Question

[TMmom]

Question for everyone. I am having a problem and need some advice. My TM Laufey is 7 months and loves to chew, obviously. Well, I give her and my Sheltie bones and rawhides to chew, so she won't be so destructive but she is becoming more and more possessive. If the sheltie comes in a room and the TM has bones in it, she runs over and stands over them and she has gotten aggressive with the Sheltie. I don't want anyone hurt but want the TM to have bones but she won't stay in another room with them. She goes and brings them where ever I am. I have taken the bones away, but not sure if this will be an issue always. Is there a chance this will get better or not?

 

[musicdeb]

The pup is resource guarding which requires a lot of training to change the behavior. Feed them separately, remove all toys and treats from the floor and place their fav toys or treats in the crate with them.

First exercise:

Keep other dog away while you do this.

Hand feed the dog. Feed the dog bits of food at a time so he knows that you are the one that gives the food. I would do this exercise for at least 5 days.

Second exercise:

Keep other dog away while you do this.

While the dog is in sit, fix the food and let him watch. Do not completely fill the bowl. Place the bowl on the floor. Give the dog permission to eat with the word "eat" or point your finger at the food and snap your fingers. I do both with Titan. I say, "eat", and point my finger at the food and snap my fingers.

Once the food is finished, bring the dog to sit and place a little more food into the bowl. Do this exercise for as long as it takes so the dog knows you provide the food and the dog stops the growling/showing teeth while it eats.

Third exercise:

You will need a gate or some type of barrier that the both dogs can see each. Put the gate in place and bring the other dog to the gate. Repeat the exercise with placing the food in the bowl while the other dog is outside of the gate. At any time if the dog growls or shows teeth tell him “no” in calm, stern voice. Bring the dog to sit and remove the food. When the dog is calm while the dog is still outside the gate, place the bowl back down. Repeat this exercise for as long as it takes.

Show the dog what you want them to do. Remain calm and assertive while doing these exercises. Do not show impatience or yell because the dog will feel your impatience causing them to shut down and stop listening. When you become impatient or frustrated, walk away and take some deep breaths. When you return, stand tall with shoulders back and begin again.

FYI: rawhides are not good chew toys because the pups cannot digest them. Make sure the rawhides are not made in China. With bones, make sure the bones are not weight-bearing bones because they can break pup's teeth.

I, personally, had a pup die from a rawhide that lodged in this digestive tract.

 

[TMmom]

This is all wonderful information, thank you so much. Now my TM is not crated any more. She is just 7 months and when we are not home or at night she has my sons room as her room(her crate is in the room but left open) and my sheltie has my room. Should all toys be left in the rooms for them and not in the common areas?

 

[musicdeb]

Yes, toys and treats should not be in common areas or areas where they will meet up in the same area.

 

[TMmom]

Again, thank you so much. The Sheltie is now terrifed of the TM because she will puff up her chest and guard whatever she see as hers and we know what comes next when she starts to growl, and its not good. Do you think realisticly this will get better if we follow your exercises?

 

[broccolini]

It should get better. You might always need to manage it though. My older TM started off guarding her food from the cat. A couple weeks of dropping high value treats in the bowl whenever the cat was around fixed it. She started again when we brought our puppy home, but she's gotten over that too.

You should also watch for signs that she's starting to guard other random objects. Food/treat guarding is pretty straightforward to deal with. If you have a dog that guards other objects, it can get difficult.

Good luck.

 

[musicdeb]

Again, thank you so much. The Sheltie is now terrifed of the TM because she will puff up her chest and guard whatever she see as hers and we know what comes next when she starts to growl, and its not good. Do you think realisticly this will get better if we follow your exercises?

It's a toss of the coin. The exercises should help to show the TM that she does not need to guard her food/toys/treats. Titan had resource guarding with me when I first got him. Those exercises cured him of the resource guarding but it took me about 3-4 months to change his behavior.

 

[CeeCee]

I'm not sure if I'm following correctly who is resource guarding, but the one who is coming over to the dog with the bone is the one who needs to be corrected. Was it the Sheltie or the TM?

Either way, the one who apporaches is the one who needs to be stopped and redirected. Does it happen with all toys/treats or just the high value ones i.e., bones, rawhides, etc? (It's good to know the triggers.)

As you do these exercises - especially #3 - where the dogs can see one another watch for a hard stare or stiff body. If you see these, address and redirect. These is usually the first subtle sigh that someone is going to a mental state that you do not want them to go.

When your dogs see you controlling the situation, this will rebuild their confidence in your leadership and should lessen - if not extinguish - their fear or concern with one another. (I say this as someone who has had to rebuild my dog's trust in me one more than one occasion.)

 

[musicdeb]

It's the TM who is resource guarding.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Musicdeb's advice is good, but CeeCee makes a point. Ensure that the Sheltie isn't in the habit of stealing the chew from the TM (or vis-versa), or focusing hard on the dog with the chew. If the TM is having to contend with the other dog trying to steal (or behaving as if he's trying to steal) her chew it'll make it worse.

 

[TMmom]

It's the Tm resource guarding and it also her toys, and she does this to the Sheltie. All the Sheltie has to do is walk in a room the TM knows her stuff is in and she makes a bee line for her things. to gurd them.

 

[musicdeb]

How are the RG exercises going?

 

[TMmom]

Very, very good. She is so smart though, if she wants a bone she will go in her room and bring it out and I can see it in her face she knows she not supposed too. I take it back in her room. But all the confrontation seems to be under control. I fed her by hand the first several days alone and I am to the point of putting her in a sit stay until I put her bowl down, but they are separated. I don't want to risk a fight. My sheltie is so small compared to the TM. I will always be on alert, knowing what can happen and what causes it. The advice was spot on, thank you.

 

[musicdeb]

Good to hear the fighting has ceased. Continue with the exercises until the RG is completely resolved. Like I said, it took me and Titan 3-4 months to resolve the behavior.

Consistency and patience are key dealing with RG.

 

[TMmom]

I have noticed now, she is starting to guard the dinner table we eat at. I put them in each in separate rooms while we eat but she comes out and starts to watch the table area. Also she I guarding toys.

 

[musicdeb]

Do the same exercises with toys as you do the food.

Can you explain further who she guards the dinner table when you eat?

 

[TMmom]

From the sheltie. She knows we have food at this area, so I believe this is all food, treat and toy related. She does not want the sheltie to get anything she doesn't have or that she wants. I can see that she likes to intimidate the sheltie.

 

[musicdeb]

That is RG, they guard everything. Continue the exercises. When you are eating at the table, put both dogs in sit or lay away from the table. Do not allow them near the table.

 

[TMmom]

ok, thanks. I'll let you knowhow it goes.