Update on Chewie's resource guarding

[Laura & Chewie]

Since I have posted many times with concerns about Chewie's resource guarding, I thought I would update.  Also, I know there are a number of other members with similiar problems who would likely be interested.  To begin with, I think there has been some improvement as he has gotten older (now 10 months), but obviously any behavior of this sort is too much.  People outside of our home...groomers, daycare staff, etc are shocked when I mention he has a problem at all as they have never seen any sign of it while in their care.  In fact, at daycare they often use him to test temperments of new dogs because he is so good and plays so well.

 

Yesterday we had a visit with a behavioral vet who came very highly recommended by our regular vet.  She was just wonderful, so kind and non-judgemental.  She has devoted 17 years to studying animal behavior and it is all she practices.  It was a two hour appointment so I could probably write a book, but will try to summarize.  Basically, it's likely some or most of the behavior comes from Chewie's mom...remember she resource guarded food from her pups...even snapping at them.  It is not an uncommon problem for whatever reason it occurs, can never be "cured" but certainly controlled.  We spoke extensively and she said she was very impressed by so much we had already done and how informed we were and the understanding we had of the problem.  She feels we are very close to a big improvement.  She provided us with a wealth of information and some methods to help desensitize the problem.  Everything she said/explained made so much sense.  She also provided information that the theory of the alpha dog and the whole pack mentality is an outdated theory as provided in the position statement by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.  Obviously our dogs need direction and need to be a good citizen in our home, but they really don't want to "be the boss" nor do they understand respect (or the lack of) for their owners.  As nice as it is to have an obedient dog, he can do the very best sits, stays and downs, but it won't keep him from resource guarding if that is his tendency.  We need to recognize his triggers (we do), read his cues and work on avoidance along with the desensitizing and she is confident that in six months we'll look back at this as a distant memory.  She said we don't have to "work hard" at it, just incorporate it into our everyday life and Chewie's.

 

Thanks to everyone who shared their advice and opinions with us along this journey.  We are happy to be making strides and hopefully seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

That's wonderful news!

[Debbie Penny]

Great news. Q: What did she suggest to do to: "work on avoidance along with the desensitizing" . Wishing you all the success, sounds like your well on your way, Congrats.

[Ann Kendig]

Congratulations, this is great news!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Congratulations on the good news. It is so good to hear he's doing better, and I'm sure he'll continue improving as time goes on.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Luckily I don't have this problem but am very interested in learning Chewie's triggers and what you do to avoid and desensitize.

[Michele Glass]

That's wonderful, I'm so glad things are getting better. I would also like to know what she suggested to do to: "work on avoidance along with the desensitizing". My Cody is better only because we took everything away that he guards, we know what triggers it now and we just don't let him have it. The problem will come though when we give him something new and it triggers it, we need to work on the desensitizing part. Thanks for sharing.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

That's great that you have this type of resource to help you through the problem with Chewie. This vet certainly sounds very knowledgeable and experienced. I also would be interested in learning some of the methods she taught you to desensitize the problem.

[Karen P]

Laura I was just wondering how you and Chewie were doing. I am glad that you found someone to guide you. It sounds like things are continuing to improve !!!

[Laura & Chewie]

Thanks so much for all the well wishes!

Jane - I have had the occasion to speak with the owner of one of Chewie's littermate. They sound very much alike in personality and she mentioned Bentley also had exhibited resource guarding with bully sticks. We didn't get into a detailed conversation, but hopefully I will have a chance to speak with her again and compare notes.

The dr. provided us with a handout...a chart titled "Ladder of Aggression" which illustrates physical cues from mildest up to an actual bite (11 possible steps) of how a dog reacts to stress or threat. Not all dogs proceed through every step, but these are signs to pay attention to to avoid escalation into a more threatening dynamic. Practice makes perfect and we want to practice successes not failures. We don't want to practice growling or snapping. Again, it would be hard to explain all the details of a two hour appointment, but basically watching for these physical cues as well as his triggers (high value food items and chews and also recognizing when he is tired at the end of the day. This is when he is most reactive). While we are doing this, practice Classical conditioning...creating positive association with a stimuli that normally would result in negative behavior. There are a number of ways to accomplish this, such as dropping a treat when walking by him while chewing a bully stick. Again, don't overwhelm him, but incorporate these techniques into our daily life. We already see results as he looks up to us approaching rather then taking his "treasure" and moving away from us. This will eventually, and with patience, translate into being able to safely remove this item from him. We already have no problem trading with him. We can also sit by him, and often briefly pet him while he has an item without involking a growl.

I could go on and on...I actually still have more recommended reading to do myself. A lot of what she is having us do are things we already were familiar with, but was combined with additional info in such a caring and intelligent way that made our understanding of his problem so much clearer and the solution so much more attainable.

[Ann Kendig]

Is there any way you could post the Ladder of Aggression? Does the doctor have a web site that this information may be posted on? That would probably be helpful to many of us. Again Laura, congratulations and the best of luck to you!

[Laura & Chewie]

Yes, I have to run some errands right now, but will scan it later and try attaching it. Hopefully I can do it correctly...I'm not the "techiest" of people. LOL, did I invent a new word?

[Laura & Chewie]

Okay, I scanned it...now to see if I can attach it to this post. The original copy was in color, but unfortunately, we got a b & W copy. The color one shows level of intensity by color also.