I really need some guidance;
I just adopted Olivia yesterday (1yo, spayed, Jack Russell mix). For the first few hours, she hit it off great with my 9-month-old pup, Flora. They’re similar in size and strength, and they spent the afternoon playing perfectly.
Things took a turn at feeding time, though. Olivia finished her bowl and immediately went after Flora’s. Since then, it’s escalated, Olivia won’t let Flora touch any toys. Every time Flora tries to pick something up to play, Olivia charges at her and claims it for herself.
It’s clear Olivia has some serious resource guarding issues, and I suspect it stems from her history. She was kept confined and was severely underfed before I got her, so she’s likely acting out of a deep-seated fear of scarcity rather than just being competitive. She’s probably terrified that this is her only chance to eat or have something of her own.
It’s only been 24 hours and I’m determined to make this work. I have no intention of taking her back to the shelter, she’s already suffered so much and is an absolute sweetheart with people, but I’m terrified they’ll get into a serious fight.
Right now, I’m keeping them separated by a baby gate and feeding them in different areas. I’m planning to let them sleep in the same room again tonight while I monitor them closely. How can I help Olivia realize she’s safe now and stop her from charging at Flora? Any advice would be a lifesaver!
submitted by /u/Technical_Flower_536
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