Do you see this picture.
Molly's side of the crate had a huge piece of cardboard on it so she couldn't see me during meals.
She used to give me the stink eye to hurry it up cause I'm comin' over there to finish your food for you, Mitch! Mom didn't like it so the cardboard went up and it stayed there for quite awhile.
Mom finally decided that it was time to take the cardboard down and see how it goes. It was going great. No stink eye and Molly was minding her business and letting me finish my meals in peace.
Molly hasn't slept in her crate since last August. Once she got a bed upstairs at the foot of mom and dad's bed, she never went into her crate again. It's basically storage for stuffies.
Wish us luck! We'll let you know how it goes.
So until next time...........
Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly
We have mealtime spats here too. So far Teka prefers her "Private Dining Area" with the marble counters and crystal chandelier. (It is really our downstairs half bath which is ridiculously formal, but Teka loves it.) Anyway, remodel time for that room is coming, so if Miss Molly needs a chandelier, let us know, OK?
ReplyDeletegussie
Our boys are only separated by a water dish, and so far we haven't had any problems. Monty is finicky and doesn't always finish his meal, but Sam waits for the okay from us to lick out his bowl.
ReplyDeleteSam
Manners sure are tough. We hope you guys are eating together again soon.
ReplyDeleteI always have my meal first. After my meal, I'll stay nicely and wait for my dad to feed Mika. Before he feeds Mika, he leaves some treats for me to practise my "leave it" and once Mika gets his food, Dad will release his command and I get my dessert. I love meal time.
ReplyDelete~ Eva
We too hope you will be eating together soon. We eat together but Pip does try and butt budge me sometimes. I take no notice. Have a super sunday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Molly just seems to believe that things are always better on the other side of the road.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a friend
Sweet William The Scot
Sometimes feeding time with multiple dogs can be a challenge. Good luck with removing the gate.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Looks like your Mom has this whole meal thing under good control. We all have our special eating spots too. We all have to do a sit and wait until Mom says OK before we can eat. Phantom gets his food in a different room, because the rest of us devour our food so fast we would all be stealing his. Some days he takes all day to eat even just a little. But Mom just keeps putting his bowl down and up and down and up. Such a picky boy.
ReplyDeleteHow we wish we could get to sleep in the humans' bedroom too.
Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning
Good luck! I hope Rusty will learn some manners too one day!
ReplyDeleteOhhhh she is just a growing girl who is always hungry.....but no, it's not nice when she pinches your food.
ReplyDeleteZoie got to sleep in our bedroom in her own bed for 9 nights only!!!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have any trouble with the cats eating!!! They will eat any body else's food but theirs!!!
LOL
Mine have always eaten side by side, never had fighting as a problem. Ceilidh used to tell the boys off if they got too close while she was still eating. And I had to feed Beckett on the couch when he was a pup or Tucker would finish his food for him
ReplyDeleteI am one who likes to SAVOR my foods... butt ERNIE.. WOLFS his down... THEN he wants to HELP ME... I don't mind too much... unless it is somethingy really GOOD..
ReplyDeleteNow that gate thingy is kinda NICE actually... Like having your OWN Dining Room.
I might have MOM do that fur ME..
Ha ha! You guys are so funny! Glad to hear Maggie is keeping her eyes off your food Mitch. Let's hope it's not too long before the fence can go!!! Have fun! Ros and Oscar
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! We never would have thought of the gate idea, and it sounds very effective.
ReplyDeleteNow unlike Ms. Molly, I still love my crate and go in all the time of my own accord-it's like my downstairs bed- but for upstairs, I'm spoiled-it's the couch or Parental Unit's bed!
Oh, Mitch you had Ma LAUGHIN'! Now, I'm an only pups so I can take all the time I want to eat (which I DO), butts Ma's other AireChick was the same way as Molly! Scarf down, then 'whatcha got?'
ReplyDeleteYour Moms is very smart indeed. Good use of the gate...it's like a good Italian Resturant! BOL
Kisses,
Ruby
My last comment disappeared, but I love the screen idea as a way of getting you to eat side by side. Mum tries to teach us food manners too. We normally eat on opposite sides of teh room as I eat my food double fast (with extra air) if Enzo is too close by!
ReplyDeleteThe food in the other dish always looks better! Roxy has finally learned to eat her dinner and leave us alone. We're sure Molly will be able to do it soon. (Great idea your mum had.)
ReplyDeleteXXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
We knew this already...but your Ma is very smart.
ReplyDeleteThe fence is a very good idea.
