Opinion on this guarding VIDEO!

[Jess & Stewart]

Stew has been really great. No major issues or guarding issues. He basically just snoozes on my bed all day. Doesn't try to get into any closets or my bathroom. Hasn't barked or scratched at the front door in about 2 weeks. 

But he's starting to guard again. This has happened almost every night for the past week & the past 3 mornings, he'll jump on the bed after I've gotten out and won't follow me out to the living room.When I come home. Stew greets me at the door. I used to just walk in no problem. Now I walk in and he bolts back to my bedroom, growling, jumps on my bed and lays down. My covers are usually pulled down and the pillows are scattered on the bed. It takes me at least 20 minutes and copious amounts of treats before he jumps down, then more to get him to walk out of the room enough that I can close the door. 

We're still working with the trainer, that's going good. Stew's earned some Nylabone time each night with me and lets me take it away. 

Any quick & dirty advice in the meantime before the next training session on Monday? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jess, you cannot be afraid of your dog. You just can't. That fear is what is preventing you from training him effectively and from having the kind of relationship with him that you want. Is your trainer aware that you are afraid he will bite you if you enforce a command? 

To live happily with any dog, there has to be mutual trust. You each have to know that the other one is never going to hurt you, no matter what you do. I have to tell you that this is the case with every person who has replied to this discussion, and it's the norm for owners of adult dogs. I can't even begin to imagine thinking that my dog would bite me, under any circumstance whatsoever. I can't imagine screaming at my own dog, either.

Stew isn't a puppy any more, he's an adult dog who has been taught that he is in charge of making his own decisions about what he will and won't do, and when. Your fear is what has caused this situation, and it has to change. You have to take control, and you can't do that if you are afraid he's going to bite you if you do. More than anything else, this is what you need to work on, and you need a trainer who knows how to help you with this. Otherwise, I honestly fear for Stew's future. 

[Jess & Stewart]

The only trainer that does in home consultations with later hours is one that I have now. He works part time teaching classes with the same company that I took the puppy classes. I could set up an appt with one of those trainers, but they're basically all the same, similar methods etc. 

So, I'm at a loss, I don't have as many options because I don't have a car and can't get Stew to any other trainer. I can't even put him in a cab. Even if I call ahead and say I have a dog and they say ok, every time a driver sees us, they won't pick me up. I'm not sure if it's me because Stew isn't a large dog. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So what would you do if Stew needed to get to an ER? 
I don't think this is about the trainer's methods, it's about the trainer's intelligence, experience, ability to assess a situation, and ability to communicate.

[Jess & Stewart]

I live 3 blocks away from Penn Vet & there are 2 vet students who just moved into the building. Which is big plus with Mr. Crazy lol. 

[Adina P]

I hope my post didn't sound like I was suggesting she scream -- but I think it's okay to raise your voice and sound like you mean business. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There is a huge difference between "screaming" and raising your voice and sounding like you mean business. "Screaming" is what you hear in horror movies, lol. That's never okay unless you are actually being attacked. 

The comment wasn;t about your suggestion, it was Jess herself saying she screamed above:
"I screamed bloody murder practically, then moved his crate into the position in front of the door & he jumped right off & walked out of my bedroom. Not sure if it was because I screamed.." 

Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/opinion-on-this-guarding-v...

[Jess & Stewart]

Obviously I've figured out I can't sound like I mean business unless I yell/scream and obviously I didn't scream like I was being attacked. 

Honestly, I know I don't really have many friends but I must be a blithering idiot because in almost every post I make, which words I use when I type is critiqued. Sorry that I said bloody murder since I didn't actually scream that loud. I just yelled really loud, GET OFF STEW, then stood there while moving the crate and he jumped right off. Surprised me because I didn't think it was too impressive, lol, but it worked. 

I've made an appt with the trainer for tomorrow rather than wait until Monday. Waiting on the behaviorist to call me back also. 

I put up a hook right on the inside of my door with Stew's leash on it. I'm thinking while he's happy and jumping up to greet me, I can leash him and just take him outside for a few minutes. Then re-enter. Maybe it'll take him mind off the immediate "need to run back into the bedroom". Honestly, I CAN'T WAIT until I'm an actual apartment with normal doors that completely shut and a normal layout. Maybe it would take the edge of the scratching and guarding, but who knows. 

