just over a week ago we acquired a 4y/o gsp from rescue. She seems to be settling in well to her new surroundings,which include a 2y/o gsp.They've had a few minor issues but yesterday morning had quite a big one,over food.The 4y/o finished her food first and then went over to try the others which resulted in the 'heated exchange'. We feed them twice daily,there was no problems yesterday evening and no problems this morning. However this evening(for the first time ever) the 2y/o wont eat her food at all. We get the dogs to sit in the dinning room,then we put the food down in different corners of the kitchen and then say "ok take it".Both dogs went to the same food but the 4y/o got there first and proceeded to eat. The 2y/o then went to the other dish but in stead of her usual eating frenzie she just stood there and watched the other dog.
After the 4y/o had finished hers she went to eat the other food and the 2y/o would have let her with no fuss. I took the food up and put the 4y/o in another room but the 2y/o still wouldn't eat it. I even tried to coax her into eating it from my hand but no go.
Is this normal behaviour when they are vying for top dog or am i over reacting and could it be that our 2y/o is maybe off colour for the first time since we've had her, from 10 weeks old.

Personally I'd feed them in separate rooms. It seems as if the older one has taken 'top spot' and the younger has been intimidated into accepting it.

While your new dog is settling in it might be better to feed the dogs in separate rooms and forego the dinner time rush (which I also do, keeps them interested in their food ;) )   Once everything's settled you can then train them to go to their own dishes and not steal each other's food ;)
Don't forget, this is a time of major adjustment for your 2 year old bitch as well as the new girl ;)  it must be very confusing to one day be Queen of the Castle and the next have a usurper in your home and have to fight for your dinner!

Others will be along soon with more (and probably better ) advice ;)

I would never have allowed the older dog go anywhere near the others food.  Your younger bitch should know that you will ensure that she does not need to worry about having her food taken, and the older should know that you won't allow her to bully the younger at meal times.

I feed all my dogs in the kitchen, including visitors (some of which have tried to steal the others food) but I make sure they never can, so my girls are very relaxed over their food, and  know not to go to anothers dish, so much so that I do not need to even supervise closely anymore (but I do).

As the older one looks like she is going to be in charge I would put her dish down first, and then the younger bitches.  Once the older one has finished remove her from the room so the other can finish (or more likely start) her food in peace.

I am the one in charge of food, being the big alpha bitch here 

This behaviour is perfectly normal and has nothing to do with being top dog or off colour but everything to do with how dogs are made.

Remember in the wild he who eats lives, he who does not dies and no one knows where the next meal is coming from.

Feed your dogs separately, recognise that all the training in the world will never completely eliminate what the dog comes hard wired with, ie to resource guard, but you can mitigate it if you wish, but it will never be "removed".

If you feed separately you can avoid situations that arise from dogs in a high state of arousal and reduce stress to everyone.

Thanks for the advice.
Fed them separately yesterday. She ate in the morning,although a lot slower than usual,but wouldn't touch it again at tea. Will keep feeding them separately and hope it works out.

Just a quick update. The reason she wasn't eating seems to be down to the fact that she had eaten a piece of rubber(a piece of football or similar) at sometime,which she brought back up on friday morning. The rubber had gone hard in her stomach and when it came back up it was solid,like a piece of lino floor tile. Took her to vets who said it could have been lodge somewhere making it difficult to eat.
She is now back to normal and eating her chicken and rice,with her antibiotic mixed in, like there's no tomorrow.
Both dogs are getting on fine.We will continue to feed them in seperate rooms as advised to minimise any conflict.
Thanks again for your replies

Glad she's OK, and that both dogs seem to be getting on well now - thanks for the update :)

Lindsay
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