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why Aggression with Rawhide

walter14

Member
Our pup is 5 months old, we just bought him a rawhide bone today and gave it to him. he loved it but just walking by him when he was biting it he started growling at us. my husband got close to him and he went on full attack mode! he was so aggressive we had never heard him growl like that before and he went to bite my husband for getting close to the rawhide. we couldn't even put a toe close to him. he is such a loving pup sleeping on us and has never reacted like that with any of his toys, or even when he is eating his food I can put my hands in the bowl with no reaction from him. why did he react like this? is it something in the rawhide? i don't understand why he reacted so violently just coming close to the rawhide.
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
Was it the first time he's had a rawhide treat? It sounds like he considers it very high value and was guarding it.
 

walter14

Member
Was it the first time he's had a rawhide treat? It sounds like he considers it very high value and was guarding it.
Yes this was his first rawhide treat, also his first aggressive behaviour. we have since taken it away from him and threw it out. his behaviour was very alarming. he is a Neapolitan mastiff and hope he does not have this reaction again in the future!
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Its called resource guarding. Theres been alot of discussion on here about it if you do a search. If he's RGing one thing he'll RG others so you need to know how to deal.

Is he your first dog?
 

walter14

Member
Its called resource guarding. Theres been alot of discussion on here about it if you do a search. If he's RGing one thing he'll RG others so you need to know how to deal.

Is he your first dog?
he is not our first dog, but he is the first mastiff. he has not shown this behavior with his food, or any of his toys. he also goes after shoes and pant legs, but we are able to remove these from him with no issues. I won't be allowing him to have any rawhide again, we have children who play with and feed him and now that he has reacted like that I am worried that he will react like that with the children with other items. I am researching RGing now.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
For reasons known only to him the rawhide was of particular value to him. And he believed that if he allowed you to take it he'd never get it back. So he guarded it. Any breed of dog can RG though it can be especially disconcerting with these big guys.

In addition to the research on RGing, pay extra attention to how everyone handles him with his toys and food and treats. Make sure no one is taunting him with any of it for example (kids will sometimes do this thinking they're playing with the dog for example). And ALWAYS reward him with a high value treat or other reward for allowing you to take something from him when you DO have to take something away (such as socks or shoes).
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
I agree with Ruth. This is typical resource guarding. The rawhide is just secondary to the problem. The pup is only 5 months that is why you haven't seen a lot of this behavior. You need to nip it in the bud, NOW. Before it gets worse and left unchecked it will get worse.
 

walter14

Member
I agree with Ruth. This is typical resource guarding. The rawhide is just secondary to the problem. The pup is only 5 months that is why you haven't seen a lot of this behavior. You need to nip it in the bud, NOW. Before it gets worse and left unchecked it will get worse.
how would you suggest to nip it in the but now. would like to hear some advise on training techniques for him especially now with the RGing. He responds to SIT when not being stubborn and he comes when he is called. we have used the yelling OUCH method for the biting,nipping,teething which seems to be improving, less biting on us, more on the toys. but the RGing is concerning now that it has started how do we stop it from happening again
 

walter14

Member
For reasons known only to him the rawhide was of particular value to him. And he believed that if he allowed you to take it he'd never get it back. So he guarded it. Any breed of dog can RG though it can be especially disconcerting with these big guys.

In addition to the research on RGing, pay extra attention to how everyone handles him with his toys and food and treats. Make sure no one is taunting him with any of it for example (kids will sometimes do this thinking they're playing with the dog for example). And ALWAYS reward him with a high value treat or other reward for allowing you to take something from him when you DO have to take something away (such as socks or shoes).
thank you for the response, he is really a big sweat heart and good with the kids, but we will be extra cautious with play time with the children. he mostly sleeps and is calm but he does have these sprouts of energy which is when he is nipping at the shoes and pants.
 
Last edited:

Hector

Well-Known Member
counter condition

[video=youtube;45QT23_EA5U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45QT23_EA5U[/video]

A Scientific Approach Can Help You Solve Many Types of Possession Aggression, Part 1: Food Bowl | Animal Behavior and Medicine Blog | Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

Treatment of Food Aggression in Dogs is About Finesse, Not Force | Animal Behavior and Medicine Blog | Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

Teach and practice impulse control

[video=youtube;hQdg0qOVik0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQdg0qOVik0[/video]


[video=youtube;ztRNfyErf8s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztRNfyErf8s[/video]
 
Food and toys are a commodity for dogs. They value and have an innate desire to protect it. Your puppy needs to learn that his food is your food and you allow him to have it.

when you feed him, make him wait to eat. Fill his bowl and hold it. Make him sit. Place the food on the floor and tell him "wait". If he gets up and approaches the bowl sit him back down and tell him wait. When he relaxes and looks at you for permission then tell him "OK" and let him eat a few bites then take it away again. Repeat the process.

also, he eats after you eat. Breakfast lunch or dinner, it doesn't matter. A food agressive dog must understand he is at the bottom of the rescource chain. Same with snacks and begging at the table. Send him away. Do not allow him to drool over you while you are eating. Make him lay in the corner or in another room. And dont just shut him away. MAKE him lay down and stay away while you are eating. He will associate this command to you are in charge of food and he doesnt get to be near food unless you allow it.

learning that you control the food and that he eats at your discression will curb the food aggression behavior. And it IS food aggression. He is young and that's why he's not behaved this way before.

Toys are no different. You need to teach him to give up his toys whenever you tell him to. We use the command "drop it". You need to be able to remove anything at any time from his mouth with out him fighting you. If he has a toy, you tell him "drop it". He will fight as he learns. Do not play tug-of-war with him. Its not a game. He must not be allowed to think its a game. You may need to use a leash at first so he can't run away either. If he growls give him a firm "no"! And then repeat the command "drop it" while you have your hand on the toy.

It can be scary to have a large puppy growl at you, but you MUST get back in control of him before he gets larger. And the WHOLE family must be able to remove food any toys without fear of being bitten. Once the adults have mastered the food and toys then supervise the children doing the same. He must know at all times that he is at the bottom of the pack.