My mom has to put up a gate or two when she feeds us all. First she feeds the kittles because they were here 1st and she didn't want me to eat them - haha I would NEVER do that.
Then she closes the gates and feeds me. But I ALWAYS peek to see if those kitties ate everything. But mom says no because cat food is very bad for Doggies. But I LOVE it! haha
violet
Sometimes I am pretty glad that I am an only pup. I don't think I would be a good sharer. I hope Molly gets better and stops giving you the stink eye
ReplyDeleteLoveys Sasha
Meal time can make even the best of friends can be grouchy at mealtime. The RH and I had to have our bowls on opposite sides of the room, so I think you two are doing great.
ReplyDeleteKisses,
Dexter
Have you talked to Molly about it Mitch. I mean sometimes it comes easier if it comes from another dog. I figure your a great teacher. But then....food is food is food and sometimes it is really hare to not think you will ever get fed again so you see you can kind of understand how she feels.
ReplyDeletestop me now, I am rambling again.
stop bert stop
bert
Howdy Mitch and Molly. I would like to eat by Rory's side but stoopid old mum puts his food on a chair!! I used to be a grouchy bum when I was little but now we can eat together and don't care either way. Sheesh, I think I'm growing up! See ya mates. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory
ReplyDeleteWe eat together and leave the other guy's bowl alone, but the little puppies have no manners. Mom says they try to eat each other's food and she has to keep putting them back at their own.
ReplyDeleteMorgan, Sebastian and the Porties
Woof! Woof! Learning Manners is very important ... I know in no time problem solved. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
ReplyDeleteGo Molly!
ReplyDeleteShow 'me how girlz rule! ;-)
Hugz&Khysses
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Mom is furry proud of my dinner manners....save fur how relentless I get when I feel it is time...she likes to pet me and tests me from time to time to make sure I don't get food guardy...I let her as I know it skhores points!
We had some issues in the beginning but they have since been worked out...although we really have to police if one of them doesn't finish...the other will eat it all!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the side-by-side eating. Our mommy has to feed us in separate rooms or else I give Hootie the stink eye, then eat all his food. He is easily intimidated so I take full advantage of that!!
ReplyDeleteAireKisses,
BabyRocketDog
BRD should be locked up whenever there is food around...She ate Mommy's left over manicotti on Sat. when Dad had put it on the counter. In the wink of an eye it was gone. She's that way!!
WelshieHugs,
Hootie
We have to eat on opposite sides of the room. Cuz, I'm a little piggy.
ReplyDeleteWyatt
manners? who needs them?
ReplyDeletelove
tweedles
Good luck with the de-gating mealtime,, you two can do it!!!
ReplyDeleteGood manners can be difficult to learn but looks like things are working out very well. We look forward to hearing how things work out!
ReplyDeleteLucky Molly - getting to sleep upstairs!
take care
Clive & Murray
It's amazing how inventive we can get as dog owners. It's a constant challenge... you're doing well!
ReplyDeleteSending lotsaluv
MAXMOM IN SA
Maybe I'm lucky, I only have the cat to contend with for food. He might be old but he's still quick...
ReplyDeleteluvs Freya Rose Blossom the catflap cavalier. x
Your mommy knows just what to do....she is so smart....
ReplyDeleteGood luck! It would be so much better if you could eat together! Sometimes moms are right!
ReplyDeleteLuv,
Dave
Oh Molly AND MITCH THAT IS TOOO FUNNY! Your ma having to put a separator between you guys! Teehee. Lovely blog,enjoyed visiting following.
ReplyDeleteYour mom is very smart. It sounds like she's doing everything perfectly... step by step. Do you stand up for yourself Mitch? When Shyla arrived, she tried to go for R's dinner. He gave one low rumble of a growl, and that was enough. She's never done it again.
ReplyDeleteWe are sure your Mum will get that gate down. Molly is still growing up and learning her manners every day.
ReplyDeleteWe all eat at the same time in the kitchen.
Whenever a new recruit joins our pack their bowl is placed well away from ours and in time it is gradually moved nearer and nearer until we are all quite close.
Molly, Taffy, Monty and Winnie
Hmm... now I realise how much easier it is to be a one-dog family, lol. But I guess two dogs are double the joy!
ReplyDeleteHi, Molly and Mitch -
ReplyDeleteKaci and I sometimes have "spats" too. When Kaci visits Mama makes sure that we have our own space to eat. If I don't finish my food, Mama has to pick it up because Kaci will eat it.
It is probably to have "brother" and "sister" eat side by side instead of two stubborn females.
Love -
Hershey and Kaci