Normal dog behavior - he eats like he is starving.?

This is a dominance/food aggression issue that should be gently but firmly delt with asap. As the alpha & superior species in the pack, you must set your limits clearly and firmly with this youngster.

With the dog food issue, I usually sit with the dog while he's eating and put my hands in the food bowl. This will naturally slow the rate of eating in addition to establishing your alpha status. Do not allow the dog to be aggressive. If aggression is shown, either correct it or take the food away and try again once the dog softens its behavior.

With your food, do not allow any unwanted behavior from the dog. Crate him if necessary. Correct all bad behavior asap. Do not share your food with him, ever. Food should come from his dog dish only....period.

Hope that helps!

The eating fast behavior may be normal for him. I would try feeding him a bit more if he is thin. Also, has he had a fecal run by the vet? Worms can make a dog ravenous.

The rest of it is unruly, spoiled, bratty behavior. Both Chihuahuas and Terriers can be little Napoleons and run the house if they are allowed to. It sounds as if your daughter needs a discussion about dog behavior and how this is going to escalate into him biting someone to get his way if they don't give in to his wishes. Twelve weeks is very young and this behavior has to stop. Does your daughter feed him from the table? That has to stop as well. Giving your dog treats is a wonderful bonding experience, but give them in his dish, when you are done eating. This tells him that you are the boss and that you are going to eat, then he will get his.

I agree completely on the crate training messages. Get a crate, use it faithfully, and tell your daughter to not feel guilty about is. He is a dog, not a child and he needs to be treated like a dog. He will respect her all the more for it.

I can only speak of my personal situation with my dogs. If I drop something on the floor, and my Chihuahuas start going for it, all I have to say to them is "Leave It" and they immediately back off. When I feed my dogs, they eat what I give them and they are fine until I feed them again. Mine don't act like they are starving! When I put the food down for them to eat, they take their time eating and seem to enjoy it at the same time. I've never had a problem with them gobbling up their food.

From your question, he sounds normal. He's probably adjusted to you, your daughter, and the new environment and is now comfortable and more himself.

We just got a 3 month Havanese and were told she'd be a completely different puppy in a month after she gets used to everything. I have had to prod her a couple times so far to eat, but now she also dives into the food bowl and keeps licking even when it's empty. I tried giving her a little more food to see if my portions weren't enough. But she wasn't interested and wouldn't eat it.

We're logging our experiences and constantly updating as we learn more about her:

http://thepuppyexperiment.wordpress.com/

Don't give him all of his food at once, stand next to his bowl and drop or pour some in his bowl after he eats that pour some more(only pour enough in that its only a couple of bites) that way the dog knows u give him food and he has to eat it slower. Take him outside every 30 minutes and praise him a lot every time he goes its never to early to start house breaking him, we started rite off the bat with my dog and he was house broken by yhr time he was 18 weeks old!

The way he's eating his own food might be pretty much normal puppy behaviour. If he's to the point of eating so fast that he's throwing up, there are bowls at pet stores made specifically for dogs who eat too fast that force them to eat slower.

As for him jumping up in people's laps, your daughter needs to start training him right now to behave or she needs to crate him at meal times. That behaviour can't continue. Since what you're doing is working, he obviously can be taught, but it needs to be consistent, not just when you're visiting.

My dog would eat like that too, we put a toy in his bowl so it would slow him down. Keep up with with telling him "no" about begging for food and jumping in laps there are plenty of training books out there for this. Hope this helps. Good luck!!

how often is the puppy being feed first of all as she is supposed to be feed two times a day at least i have a 13wk old puppy and she is feed twicw a day like she is suppose to also give her a knotted rawhide bone to develop the chewing stage properly all my dogs did this until i started giving them this knotted rawhide chew now they chew their food properly with retgards the food stealing there is two things you can do just carry on what you are doing but your daughter will have to do it as well or get a can of pet corrector which interrupts all the bad things and deters the pup from doing at again it is highly recommended by dr roger mugford

Just a firm NO should work... As for his eating habits... Maybe she isn't feeding him enough... But, my chihuahua does that also... So it may be the breed... Teach the dog to go to the door when it has to go out... And keep the dog on a schedule... DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT put the dog on pee-pee pads or puppy pads... This confuses the dog and the pup will pee in the floor especially on carpet...

well... that sounds Like my Sheltie!! He eats like there is no tomorrow!! I honostly dont know how to stop it... I guess its just a male thing!! ya!! For house bracking when he goes in the house just say in a stern voice NO! BAD!! and take him outside! Thats all I have!! && I think ur doing the right thing!! Best of luck!!