[Adina P]

Sometimes exaggeration doesn't translate well on the internet.  Because it's impossible to tell when someone is being tongue in cheek or serious. 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Jess, I read most of the comments, but not all. Sounds like you are being given great advice.

I would, however, like to see the "growling and snapping" that you say he does. Can you get a video of that? Sometimes we misinterpret our dog's behavior as aggressive, when in reality it might just be a dog being pushy and playful.

Try to get a video of the snapping he does when you approach him.....

[Jess & Stewart]

I'll try to snap a video if he does it tonight. I blocked off the bedroom and have a strategy to just leash him and take him out asap instead of letting him run back into the bedroom. We'll see if it works! 

He had some crazy zoomies this morning after I took the video. Running full speed, body slamming into me , growling, trying to nip my wrist. I just kneeled down and tried to grab his harness but he was took fast. After maybe 20 seconds, he barked then sat down and looked proud of himself lol. I'd consider that crazy, playful etc. I don't consider what he did last night or again this morning to be playful. 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Jess, I just watched your video and read everyone's comments. If I were in your position, I would say, "Stew, Off," one time in a clear, I'm-not-messing-around voice. If Stew doesn't move after that, I would walk over to the bed, take a firm hold of your comforter and top sheet with a two-handed grip, and lift them upwards until Stew is forced to get off of the bed. Enough is enough. He'll get the message that when you say, "Off," he is going to get off of that bed one way or another. He also wouldn't be able to get his teeth anywhere near you with this approach. Try it.

[Marianne Kay]

Hi Jess, I think I read in one post you did not let him go into the bedroom and you either put his crate in front of the door or you had him in the crate. This reminds me of one of my children at three who would come into our bedroom at night and sleep. If we closed the bedroom door, she would scream, bang her head on the floor or walls. We were afraid she would hurt herself, so we would open the door. We went to an therapist over this. Basically we had to extinguish the behavior and let her be disruptive, not say one peep. No feed back what so ever. It went on for 45 minutes for 2 nights, then down to 30 minutes, then down to 10, and done, no more protesting. You must be consistent. In your case you may need to get a bark collar, so Stew does not make noise or growl,when he is not allowed in your room.  It is on sale right now at Chewy.com for $40.98. Usually it is $90.00. It uses citronella, as the smell, which is a plant I grow in my yard to keep away mosqutoes. It needs a special size battery. Chewy sells that, too, and the spray bottle to add more smell, as the collar empties. You get another 5% off it you add it to autoship one time. When the dog makes a noise, this smell sprays out, from the collar under the neck, and the dog learns not to bark or growl loudly, when the collar is on. This way you can keep him quiet while you sleep, and he is outside of your bedroom. You must not give any response to any of his sounds. You must ignore his behavior. It will take a few nights. And suddenly, he will know he is not going to get anywhere with you. My secret weapon is duck bacon. My dog has allergies issues, so I can't use cheaper meats. Fancy neighborhood grocery stores tend to sell it. And you should only be giving one small piece. (It's expensive) The size of your thumb is too big. Identify the treat as duck. Have him do a a few tricks and reward him a little duck. Trust me, it will get his attention. Then if he jumps on your bed, I would go to the kitchen and say, Stew come here. Duck. See if that will get him off the bed. Your dog may tolerate small pieces of prepackaged Canadian bacon, which is cheaper, especially at Costco or BJs or maybe Sam's Club.

I like another posters idea about grabbing the comforter and sheet to force him off, because it is safe and giving you mastery over him. When he does get off, duck treat. Just one. If he jumps on the bed, again, ignore him. Then its a game. He only gets a treat when he is off the bed, and then you can get him out of the room, with the crate in his way. Tough love. Maybe you can do the "heel" exercise through the bedroom, into the hall, while you are holding the treat, so he learns not to focus on the bed? He can learn new behaviors, but the tough part is, you must learn the new behaviors for him to follow.