Hello everyone. I have a pup thats about 5 months old and he has been showing some gaurding behaviors that I'm not comfortable with. With toys, he doesn't have a problem, but when he has his rawhide bone, he growls quite a bit. He usually gives me his toys without a problem, but he growls and snarls when I go for the bone. Tonight I started working with him on fixing it. I grabbed a handful of treats and started taking his bone away every few minutes and giving him a treat right after he released it. He growled less by the end of our session, but am I going in the right direction? I would appreciate a little advice with this.
My pup has a guarding issue....some advice needed
- Thread starter 4WheelVFR
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Yes, you are doing the correct thing. Though, if your dog is growling, I'd take a step back. You want your dog to give it up without growling first.
First just try putting your hand near the bone. If he doesn't growl, give him something REALLY yummy.
Though, honestly, if your dog is doing well with what you are doing, I don't see anything wrong with continuing. I believe if you continue what you are doing, and he learns that giving up his bone means really yummy treats, growling should eventually stop altogether.
And I would do the same with his food. Not just his bone. Make sure he will allow you to pick up his bowl, put your hands in it, etc.
First just try putting your hand near the bone. If he doesn't growl, give him something REALLY yummy.
Though, honestly, if your dog is doing well with what you are doing, I don't see anything wrong with continuing. I believe if you continue what you are doing, and he learns that giving up his bone means really yummy treats, growling should eventually stop altogether.
And I would do the same with his food. Not just his bone. Make sure he will allow you to pick up his bowl, put your hands in it, etc.
He is fine with his food. I can put my hands in his bowl and handfeed him, and he doesn't do anything.....although he just eats faster, so I don't do that a whole lot. He won't eat from my hand until the rest of his food is gone either. The water bowl is fine too. I acted like I needed a drink at the same time and he just made room for me! He didn't growl at all tonight with his bone, but I think its because he knew I had good treats. I'll have to go undercover next time, LOL! Thanks for the advice guys.
I have the same problem with Boris and, mostly, socks. We saw a trainer and she advised us to do pretty much the same thing you have been doing. We use a clicker and everytime he lets go of the thing, we click and send treats on the floor. In the end of a training session he's usually more interested in the treats than in the sock.