1 year old resource guards unpredictably

[Jessica & Benny]

I apologize that this is long, but I'm at my wits end.  So I've read through the various posts on how to deal with resource guarding, and I've had some success, but I'm still stuck, so I hope someone can offer some advice.  Lola is 1 year old next week, 19 pounds.  When she gets ahold of something she knows is forbidden, she freezes, shows her teeth, and will snap if anyone tries to get her to drop it. Sometimes. Other times she's ok, which is frustrating because her unpredictability makes her seem less trustworthy. She first showed this behavior  a couple months ago when she was given an antler to chew.  I did some reading and followed some advice, which was to give her small bits of treat when she had the antler, just tossing them down near her, and gradually moving my hand closer to the antler after each treat, eventually touching it without taking it (treats each time), then finally being able to take the antler, give her a treat, give the antler back, give her a treat. She is now no longer possessive of the antler.  This approach has not been successful when she has something that she considers way better than any treat. A pencil, a kid's toy, or once a pork chop bone. This behavior is only ever when she has something she knows she shouldn't have.  Frankly there isn't anything we can give her that in her little brain is better than what she has.  It seems that when she takes the item back to her bed (not the one in the crate, but one that's out in the kitchen) she is more likely to growl about it than when she has it elsewhere in the house. I really hope someone can help, because other than this problem she's really great. I should add that she is not at all possessive of her own toys or her food/treats.

[Emily Lau]

Have you tried holding her buy the scruff (it always immediately stops them in their track), look her in the eyes, and make a growling/displeased sound? I look at my doodle and say "MINE!", and give him another toy. If he accepts it, praise profusely. Let her know that you are displeased with her behavior, and that it will NEVER be tolerated in the house. TRICK: the second she shows deference (drop the item/whimpers/flips over), praise her profusely and give her lots of affection. Tell her what a good girl she is! 

I find that this method really helps my doodle. He knows that we care and love him, but we won't let him get away with ANYTHING at all. He used to be a frequent nipper/biter, but the above method has completely, I mean completely eliminated the bad behaviors. At the beginning, he sometimes refuse to cooperate, and will keep growling/show teeth/etc etc, we just told him "BAD BOY (growl)" and then give him a complete time out. Once he calms down, we welcome him back to the pack with warmth and happiness. (REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES as necessary...) :D

Another idea: how is she with the command "leave it"?

Now we are working on sock stealing with the same method. 80% improvement over 10 days. :)

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!! Doodle behavior problems can be maddening!!!!! <3

[Jessica & Benny]

Frankly, if I get my hand near her when she's in this mood she'll try to bite it, so I don't know that I could get to the back of her neck! We've tried the stern "no" and my husband's favorite "Lola, what have you DONE???" and she bares her teeth. Haven't tried growling at her.

[Emily Lau]

Just a random thought: get a kitchen mitten and "handle her" that way? Regardless of the method, you have to win. That's if you want peace and happiness in the pack.

[Sheila & Finnley]

I totally agree with Sandy's method of working with her. Maybe you should try talking to a dog trainer if that doesn't help. At this point it couldn't hurt. Good luck !

[Bonne Bouche]

I think you should join and ask in the training group ( http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/trainingmindsets) or even the general discussion board. Since your doodle is a year, these are NOT puppy issues that will just go away. They need to be addressed with serious training--by experienced trainers/professionals. Best of luck...

[Jessica & Benny]

Thanks, I posted there and got some helpful responses.

[Veronica Z.]

Maybe this would help. It's the take it & drop/leave it game/cue. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO2cxHgIzX0

You can probably build up to the really difficult/valuable items but ultimately she should see it as a game. Good luck!

[Donna, Emma, Bender & Busby]

Hi, Jessica.  Sorry you're having this problem.  Our Emma, now five, also resource guards and although we've continuously worked with her, we've been told by three different trainers that this is how she is as a result of a bad first home (we adopted Emma when she was 18 mos).  She has gotten better...and I think now deliberately steals what she knows she shouldn't have just to get the treat, but she's nowhere near a vicious as it had been.  I totally agree with Sandy - do not try to grab her.  She absolutely will bite and the guarding will get worse.  Treats and rewards are definitely the way to go.  Emma likes to steal anything cotton (socks, oven mitts, dish towels, the list goes on).  She used to attack if anyone even went near her once she had possession of the contraband, now she just softly growls.  We still have to get the "good" treats from the fridge but she will always drop even the most prized possession for the "goody".  It's funny how she will obey "drop it" for anything in her mouth EXCEPT the things she's stolen.  We keep working with her and we can now take away her food bowl without incident and she hasn't tried to bite me in about a year.  Hopefully, we will prove the trainers wrong and Emma will eventually come around completely!  Dont' give up.

[Jessica & Benny]

I think Emma and Lola have been talking! If I allow Lola to have anything, or if it's something she knows is ok to have, she'll always give it up, but if she manages to sneak it then forget it.  Once she got a big mailing sticker out of the garbage, and it stuck to her face, and it took two days for us to get it off because she didn't like us getting near it!  We got her at 9 weeks, so I truly hope we haven't been bad parents--I don't think so. But I have a trainer coming out next week, so I hope we can make some progress here.