Guarding

Go4Kirby · August 20, 2008, 08:02:55 AM

I have no clue where to put this so I guess I'll put it here. Does anyone have any problems with their doxies resource guarding? Kirby is crazy possesive to the point that sometimes I can't get things away from him. Usually a bone as my roommate gives her dogs those big thick soup bones and they lay around the house. Kirby is allowed to have themand is supervised while chewing as they never get small enough to break or for him to choke on, but when I go to take them away he turns into psycho doggie. I can't even get within 2 feet of him without the snarling etc. This also happens on occasion with other bones or pig ears etc. He's fine with his food or toys, just the bones. OR something he is not supposed to have- socks, whatever. The thing that drives me nuts is that on other boards which I won't mention the name of people just say well don't give it to him. That seems an obvious statement to me. I really want to solve the problem. Not move the problem. If anybody has any good ideas that would be excellent.

peterparker · August 20, 2008, 08:26:23 AM

Parker is very protective of his things as well. He keeps all his possession next to his water dish. Which is nice, because we never step on toys or bones. He plays with a ball or toy, but when he is done he puts it next to the dish so nobody will take it. It's kinda funny, Sometimes when he's outside taking care of business, we take all his toys and hide them all over the house. He spends the whole day hunting them down and putting them back where they belong. He's an only pup, so we just find his selfishness amusing.

papbouv · August 20, 2008, 08:30:06 AM

It is very dangerous for you and for him I teach all my dogs drop it and leave it I can also take any thing out of their mouths at any time.I have taken Pork Chop bone stolen from the trash out of my Doberman Buddy' mouth. I think if you get some high value treats I use cooked chicken breasts cut up very small.You can start out putting it in your hand palm open tell the dog to leave it if they grab for it close your hand.They can not have it until you tell them they can say OK or what ever word you are going to use just use the same word. Will the dog trade the bone for a high value treat??? If you take something away from a dog you should also always have some kind of trade.It can be a toy or high value treat. Then they will soon learn its OK if mom takes something away I get something good back in return. When you just take away and take away they think why should I give it up I don't get anything back.Do you practice NILF dog training it teaches the dog you are the boss with out hitting or yelling you can Google it to find out more about it.I use NILF training all the time I have the Doberman and Patches the LHT Dachshund I just have taking stuff out of their mouths since I have had them how old is your dog??? have you had them since a puppy ? or a rescue ? Have you taken a obedience class ? Is this your first dog ? Need to know more about you and your dog to be able to give better information.No not a dog trainer just always had dogs at least 30+ years.
Patches Mom

janetleej · August 20, 2008, 08:38:30 AM

I have a resource guarder. He is much better since we have done some obedience work (yes doxies can learn obedience!), and some specific work on the guarding issue. I highly encourage you to address the issue ASAP, it won't get better on its own, may escalate, and take you to places you don't want to go!! I suggest this book:

MINE! A GUIDE TO RESOURCE GUARDING IN DOGS
by Jean Donaldson

Publisher: Kinship Communications/SF-SPCA
Edition: 2002 Paperback, 100 pages

Summary: A practical how-to guide on resource guarding/aggression - food bowl, object, bed, crate, owner, etc. - in dogs. From the popular author of Culture Clash, Dogs Are From Neptune.

You can see it here http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB740

Good Luck!!
Janet

Doxherding Karen · August 20, 2008, 09:29:18 AM

It's Cesar Millan time!

Actually, I think Cesar is so successful at working with resource guarding dogs because he's not afraid to get bit.

No, really, I mean it. You have to calmly assert your dominance until your dog shows calm submission. Occasionally I take away Beau's food in the middle of him eating. Is he happy? No. But I take the bowl, put it down on the counter, walk away, then come back and after he sits and stays, I give it back to him. YOU CAN'T GIVE UP BECAUSE YOUR DOG IS SNARLING!! Keep moving forward, get behind Kirby-doodle, and hold him by the head. SLOWLY push each of your index fingers against his cheek until you pry his mouth open and whatever it is falls out. He won't bite his own cheek. CALMLY pick it up, praise him, and put it up.

