[yorkietalkjilly]

They are still quite young and competitive but from what I've heard and read, terriers often can't eat together unless you are a true dog pack leader who has a very strong leadership skillset and the dogs know it is not their place to cause problems at mealtime and in dogs this young, it's quite hard to police them for whichever one provokes the attack as few are willing to stick to it for long.

I've had lots of multiple dogs in my home and never had food fights or dog fights other than strange dogs who were just introduced as fosters/rescues but my own dogs have never fought as you describe but I'll tell you what I might try if these were my young dogs. I always give all dogs their own personal space for eating - 6 or more feet away from one another for starters.

Teaching them to sit and wait a bit is a good idea once they are 4 or 5 months old as you have two, just so that they know who is in control of the food resources and whose place it is to set the rules of mealtime. As they are so young, I'd probably leash her for feedings for the time being and feed them on opposite sides of the room with me sitting in between to prevent her from getting to his food bowl and in time, she should become aware that it is not her place to interfere with his mealtime.

The moment she looks up or even acts like she will lock onto him with her eyes or shows unhealthy interest in what he is doing, stop it there. Say "No" and stand up, take hold of her leash so that she has to remain there by her bowl and stand there relaxed and quietly until she backs off and resumes her eating, then relax the leash, immediately sit back down and relax. Don't stand there all tense and anticipating trouble as long as she's not interested in him - stay relaxed as she will pick up on your tension and body attitude which should only intrude when she tries to show unusual interest in his eating. Praise any prolonged eating she does by giving her a high-value treat right then in the middle of the meal if she's eaten a bit w/out any interest in him as a reward for doing what you want.

Also, watch him in case he's baiting her in some way and might be instigating the attacks during mealtime by giving her meaningful or staring looks which could challenge her in some way, prompting the attack. Even the purposeful flick of an ear can cause problems if it sends the wrong message. You might have to put up a large piece of posterboard or something for him to eat behind or move his bowl where she can't see him for the next month or so in order to prevent her watching him or vice versa.

If she gets on board and begins to learn her place, daily move his bowl closer to hers with you in between until they can eat closer together though I would give them each a good 6 foot or more personal space to enjoy their own meal in some privacy and peace.