4 month old Corgi snaps at other dogs when food is present
Hello! I have a 4 month old Pembroke named Ruby. She is just darling and I'm so excited to have a Corgi. She is not only my first Corgi but also my first ever dog. Because of that I have some behavior and training questions.
Ruby is the runt of her litter and initially seemed a little shy when I first met her at the breeders, but once I took her home to stay a week later she was very outgoing. (I met her at 8 weeks, took her home at 9--I'm thinking she was in a fear stage and maybe that's why she initially seemed shy.) Even though she seemed shy, she was very snuggly when we held her so we fell in love. She got over her shyness soon enough and she approaches everyone happily and wants to say hi. She's friendly with other dogs almost always--except when food is involved.
She's snapped at my boyfriend's yellow lap when she thought he was taking her food, although it wasn't anything crazy at that time. She's never snapped at a person while they were eating and she doesn't snap or react if I take food away from her--she seems submissive to people. But I brought her to my niece's birthday party and the neighbor stopped by with her basset hound (a very calm dog) and Ruby snapped and lunged and seemed like she was going to attack the dog--it was very, very scary. I had never seen that side of her. She's always been fine with my boyfriend's dog and his mom's two dogs other than minor things at feeding times. This time it seemed like she could have been dangerous and the dog did nothing to provoke her. Ruby was eating a little bit of hamburger that someone gave her at the time and I think she was protecting her food.
Anyway, since then she's been very pleasant to other dogs and people like usual, but I'm worried if this is going to develop into a serious problem and how I can nip it in the bud. I'm worried that if I have children in a couple years that ruby might snap or bite at them when they're eating. She's great with adults and she loves my niece, although my niece is 6 years old and I've never seen her with children any younger so I don't know how she'd be with a baby. Also, I don't want her hurting other dogs. I don't know what she was thinking trying to take on a dog that had 60 pounds on her!
Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ludi on
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Ruby has a very common issue in dogs, called Resource Guarding. It truly is a "Jekyll and Hyde" sort of thing - Ace had this himself, but only around his raw dinner. Otherwise, he adored other dogs. We worked through it with desensitizing training and now, Ace will cede his food not just to humans, but to other dogs and even cats. It is a dream!
I HIGHLY recommend this book: MINE! by Jean Donaldson. It is a comprehensive look into resource guarding, and how to eliminate it. Do not worry about your future with Ruby - this issue can and should be sorted out in a matter of weeks. :-)
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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Thank you very much, that is so so helpful! I'm definitely going to buy the book. I'm very encouraged by your response. :)
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I am glad. :) Look around on the 'net for more resources about RG in the mean time. Ace's issue with RG lasted just a short few weeks. It is definitely not something you'll have to learn to live with. :)
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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I have had to work with a few pups on this and what I did was sit and feed them switching offhand feeding between the 2. Do you have someone that has a dog and is willing to let you do this?I would put a leash on and she doesn't get the food till she is sitting and quite.
I also get down on the floor with my pups and even adults and pretend I am eating with them. This helps them learn that others can also eat their food. I can line up my adults in a row and let them eat together BUT they learned this as a pup and have done it all their lives.
The sooner the better...
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Permalink Reply by Vicki/Kurt Pegel on
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I just read the reviews on the book "Mine" and said it only explains how to correct resource guarding with humans, it doesnt tell how to correct it when they guard from other dogs. Does anyone know of a good book to help with guarding from other dogs.
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Permalink Reply by Diane on
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I'd like to know too! We did a fair amount of (much needed) work on resource guarding with humans... but resource guarding with other dogs is a whole different issue, mostly because it's hard to practice with only one dog... Of course I guess the solution to that is to get another one ;->
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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My Sparty is not reliable around other dogs when food is involved. I have always made sure to feed him several feet away from our other dogs and if he is getting a treat I make sure that it is very clear who gets what. He bit my neighbor's dog when she was tossing treats to them. I just am careful to keep him leashed when around strange dogs and food. I find if it is clear to him that the food is not his he is ok. Dragging a leash or short rope around while you are training will help you safely gain control using the leave it command.
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