Preventing fights when feeding multidog household

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, Nevada

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 to do. 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 step two 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.