Peek A Boo did sneak attacks for quite a while. I put him on leash until I learned to read his signals... he would become very still and stare, then like a bullet launch himself onto his intended victim. The leash helped me to regain control and to stop the attacks before he really got into it.
But to stop the behavior completely you have to be one step in front of the dog. The thing that really stops them is to learn when it's coming and intervene just before he starts, which prevents him from escalating into the attack. This may have to be repeated 3 or more times, until the attacker realizes you're onto him. It will also take time to break this habit, to teach him that this behavior does not work.
Is the food aggression with the other dog only or with you too? To start, I would separate them during feed time, to protect the innocent.
As this happens only when you're around... Breezy is showing he is in control. You need to work with Breezy and let him know that you are in control, you are Head of the House. When dogs don't feel situations are being handled by the boss, they will try to handle them themselves. Be a stronger owner, in a sense.
To do this, practice basic obedience with him, where you command and he follows. Walking both dogs together will create a pack mentality, with you as their leader. Keep each on a separate leash, one on each side, so you can separate them easily when arguments happen.
Other ways to remove his power are to set his food down last, never let him out the door first, etc. You will have to watch him... if the attacks increase, try the opposite.
Peek A Boo started with his attacks again after being so good for quite a while. I have 4 dogs, and after watching him closely for any hints, I realized I had been giving him less attention, and giving the others more attention. I made it a point to seek him out throughout the day and have special time just for him, even if it was just a few minutes on my lap for some hugs and kisses. To my surprise, he stopped attacking again.
Also, with a new dog, you have to make sure to give the old dog just as much attention or more, so he's not trying to defend his position in the house and your heart.
You will have to sit down and evaluate what is actually going on in your house. I spent quite a few weekends just watching my dogs interact, seeing who did what, who got upset, who had the control, etc. I still do this alot as situations change. It's an ongoing thing to keep everyone happy. |