Drop it on command

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Hello friends! I'm embarrassed to say we have never really been able to get yeti to "drop it" on command. I wish we would have worked harder with him as small puppy (he is 1yr 4mo) but we were caught up in sit/stay/come etc. His drop it and leave it are very lacking. He is a better leaver than dropper though lol.
Fast forward to this morning. Yeti got a sock. I seriously don't know where he pulls them out of sometime. He genuinely loves to get socks and make us chase him all around to get them out of his mouth. This morning, for the first time ever (with a sock), he got agressive with me. The whole thing was nearly in his mouth and he growled with teeth. His mouth was shut so tight I had to rip the sock apart to get it out of his mouth.
I was hoping to get some suggestions on what worked with your doodles to get them to drop it (even if it's something so beloved such as a sock or a favorite tennis ball). I get the jist of "drop it," then when dropped give treat but was hoping for other tips and tricks. By the way, he does drop his chuck it all pretty good for us with or without a treat (unless he is tired and doesn't want to play anymore lol) but even that needs a little coaxing (aka "drop it, drop it, drop it!!! All while banging his chuck it stick on the ground). Yeti has show. Aggression before with things such a bully sticks and other high value chews but never with a sock. I'm trying to train him out of it befor his brother arrives!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Him laying completely on my right arm. He just walked up to me laid down and fell asleep

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Haley, Charlie did this when we first got him and I was totally charmed also. My other doodles are not lap sitters at all.  I often let him do this but I am a person who doesn't sit still, so many times Charlie was discouraged from this behavior.  What I just realized is that Charlie doesn't jump up and plop himself in my lap or on my arm any more - WITHOUT ASKING first.  Wow!  For us, it is because he has settled in our family - he knows he is 'home' forever.  He doesn't need lay claim to us any longer; he is comfortable and secure in our family and with his pack.  Thanks for posting this discussion because it made me realize how far Charlie has come. Woo hoo  I am doing a happy dance!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

I'm so so happy for you guys and Charlie!! One day we will be there with yeti I know iit :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have some reading for you. First, here's the discussion where Adina made that comment to Jane about thinking of Murphy's always wanting to touch her as his way of saying he owns her. It's a long discussion with a lot of other stuff in it, so I've linked you to the page where the discussion is about giving affection on your terms, not the dog's. This is touched on in the part of Jane's post where she says:

"She also told me some things that our trainer has said, but I didn't want to hear.  She feels that Murph is considering me to be "his resource".....thus the guarding.  Ben has told me this before.  She strongly encouraged me to put an end to this.  She said I need to stop him from constantly needing to be touching me....no more petting when he puts his head in my lap....no more letting him lean on me....no more acknowledging him when he runs to me because he hears an unfamiliar sound outside....no more "lovin" except on my terms.  So now this is two trainers telling me the same thing...but it's so hard to do."  

Read through this page : http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/flyball-dood-it-s-going-to...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I can't believe that was five years ago.  That was when we were in the middle of some major training with Murphy who was displaying some disturbing behavioral issues.  It's probably time for an "update".  He is much, much better now....although for the most part we have to continue to operate in the "Nothing In Life Is Free" environment or he starts to slip right back.  He now is very sure that I OWN everything.  I can be more free with affection now because I can totally recognize when it's okay and when it's him trying to claim me as his.  The body language is actually different, although it's very subtle.  I do now let him come running to me when he hears something that bothers him.  One thing I have learned is that he is actually a very insecure boy (which is the root of a lot of his issues) and so it's a better alternative for him to come running to me than to bark or jump at the door or window when he is concerned about a noise or a stranger outside....it's part of me constantly showing him that I have his back and he doesn't have to "take things into his own paws".

