It sounds like a silly question, I used to think I knew the answer. I'm asking about your opinion, really.
I'm sure most of us strive for a dog that's not food or toy possessive, but it's a natural behavior. The dogs that I've acquired with Resource guarding problems, I've worked with down to manageable level. In my 6 (or more) dog household, they all eat out of their own bowls, at scheduled feeding times. If one dog goes near the other, they typically utter a short growl, and stick their face in the bowl, claiming their space. I find that acceptable. Otherwise, everybody would steal everybody else's food.
So today, Fleetwood (who is now 3.5 months old) was eating and Todd was circling his food bowl, catching the fly-away pieces. Todd got too close, and for the first time, Fleetwood snapped at him. It wasn't a big deal, but it got me thinking.
So what level of resource guarding is acceptable from your dogs? If Fleetwood is Possessive of food or toys, then he can't go to daycare, or play safely with other dogs. So could this be balanced, or should try everything possible to avoid that behavior?
As a side note, we often play 'sharing games' with the other dogs. I'm more concerned that he snapped without freezing or growling first. Since that first time he growled at another dog, I've been actively respecting his warning signs, and that hasn't been a problem before.
I'm sure most of us strive for a dog that's not food or toy possessive, but it's a natural behavior. The dogs that I've acquired with Resource guarding problems, I've worked with down to manageable level. In my 6 (or more) dog household, they all eat out of their own bowls, at scheduled feeding times. If one dog goes near the other, they typically utter a short growl, and stick their face in the bowl, claiming their space. I find that acceptable. Otherwise, everybody would steal everybody else's food.
So today, Fleetwood (who is now 3.5 months old) was eating and Todd was circling his food bowl, catching the fly-away pieces. Todd got too close, and for the first time, Fleetwood snapped at him. It wasn't a big deal, but it got me thinking.
So what level of resource guarding is acceptable from your dogs? If Fleetwood is Possessive of food or toys, then he can't go to daycare, or play safely with other dogs. So could this be balanced, or should try everything possible to avoid that behavior?
As a side note, we often play 'sharing games' with the other dogs. I'm more concerned that he snapped without freezing or growling first. Since that first time he growled at another dog, I've been actively respecting his warning signs, and that hasn't been a problem before.