Hello everyone, This is my first post. My wife and I are new lab owners but not new dog owners. We've both grown up with dogs our whole life. In September 2021 we got our chocolate lab at just shy of 8 weeks old. As soon as we got home we started to help her adapt to her surroundings. Her first feeding I started to pet her and play with her food as I've done in the past with all my other dogs. Played with her ears, just to get her used to me being there. She was completely fine. She always ate fast though. We had a cat when we brought her home they're fine never an ounce of problems. To help with neck strain and to slow down her eating we got her a raised bowl and slow feed insert. I continued to pet her as she ate. Her bowls are next to the garbage can and refrigerator so she's used to people being around her while she's eating. She has no problem eating out of our hands. My wife recent brought home another kitten and he jump onto her raised bowl while she was eating and she went after the cat. Now both cats and Bella will drink from the same bowl at the same time with no problems. Last night my son (10 years old) went to pet her and she growled and nipped him barely broke the first layer of skin. He was fine and shook it off. The only thing different with her food was we had a small amount of rice and broccoli left over for dinner that was not enough for anyone so we gave it to Bella. After eating she's right back to being a loving pup. She's 10months old now and about 65lbs. If anyone has any advice on this I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance
Imagine eating your dinner and every meal someone you like comes over and starts hugging you and touching you. You won't like it but you might tolerate it. After leaving you rather on edge, a stranger then comes and sits on your table. You might get quite cross. Then someone else you know comes towards you..... Basically, it might be too late now that you have bothered her for so long while she's eating, but leave her in peace when she's eating. Pop her in another room and let her eat in peace.
I agree with @5labs all our dogs have had uninterrupted peace and quiet whilst eating. We have never fussed them, and fed them separately when we have had more than one dog.
