When multiple dogs are living together, it’s important for them to get along. If one dog has a bad attitude, the well-being of the other dogs in the house will be affected. That’s why owners must be willing to find effective solutions to their dog’s behavior issues.
Waggu is a French bulldog that has been terrorizing his housemates because of his obsession with food bowls. The dog is strangely fascinated with the bowls even when there is no food in them. He would bark and snarl at anyone approaching the bowls, whether it was other dogs or his owners.
The bulldog’s bad behavior has caused mealtimes to be stressful for the other dogs in the house. The owners resorted to feeding Waggu in a different room, or else he would out at the other dogs. However, the owners know that such a solution is only temporary.
According to an animal behavior expert, Waggu is protecting the food bowls. The dog believes they are items he must defend; thus, his guarding instincts kick in. Therefore, the solution to this problem is making Waggu realize that bowls are not treasures to be guarded.
The expert instructed the owners to incorporate food bowls in a game that Waggu can play. The game involved lining up several bowls and putting treats in some of them. Waggu’s aim is to eat the treats and anticipate in which bowl the owner will drop the next treat.
The game played with Waggu is simple, yet it has a powerful effect. It teaches the dog to see the bowls in a different light. Waggu would see the bowls as toys, not as important items worth defending.
After some time, the owner brought out the other dogs to play the same game alongside Waggu. To their surprise, the bulldog never tried fighting the other dogs in the presence of the bowls. That was proof that the solution provided by the expert was effective.
Source: SBS TV Animals via YouTube.