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

I have a feeling we will probably have to operate with the NILIF environment for the rest of Yeti's life haha. I've noticed he touches / lays on us quite a bit. Like just now as he is eating his breakfast he came and sat down on my lap because he prefers to eat while laying in my lap .... :face palm:
If you don't mind me asking, what did you do when he resource guarded things? We were taught to flip him on his back and dominate him. I never hurt him, but I'm figuring that I'm handling these situations wrong and would like to know the correct way to correct him. I'm so happy murph is doing good today!! Not sure if I think yeti is insecure. He's my first dog and I don't have too much experience with their actions (which has pretty much lead us to this point in our lives) but he does love to sit on me when he's afraid.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Here's a link to the best and most complete information I've seen on resource guarding.  Much of it is the NILIF program.  This is almost exactly what my trainer taught me to do with Murphy to address all of his issues, including resource guarding.  It's interesting how once our "pushy Doodles" realize they're not going to get away with it most of their behavioral issues go away or at least improve significantly.  Murphy's resource guarding has never returned...but I pretty much still use all the techniques outlined in this article.  http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_ResourceGuarding.html

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I was just thinking about the strategy in this article about teaching your dog to move away.  I remember back to a day when my trainer was here and Murphy was laying by the side of the chair where I was sitting.  When I got up he didn't move and I was trying to step over him.  The trainer told me with a dog like Murph that was sending a message....that he was in control of that space.  He told me to stand up and just walk ahead even if that meant walking into him.  That was hard for me but I did it and after a few times he totally understood that he should be paying attention and if I started to stand up he should move.  That's such a subtle thing, and with most dogs it's unnecessary.  For Murphy it was all these little messages that were so key in his learning that I am the leader and the one who makes the decisions.  I used to think that was being unfair but I've learned that it makes him so much more relaxed to know that he's not the one making the decisions.  Anyone who has a normally calm, happy Doodle I'm sure has a hard time understanding this, but for some of our dogs all of these strategies are keys to ensuring that they live comfortably.

[Dolly Dykhouse]

Jane you are so right! At our first meeting with our trainer she showed me all the ways that Henry was commanding our space, especially mine. Everything from sitting on my feet, laying down on my feet, leaning against me, body checking as he walked by; I had no idea that this was part of resource guarding and that I was the resource! I thought it was cute. When she showed us the OFF! command and used her feet or knee to move him off of her and told me that I would need to do this every time he got in my space I swear I wanted to leash him up and go home! I'm glad my head prevailed and I stuck with it because Henry P is a stubborn and willful doodle with a mind of his own. We are finally seeing improvement after a solid month of working on this, but he does slip up especially when company comes through the front door and he loses his puppy mind and wants to jump all over. He is better, much better but hoo boy it is work and with his size increasing daily it seems I can imagine what a problem this could be at 65+ lbs. 

I didn't realize my telling my breeder that I needed a smart/energetic doodle that could keep up with me and my serious walking hobby would equal a doodle that would try and outthink, and outpace me daily LOL. Maybe next doodle I need to ask for a calm, laid back doodle that likes to nap LOL.

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Wow! Here I thought yeti rarely resource guarded but he is doing it every day multiple times a day with em. He sits on my feet hands arms legs face sooooo many times a day. I love it. WHYYY does this have to be a bad thing :( it happens in bed a lot, so last night I started moving every time he did it. Should I use a NO! Along with a move or will moving be enough for him to get the message?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

For calm "non bossy" dogs I don't think it is bad.  For some dogs who try to be in charge it just makes the behaviors worse and more difficult to deal with.  I knew I had to take a really strong consistent approach with Murphy when he started trying to keep my son from coming near me.  He would put himself between us and even growled at one point.  That's when we went to no "touching" or affection except on my terms.  If I hadn't made these changes the behaviors would likely have escalated and could have resulted in a bite....and that would have placed us in a horrible position.  None of this happens any more....as long as I'm consistent.

[Dolly Dykhouse]

I so understand this Haley! We were trained to use OFF! and push him off of us so that he is no longer touching us. I swear the first week it was all I said over and over. It has gotten so much better at week 3+ and he circles sometimes but is pretty good about giving space now.

Funny, I have always thought that he was barking at the puggle trying to get him to play but the other night I noticed it was happening right around their dinner time. I think that Henry is telling Jo that the "momma" belongs to him and HE is first in line to be fed so back off. Sigh...something else to get corrected before we bring doodle #2 home.