growling in a 6 month GD? normal?

[Melissa]

Ok, I am not sure if I am over-reacting or not!  I have a 6 mo goldendoodle.  She's always been "cautious".  I got her at 10 weeks.  We've done puppy 101 and she did great except for the last class - we had to go to a makeup class with different dogs and she hid behind me the whole time (previously in "her" class she'd played quite happily and apparently confidently from what I could see).

We then did Intro to scentwork.  She did fine tho cautious, and now we're almost done with CGC class.  She's done great.  Started out first week hiding behind me (the other dogs were a little raucous) and now is fine except for submissive urination when the instructor demos with her.

My questions and concerns:  She had been fine with our cat, and the cat would share her kibble...  this week she has growled at the cat for sniffing her food once, and then another day when the cat tried to snag a piece she growled and lunged.  I got the (clueless) cat out of there.

She's never guarded her food or stuff before but since that day she's been kind of stiff and hunched over her bowl at chowtime and I'm a little nervous of her reacting if one of the kids gets close.  

Just this past week she's barked two different occasions at my 12 month old crawler.  Just barked, but seemed like a warning bark iykwim?  I scooped up the baby.  Other times with me watching she's been fine with the baby crawling by and patting her.

Lastly she's very vocal and growly.  Not so much at us, but every little sound, or if one of the older kids whistles or moves fast or someone opens a door and surprises her, etc.  Not sure how to settle her down with that.  Will she grow out of it?  A dog will bark in the distance and she'll rumble a growl.  One of my kids will play a message on their phone and she'll rumble a growl.  We kind of laugh it off but the family is wondering if she's normal!  She didn't do this as a younger puppy, but was always timid.

She's been to the vet recently, bloodwork, everything fine.  Not sick.  Her puppy teacher was very positive about her and said she had the "fooling around" response to anxiety.  Her CGC teacher says she's super calm compared to the other doodles she sees, fwiw.  

Is she ok?  Crazy?  Do I need to have a trainer see her in her element?  She's very happy and goofy out and about.  Loves to go run errands in the car with me.  I'm here all day so I see most everything and really, I'm no dog expert but she seems happy and healthy, but "spooky".  Is this something I can help her with?  My biggest concern is her guarding the food, albeit just from the cat, and the growl-at-everything-unknown.  Does she just need more exercise?  She's really doing well other that this 'quirk' if I can call it that.

Advice?

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Wouldn't hurt to call in trainer to work on prevention of resource guarding, right? Especially with babies and little kids around! That's my two cents, for what it's worth. She is entering her adolescent phase when you have to especially keep up the training, too. Sigh. I'm in that phase too. ;) best,

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Exactly! She is beginning to get a little bit braver...more secure in her surroundings and a bit more confident. Training is more important than ever...as they will try and get away with anything they can. No more compliant puppy! Considering small children are involved, a trainer might be a good idea.

[Gayle & Hunter]

Well this is just my input, maybe try when feeding her while she is eating you take her bowl away or put your hand in her food. Before I feed Hunter I make him sit, give me a kiss, shake and I do a watch me before I release him too eat. Since Hunter was little I started out always being able to take his food away. I think she is really just trying to be the alpha dog and I also like Cindy said possibly call in a trainer especially with kids.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

I'm constantly reminding my boys to not be considered "competition" by Rip., i.e. No grabbing things away from him, no direct eye contact, no hugs, no holding him back from moving. I tell them (they are 15 going on 30 and 13 going on 2) to face same direction as Rip when petting, watch his body language for tension, walk by when he eats and drop cheese in his bowl, help train him by asking for sit or down then treating... So all interactions are positive as possible for puppy. Kids mean good things. That association is super important for them even moreso than me, IMHO! I feel like such a nag most of the time though, cause it takes reminding!

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

This is a great article I read recently. http://www.thebalancedcanine.com/how-handle-fear-fear-aggression-dogs/

[Gayle & Hunter]

Cindy thanks for sharing that article it was really interesting...I learned a lot.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

:)