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Guarding instinct? Getting worried.
 D i t z s t r e s s e d { Doodle empire โฅ } August 20th, 2013 8:45:29pm 3 Posts |
I currently own a one year old yellow Labrador x Pitbull mix. I rescued my baby at 8weeks old from a no kill shelter and shortly after I got him we began going to the dog park. Living in a major city I wanted to expose my dog to everything possible so he would be as well adjusted as he could be as an adult. When he was younger, he showed no signs of aggression. Lately however he has been having the instinct to protect me. At the park he gets incredibly jealous and will stand over my bag if I bring one in or hover over my camera. He's also getting out of hand when other dogs have toys. If they don't willingly give them up he snaps at them. While he's never bitten another dog, I'm not taking the risk to wait for it to happen. We just had our Pitbull ban lifted a year and a half ago but a lot of people are still against the breed. I'm wondering if anybody has advice on how to break this. Again it is STRICTLY with dogs. I'll also throw in that I have a 2 year old Chihuahua who he has never had an altercation with and will willingly give him toys (she's quite submissive.) I wish people could see the well mannered side and not the cranky pup that's not getting his way or feels the need to circle me.. Again if anybody has any advice it would be welcome.
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 Farewell's Paint Horses {finals time - please hold} August 20th, 2013 8:56:41pm 1,037 Posts |
It all starts with the at home training. My lab has snapped a couple of times at other dogs for being to close. I have had to literally wrestle her away. We didn't have her until after she was 1 and after a few months she became very attached to me. You might want to try a dog whistle or squeezing an empty water bottle for the crackling noise or whatever kind of scares/distracts him so when he tries to do so and he hears that sound he will start to realize that if he deoesn't do it he want have to deal with the noise. |
 Concourse [but as she was leaving, it felt like breathing] August 22nd, 2013 6:18:17pm 2,902 Posts |
Some dogs are just protective. I have paid out the butt for trainers to break my German Shepherd X from this and they can't. She does fine, but is overly protective of me and toys UNLESS my fiancee is around. The issue is, and I am working on this, (was explained by my trainer) the dog doesn't think you can protect yourself.  |
 CopperMoments || Making Graphics Again August 28th, 2013 4:25:53pm 146 Posts |
Toys are okay at dog parks if you are actively watching your dog and his behaviours, food should never be at a dog park just because its hit or miss on which owners would even allow there dog to have a snack from a stranger [i never allow it unless im in my home doing the training and hand them the snack the dog is going to get] There are ways of working with the dog at a dog park. You have to make it positive and make sure that the dog is comfortable in its own skin in a new place with new dogs.My Anatol mix harley was bullied at a dog park at the age of 8 months due to someone not watching there dog, i took him back another time to show him its okay but he did the whole guarding issue over me that you are seeing. I did quit taking him till recently after I moved. Me and a co-worker go one in a blue moon, just me and her, harley and one of her dogs. Im teaching him yeah dog parks are scary but its okay, eventually I will be taking him with more then just us cause hes improved dramatically with all of the at home training and obedience I have done with him.I would work with him at home for a little. not allow toys out when him and the chihuahua are out, that could be starting the guarding issue with toys, he knows shes willing to drop those and not try to take them back because shes so submissive, IF you do have toys out with both of them watch them, anytime he tries to just take the toy from her don't let him, make a loud noise do something to keep him from taking it, if he takes it take it back and give back to her. He needs to learn its not okay. I hope this helps some. Sorry for such a long response. |
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