Resource Guarding

[OutlineACDs]

My youngest dog, Rumor (3yrs) started resource guarding her toys from my other dog, Carrie (8yrs). I'm turning to you guys for advice because I have managed the situation until now, but I may be bringing in a puppy in a couple of months. I would really like to work through the problem.

When Rumor started this it was very subtle. I have a toy box in my room with their toys in it. Carrie would pick up a stuffy and go lay down and chew on it. Rumor started by taking her toy over to where Carrie was laying and chewing. This is fine. Then it escalated to Rumor walking over and standing over Carrie until she moved. Carrie would usually leave the toy, and Rumor would get it. Then Rumor would rudely stare at Carrie to get her to drop the toy. At this point I intervened and would point Rumor to a different toy and encourage her to get it. If she still would not leave Carrie alone I crated her. It got to the point where all toys were taken away unless we were all three actively playing. She does not resource guard (to this level) the chuck-it, frisbees, tug toys while I am involved in the game. If Carrie gets the toy she may circle her a few times or reach for the toy, but she is pretty quick to leave it alone and wait for the next throw. Playing fetch is VERY high value to her.

So all toys have been put up in my house, this includes cow hoofs/bones which I was able to leave out before Rumor started resource guarding. When I bring in a new puppy I want to be able to leave things out to keep it occupied.

What I have done so far is brought out the toy box and planted lots of treats in there. I showed it to Carrie who starts rummaging around for treats. Then I play "look at that" with Rumor and dole out treats for her watching Carrie go through the toy box. She is controllable and can offer behaviors while this is going on but she is definately over excited.

I guess I need to know where to progress from here. I have never really worked with a dog who resource guarded (other than a food bowl) from other dogs.

Thanks for any advice, I have a 3-day trial this weekend so if I don't respond until Sunday or Monday that's why.

 

[OutlineACDs]

*bump*

 

[Doberluv]

If you have a resource guarding issue between the dogs, the only thing to do is either supervise like you have been doing...and only take out the toys when you're right there. Never leave highly valued toys around if you're not there to supervise. There really isn't much you can do, I don't think when it comes to this very natural behavior for dogs. A lot of dogs will fight over a valued item. It is a little extra pushy, how you describe Rumor. Does he know "leave it?" If you're watching him and he's thinking about stealing Carrie's (Love that name for a dog) LOL....toy, you can intercpet him and then reinforce him with something much better for leaving it. But over all, I really don't know of any way to fix it other than managing. Maybe someone else will.

It just happens that I have no problem between my dogs with this. Last night, it was funny. I watched Chulita REALLY flirting with Jose`. If ever there were a case of appropriate anthropomorphizing, this was it: FLIRTING....She doesn't do this that often, but she was doing this little quick hoppity thing and nuzzling his ear, then looking super coy and turning her head a little to the side. He fell for it, hook, line and sinker and left his Nyla bone to accept her apparent "offer" to play. Then she swiftly swiped the Nyla bone and lay down to chew it. That's about as "dominant" as my dogs get. ROFLOL.

But when I'm gone or even out of the room, I would not leave something like a smoked flavored raw hide (which I don't give my dogs anyhow) or something really, really valued. The Nyla bones are liked, but not highly valuable. My dogs just don't seem to care enough to make any issue about those or balls. Jose` will guard my Dremel if it's left out, but all he does is growl if another dogs walks too close to it, as he lies next to it if it's on the coffee table or floor. And the other dogs couldn't care less about the Dremel, but he's not taking any chances if they just happen to be walking past it. LOL.

 

[OutlineACDs]

Thank you! I figured you would have some good advice. It is a little annoying to have to keep all fun things up when I'm not directly supervising, but it won't kill us. We have been doing it for months now.

I do realize its a natural behavior for dogs to guard their things, I don't mind them standing up for themselves and not allowing another dog to take things from them. What Rumor does is bully the other dog away from it.

I will work on a stronger "Leave it" command for emergency situations.

Thanks!

 

[Doberluv]

Yeah...maybe if you can intercept him at the earliest moment you notice him thinking about going over to try bullying her and re-direct him with "leave it" and then something else. Just try replacing that behavior with something else that is more reinforcing to him....another obedience skill and a good reward for doing that instead. Maybe you can get him out of that habit if you prevent him from practicing it. But that takes lots of observation to be able to see his wheels turning BEFORE he actually gets over close to her and yet recognize that he is about to try his pushiness to get her toy.

Good luck!