Tips for preventing fights when feeding multiple dogs

Dear Cathy: Beau is an 8-year-old male Pekingese-Chihuahua mix and until recently has been an “only child.” Beau now shares the household with Walter, a 7-year-old Chihuahua/ Jack Russell mix.

They get along great, except at feeding time. Beau becomes aggressive toward Walter when their meals are served. Both are served exactly the same dry dog food with a smattering of chicken or ground beef at the same time.

It has reached the point where Beau and Walter are placed in separate rooms during mealtime. This is not a good long-term solution. Any suggestions? — Paul and Beth, Henderson

Dear Paul and Beth: It’s not uncommon for dogs to be protective over their food. I am not sure why feeding them in separate rooms is not sustainable, as it is one of the two easiest solutions to this problem. The other is feeding them in their kennels if you have one for each of them.

Training is an option, but it can take a long time. Start by feeding them in separate rooms so they can’t see each other. After a few days or weeks, open the door so the dogs can see each other eating, but stand between them to ensure they don’t glare, growl or go after each other. If they do, close the door and try again later.

Once they are used to eating and seeing each other, bring the bowls into the same room and feed them as far apart as possible. Stand in between them. If they glare or growl at each other, go back to the second step and try again the next day. This training could take many weeks and is not always foolproof, but you may get them to eat in the same room as long as you are present.

Dear Cathy: Is there a reason why some cats go crazy over catnip and others do not? Also, does catnip have a shelf life? — Richard, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Dear Richard: Catnip is an herb, and just like other dried herbs, it does not necessarily go bad, but it can get stale and not be as potent. Will your cat enjoy stale catnip? Maybe, but not as much as fresh catnip or dried catnip you just purchased.

Catnip contains a strong minty oil that cats can detect in the air at saturations as low as one part per billion. Kittens and some cats don’t react to it at all. No one knows for sure why. Cats who react to it may roll, rub and flip their bodies in response. The effects are different for every cat and typically last only about 10 minutes.