My dog Moxie hated toys of any kind, never ever played with them.  Everyone was chatting and not paying attention to the dogs, until I heard Moxie (a Yorkie) give a warning snarl at one of the visitors, a large mixed breed.   I looked down and found that Moxie had stolen all the toys one-by-one, she had them right in front of her and was guarding them against any dog that came within a meter of her stolen loot.  I had to take them away from her to keep the peace. 

Another time, I gave my three dogs each a raw knuckle bone.    Eventually my older GSD got tired of chewing and set the bone in front of her, whilst she rested.  My Cairn decided her bone was no longer good enough and only the 'do.  However, the GSD was the pack leader and my Cairn was not going to risk an outright steal.  My Cairn got on her back in the submissive position and literally shimmied on her back about two meters to my GSD, she slowly rolled onto her side, grabbed the bone and ran off with it.  Very funny. (My GSD could not have cared less.)

Stacey