Dog Community

Resource Guarding......

Posted : 6/24/2006 8:39:39 AM

OK, Sally has not so far had any resource guarding issues with people. We can take awat fresh marrow bones with no issue, I have shared her treats with other dogs during group play, she doesn't get guardy when other dogs come up to me, and the vets where we board her has never reported any issues with guarding.

However, there are 2 incidents that give me pause--one was a scuffel between her and a beagle we were watching (she tried to steal the beagle's treat, and he came after her and she fought back)--we broke it up, no one was hurt, and they were fine together. The second is when she growled at one of our cats who can within a few inches of her food bowl while she was eating.

Nothing else has happened, but I would like to prevent any future issues, especially since we may or maynot have kids in the next 5-10 years. She does well with kids, the the guarding seems to be limited to other animals, but I want her to be bombproof.

Does anyone have any advice in improving this?

jones

Posted : 6/25/2006 1:00:04 PM

I think that like human vs. dog aggression, resource guarding with animals does not necessarily translate to resource guarding with humans. My dog has never guarded a thing from any human being but guards toys from other dogs... so we just don't let him have any toys when other dogs are present. If anyone has tips on how to resolve and not just manage that problem I would like to hear them too!

Lauri S.

Posted : 6/25/2006 10:04:27 PM

I would treat this the same as resource guarding from me, but I would add in the other animal during the training. IF it was a dog I would have the dog on leash with me during the process. Cat I would carry (or on leash if the cat would do that).

This is the method I use:

age=0#439340>http://www.germanshepherds.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=439340&an=0&

age=0#439340

jones

Posted : 6/26/2006 3:50:40 PM

Lauri, your avatar pic is SO cute!!

My challenge with Russell is that he's my only pet and I don't even have a friend with a dog. All the dog socializing we have done (and we've tried to be proactive with it) has to be done either in obedience classes or at the dog park.