Resource Guarding Around Other Dogs

Hi....wondering if anyone else has had this issue with their pup. I have a 6month F1 pup who has exhibited resource guarding around other dogs since she came home to me at 10 weeks old. We have been working diligently with it and her since. We have a personal trainer and classes, are consistent with reinforcing training

and showing her clearly she is not the alpha in the house.

Yet if she even perceives another dog is getting anything she isnt (not the case) or she dedides right in the middle of happy play session with a pup that she will turn on them, lunge, attack, growl, nip etc.

I have been working closley and tirelessly with her and using all positive methods but its becoming such a problem because I dont feel comfortable bringing her around the rest of my family dogs because its unpredictable how she will react even if God forbid another dog picks up something in her presence. We are controlling for things as much as possible but sometimes dogs find a way to get a hold of something and she doesnt want the other dog to have it. I work with the take it/leave command so she gives it up freely and she has to work for everything so not sure what keeps triggrring this. Its only with other dogs. But the "family dog " I was hooing for is not so good around family dogs so its a real sad burden to leave her behind all the time.

I guess I am just asking if anyone else has experienced this and if with continued work will she maybe even outgrow it? Because its really distressing. She sometimes will just turn on pup in the midst of a happy play date....then other times she will share the water bowl....but the next min she will attack. I am learning the warning signs to intercede when possible but sometimes she just in unpredictable and its scary and upsetting.

My trainer has been training for over 25 yrs and rehabs rescue dogs even...she said she has never seen this level of behavior at 12 weeks and it is concerning bc it can mean its genetic. I know NOW poodles are snarky ( Unfortunately I didnt when I got her , I thought this was two mellow breeds) but now I have heard poodles can be aggressive and kind of bitchy mean. What are my chances she will outgrow this bad and scary behavior with constant work or am I stuck forever ?

Favorite

0 members favorited this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Stella on May 5, 2013 at 7:22pm

Ian Dunbar does a great podcast series called iwoofs. He talks about all things puppy and dog!! There is one specifically about resource guarding, along with one about having dogs in the same house that don't get along. He is the 'original' dog psychologist, from before Cesar Milan even thought about jumping the border!! He doesn't buy into the alpha dog theory at all and is very interesting to listen to. You can also get more detailed information from his website Dog Star Daily (can't remember the web address, but google it and it'll come up!!).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ang Onorato on May 5, 2013 at 8:07pm

This is also the perfedt helpful resource info I was also lookimg for. Thank you!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kyoko on May 5, 2013 at 7:48pm

Charlie was some what like Nikka. First time I notices something was when she was in Puppy K. She growled at Rottweiler puppy who tried to drink out of the same bowl. I think she was about 11 or 12 weeks then. She had a Shih Tzu friend at that time, and played well with her, but if she was resting under the coffee table or something, she did not want the friend to come there. She was very predictable, though.. From that point on , I started training with more extensive and known trainer... However, I was told that this is hardwired and it is her temperament. But, I believe obedience training will be the key.... Even though this may be hard wired, with solid obedience, they can learn to over ride their impulse to bark, lunge, and to be rude... Charlie is now 4, and this has been a life long (LoL) struggle for her. She is able to contain herself a lot more in controlled and predictable environment. And I learned some of her triggers, so I can assist/support her when the triggers are present. ( Like a dog on the other side of the street who is staring at her ) I found Leslie McDevitt's book "Control Unleashed" to be very helpful. She gives you a bunch of "games" you can play with your dog to desensitize dogs to the trigger / stimuli, and also for us to learn their threshold.... http://controlunleashed.net/