Lunging/ growling

[Paumanok]

So you know how I had that post the other day about how my 9mo princesssnugglewumps was just the best dog ever?

Well last night I gave her a knuckle bone. Usually when I approach her after giving her a bone, she will spit it out and let me handle it. Last night, she growled, and I took it away for a while. Later, I gave it back and she growled again. When I told her no she lunged at my foot. I was startled and took a step back, but then I advanced back toward her and she was clearly surprised. When I told her to go to her kennel she lunged again and went under the table. I didn't want to let her get away with anything, but felt I had limited options. I gave her a very strong verbal correction and left the room for an hour. I think if I had tried to put a leash on her, she would have snapped.

We ignored her for an hour. Since then, she has been very submissive, licking my face and sleeping at my feet.

I can think of about twelve things I did wrong, but I'd like to get your feedback. I'd never faced off with a dog before, and it was scary. Is this unusual or worrying behavior, or is she just an adolescent testing her limits? The only over time I've seen her act that way was when she was very small and a strange dog got in her space in a new environment. The lunges were closed mouth.

Thanks as always.

 

[karennj]

Resource guarding is very normal behavior. She is anticipating you taking it away and letting you know she does not want to give it up. Personally I try to avoid situations that would cause a standoff with my dog. It's just not the type of relationship I want to have with him. The first growl always catches us off guard so don't beat yourself up about it. I would start by only giving bones when the dog can be controlled and not bothered. For example when in a crate our a blocked room. Let the dog go at it and then when they are done open the door, let them out and then go in and get the bone. I would also start teaching a command with a high value reward that you can use to have the dog move away from the bone. For example you could use going to a room, using touch in another room, having her come and then do a chain of commands. Basically offer a trade so the dog has the choice to walk away from the bone vs. You taking it. Do not bribe the dog. For example don't stand in front of her holding out a treat to drop the bone. Resource guarding is often driven by fear not dominance. There are people who think you should just give corrections and take the bone. I don't agree because you dealing with fear and if the dog is giving a warning that they are uncomfortable (growl) you should be thankful for that warning and change your approach. I don't correct harshly for growls. I appreciate that my dog has chosen to communicate his displeasure instead of just biting. If my dog is guarding something I'm not going to man handle it away from him because all I did was reinforce his fear that I'm coming to take stuff he wants away.

 

[Cobalt]

^^^ Very well put!

 

[Paumanok]

Thank you! That sounds like great advice and puts my mind at ease somewhat.

 

[alejandro]

You got a great reply up there. i will add that i don't like to take food or any other resourse from the dog, i think it's rude and reinforse fear. But when i have to, i don't go directly for it, but call her, make her sit, give her a treat and then i go for it. That way you take her attention away from the object of interest and reward it for doing it so the dog won't be so eager to guard it. Resourse guarding it's not a extrange thing but it is something you wanna take care of.

 

[Max's mom]

Max has been getting worse with Bo about the food. We have good days and we have bad days. I've been hand feeding them both from the food container almost nose to nose one piece at a time (which just kills Max!). Tonight was the first time in about 5 feedings that he has not run after Bo, snapped and held him in the mouth while growling. He does not hurt him, but it is scarey! Bo is afraid. I put Max on the leash and verbally correct with No and Leave it, but he is very intense! I have been feeding Bo in another area rather than risk it for the most part.

Max has growled a few times when I give him a bone. I wait, go back to him and pat him on the rump...never near the bone or the head so that he understands I don't want the bone back. This is really difficutl with High value treats/toys/things. I do understand your pain, frustration and the anxiety over a scarey situation.

Reading all these great posts for helping us too. Lots of other stuff on the forum about resource guarding.

 

[Hector]

Here's an exercise you can try:
[video=youtube;ndTiVOCNY4M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndTiVOCNY4M[/video]

Glasgow trainer applying the method

[video=youtube;iJO0B_oVDlo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJO0B_oVDlo[/video]

[video=youtube;3CkG-9B-Xrs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CkG-9B-Xrs[/video]

Also, start doing this during meal times.

[video=youtube;K3re_5xEMfw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3re_5xEMfw[/video]

 

[DennasMom]

9 months... sounds like a little bit of testing, and just normal resource guarding - BUT - I agree that you don't want to back down, or she'll think she's on to something, and keep pushing.

That she was curled up on your feet later sounds like you got the point across and she's no worse for wear.

I'd probably test her again... giving her something good, taking it, giving it back, trading it out for something better, etc, just to work in the habit that you get to take her stuff, and she gets to let you do it (and it's not always a bad thing... sometimes she gets something better in return).

 

[Paumanok]

Denna, I agree. I gave her the bone back the next day and she was back to pulling her head back so I could take it if I wanted (I didn't) when I got close to her. She has no issues at all with any toys or normal food and treats -- I think it's just that the bone is very high value. I'll try again with a new bone in a few days, but I'll call her away from it instead of approaching her. I think we both learned some lessons about respect.

I'll also use some of the techniques from those videos (thank you!) She could definitely improve her leave it and drop it.

 

[Hector]

The dog is going to be hard to call away if you don't have a good recall, solid drop it, leave it, and is already guardy. Work on those exercises above, but when it's dinner time practice this method to regain control. It's going to be ugly at first, but it will get better. Once she understands the exercise, make it harder by adding more tasty things in her food. Take your time to work your way up to a bone. Work on counter conditioning with no guardy/less guardy object like a food bowl. Do lots of counter conditioning/desensitization and work on a solid foundation before even thinking about testing her again.

[video=youtube;ZWyAA-7hedo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWyAA-7hedo[/video]

 

[karennj]

whatever you do, don't do it this way LOL - http://imgur.com/gallery/8zdXp

 

[teodora]

make sure the dog is "seriously" aggressive. It can be hard to tell the difference. My CC doesn't have any aggression in him, still he may scare the hell out of people who don't know him... He's playing (with a "stolen" object usually) - and he makes different sounds when we approach him to get the object back, growling, barking (on a high pitch tone) and hiding under the table, etc. He even "bites" - he doesn't touch us or if he does then he is very gentle. It's all role playing. He tried some wrestling but i am not fond of the idea. If he steals something and we ignore, he brings the object under our nose: hey, look what i have... don't you want to chase me?
When I want the game over i tell him sit or lay down - and he does, no exceptions.

 

[Paumanok]

Thanks, Teodora! Just as an update, we haven't had any further issue. I've changed my approach somewhat and am just praising her and treating her when she lets me come near a bone she has been given, rather than actually taking it away and giving it back. No more growling. I think I just pushed things too far that time and she was acting out of fear rather than aggression. I'll update this post if we run into any more trouble.

 

[Paumanok]

Well, there's been another issue. For the latest installment: Resource Guarding - Mastiff Forum

 

[karennj]

I already responded but I had forgotten about this post. I do think you have a tester and just need to reinforce that you being around is a good thing not a bad thing. Think of your relationship with her as a team not her trying to be in control or you trying to be in control. Be calm and confident. Lead with your energy.