Auntie Karen

Go4Kirby · August 20, 2008, 11:06:58 AM

you guys are awesome. I knew you would know something. I ordered MINE this morning. I can't wait to get it. I think Kirb's biggest problem is that he really is a selective listener and does not see me as his leader. If he feels like it he will listen. I've been working with NILF with him for a little while. He will sit and wait for dinner very quickly. Sit and wait by the door to go out or come in when he wants to.
Last night at 3:00 am Kirby had to go pee so we got up and one of his doggie buddies had left a fresh soup bone on the floor in the living room. Seriously high value item. Kirby snagged it. Ran to the bedroom and refuged himself under the bed. The first step I took into the room he started his snarling growling yipping. So I went to the kitchen and got a very very small bit of the doggy fat balls. and held it in my hand closed. Finally he came out from under the bed and I snagged the bone and put it up.

Patches Mom Kirby has been with me since he was a pup and he is my first dog. He knows the basics, sit, down but like I said he is selective. He was fine as a puppy. Friendly, not fearful, not agressive, not barky. But once he hit the age of 1 it all went down hill. HIs former vet said it was adult onset.

Kathleen · August 20, 2008, 11:27:11 AM

I somehow managed to avoid resource guarding in my own puppers-partly because I hold their bones while they chew them, so when I grab for anything they're holding, they assume I'm trying to help

It was not something I actively thought about while I was doing it, but it really worked. They'll give up anything to anyone. Reilly growls at the other dogs, but if they push it, she'll back away.

However, my current foster is a crazy resource guarder. I'm about to start working with him on it. I'm going to try the "exchange" method. You walk up to the dog with a different treat, when they drop the one they're holding, you click and give them the new treat. Then you give them back the original thing they were guarding and repeat repeat repeat, until they figure out that giving up what they are guarding results in good things. I'm hoping that works-he's not just guarding from me though, he's guarding from my other dogs and cats. Little poo-poo head. :idiot:

Roberta · August 20, 2008, 01:47:37 PM

I'm with Karen, you have to show You are the alpha, Oliver tries it opn every so often and I just go up, and take it he may growl and he gets told NO. He gets it back, and we try again, once is enough as he is a soooook.
Roberta
ps soup bones are not the best as they can splinter, ox tail joints or chicken necks, our butcher does mini marrows lamb shank bones cut in two, just dachie mouth size. If not available I buy the shanks and deflesh and hack saw the meat they get for a few days food and the bone a treat.

Go4Kirby · August 20, 2008, 01:57:56 PM

they are the marrow bones. just the little ones. Not chickies.

papbouv · August 20, 2008, 10:03:28 PM

Can you take an obedience class might help with the bonding if male is he neutered?

peterparker · August 21, 2008, 06:29:10 AM

I tried the "trade" method last night when Parker caught the biggest live beetle in the world. It worked. However, once Parker realized what I traded (a toy that he can play with any old time) he tried to renegotiate the deal, but it was tooooo late.

Go4Kirby · August 21, 2008, 08:19:57 AM

I did work with Kirb last night with the trade method for just some little training treats vs the slightly fresh marrow bone and he did very well. After I took it from him I made him sit. Then put it on the floor between my feet. Then I moved away from it and said ok. I'm going to keep that one up as I escaped with no incidents and no snarling and growling.

JetEd73 · August 21, 2008, 10:00:16 AM

Quote from: peterparker on August 21, 2008, 06:29:10 AM
I tried the "trade" method last night when Parker caught the biggest live beetle in the world. It worked. However, once Parker realized what I traded (a toy that he can play with any old time) he tried to renegotiate the deal, but it was tooooo late.

You took his doggy snack? Hey thats his, he caught it, go get your own beetle to chew on.

papbouv · August 21, 2008, 07:52:29 PM

Congratulations on trading a treat for a bug,bet the treat tasted better than the bug even if he wanted it back. The other day Buddy had something in his mouth out in the garage looked like a mouses tail so no way was I sticking my hand in his mouth for that.Told him to drop it he finely did was a earth worm dried out yuck.You said since Kirby hit one year old your obedience was going down hill well jump back on the horse. Take an obedience class so you two can bond and Kirby can be the Gentleman that is inside waiting to come out. Buddy & I are going to try another class this fall I hope.The Big Dogs really need the classes does not hurt the little ones either.
Good Luck
Patches mom

janetleej · August 22, 2008, 08:45:18 AM

I second the idea of obedience/training classes. It is so helpful to have a trainer watch how you interact with your dog. The smallest changes in our behavior can cause enormous positives in their behavior! Plus, your dog usually isn't the worst in the class! Be sure you choose someone who uses positive methods - treats, praise, etc.