Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by rae on February 20, 2013 at 8:47am

this was something they talked about in puppy kindergarten, but to combat resource guarding behavior by making everything a positive experience. so, "sharing" the bone/treat/toy with the puppy.  she used bully sticks as an example, but have the pup chew on it in your lap or while you're petting him and holding onto one end so the puppy gets used to sharing.  or also distracting with treats to train the "give" command, and then the puppy learns that when they give/bring you things great things happen and it's a good experience so they don't get anxious or insecure about you taking things from them.

i will have to double-check my notes, though, she said so many helpful things. most people tell us not to tell the puppy NO, and use something like 'leave it' or 'settle' or 'quiet' or a command more appropriate to the situation to reinforce training, but i have to admit, sometimes the first instinct is to just be 'omg no!'

we've not had any issues with our pup growling or snapping at us though. not yet.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on February 20, 2013 at 8:52am

Sounds like you are doing a good job of teaching him to be a resource guarder. Google Nothing In Life Is Free to get more proven ideas on how to raise a dog that is a good citizen. Your goal is to be able to tell him to drop the bone at your command and let you have it. Messing with him while he tries to enjoy it just teaches him that he has to fight for his rights. Classes would be very helpful if you can do that. Otherwise there are lots of very positive training tips in the dog tv section on this website. I teach sit with all treats or food by holding it close and slowly raising it up, as soon as the rear hits the floor give the treat. Drop it is to hold a better treat in front,say drop it, and when they drop the bone give the treat . Then practice immediately giving the bone back a few times. That way the dog doesn't get so worried that they will never see the bone again if they give it to you. Your intentions are good but you have to educate yourself a little more on positive training tips. Corgis are very smart and can learn the wrong things as fast as the right things.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Beth on February 20, 2013 at 10:23am

I think a lot of people do this thinking it helps and it actaully almost guarantees your pup will become a very devout resource guarder. He has no idea when you might just come in and steal stuff.

Think of it this way: if you were at work, and happily eating your peanut butter sandwich, and your boss came over and picked up your plate, and put it back, then picked it up, and put it back, what would you do? And if you said "Hey, leave my lunch alone!" (which is basically what the dog's growl means) and your boss said "You seem to want to be the boss. I'll take your lunch away for that outburst" would you think he was a fair and wise boss?

If, on the other hand, you were eating your PB and your boss said "Kathleen, I have a nice bowl of lobster bisque here. Would you like some?" And you looked up and said "Yum, sure!" and your boss said "Allow me!" and took away your plate, gave you a small bowl of the bisque, and then put the plate back down so you could finish your lunch.... Well, rather than finding it odd that your boss was running around with free bisque, you'd soon start to think "When my boss comes around at lunch, he sometimes has really great stuff! And he shares!!"

Same thing goes with dogs. I'm not sure how it entered the conventional wisdom that properly submissive dogs just willingly give up food to others, but they definitely don't. They will growl if even Top Dog # 1 comes around their food dish.

So what we do is 1) most of the time, leave them to eat or chew bones in peace, and 2) for training, get them used to offering them something better in exchange for what they have, then giving what they originally had back (unless of course they stole something). So give him something lower value, approach with something he loves, make sure he sees you have it, offer him that, pick up the bone while he is eating the treats, then give the bone back.

And don't correct him for growling. :-) You'll train him to bite first with no warning instead.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on February 20, 2013 at 10:33am

You are creating a problem so you can  solve it and it's backfiring...  He has to be taught "drop it" and "give" , starting with objects that are low value to himb ( a rope toy for instance ), not a bone!  He should never be placed in the position to fail and  only be put in situations which he can handle well with some guidance from you and then be rewarded for success.  That gives you both a solid platform of confidence and mutual trust on which to build.  If you want to give him a bone at 12 wks, let him have it in peace.

• ▶ Reply