What to do about a dog that is possessive over other dogs?

    • Gold Top Dog

    What to do about a dog that is possessive over other dogs?

    These aren't my dogs but my one dog was involved. My dog (Jack Russell Terrier mix) was trying to make friends with a dog that one of my friends brought home about 6 weeks ago. My dog is very very friendly and she loves other dogs. The dog she was trying to make friends with was a female Scottie Dog (Scottish Terrier) and they have a male Bichon Friese. The bichon was very possessive over the scottie. Which is weired because my female Terrier and the bichon have been friends for almost a year no problem. But he did not want any dogs in the play group messing with the scottie. And the scottie seemed very submissive toward the bichon. How do you deal with an overly possessive dog (of another dog)? How do you fix something like that. Also he wasn't letting her go near the other dogs and he didn't want her near my dog, like he suddenly got possessive of my dog as well (Basically whatever dog he played with at the time he became very defensive/possessive of) He was never like that until they got this new dog? What to do?

     

     

    He acted that way toward all the dogs there. If he was playing with a particular dog be it mine or another, the dog he was playing with he acted like that dog was his and no other dog he was letting near

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    I'm asking more for my knowledge than anything. I felt a little uncomfortable with the play date today.  Probably won't be doing another play date with them for awhile, things got a little rough.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Abbeyroad86
    How do you deal with an overly possessive dog (of another dog)? How do you fix something like that.

    The same way you deal with resource guarding

    • Gold Top Dog

     

    Okay let me rephrase, how do you deal as not the dogs owner with a dog in a group situation that is being posessive over your dog and every other dog he plays with and mean when your dog or any other dog tries to join in when he is playing with another dog.  Incase we end up in a public situation with these dogs again.

     

    How to protect my dog

    • Gold Top Dog

     If i wasn't happy with the way it was going and my dog was involved, I would remove my dog.  Are you concerned that it may escalate and your dog may be frightened or injured as a result of the dog's behaviour?

    Do you feel comfortable raising this issue with the owners of the dogs?    Are you sure it is possessive behaviour (which I also read as "resource guarding), or might it be protective behaviour?

    What kind of play is going on when this happens?  Would the owners be receptive to gently removing the possessive dog so tat they can't disrupt play, and to send the message: "you do not direct the play here - WE do.  It's not your job."