By Doug & Elizabeth Simpson Owners of Tenderfoot Training
Playing well with others is very important to all dogs, and sharing their toys is a big part of that. Does your dog tend to stand over his toys in a protective manner? Does he trot off under the table to protect his toy? Does he bare his teeth or give a low growl when anyone approaches his toys? Worst yet, does he snap or attack if anyone gets too close? You have three choices when dealing with problems like this: Be proactive, practice, or manage it.
Be proactive by teaching your dog to "drop it" and "take it." This teaches a dog to give things to you and not claim them for his own. Sit next to your dog (on leash, so he can't escape with the toy) and hold something firm, like a bully stick, in your hand. Have the dog sit by you and offer him the stick with a word like "take it." Keep holding the stick while the dog is chewing on it; just like two dogs sharing the same toy should be well mannered.
The dog should only chew on the stick for a short period of time, 5-10 seconds, before they get too involved sharp (not loud) direction like "drop it" at the same time that you lean your upper body towards the dog. Do not lean over the dog "“ only lean in towards him slightly. The dog should release the stick and then you lean back with the stick in your hand and praise with "good drop" in a warm, whispery tone. Only when the dog is calm and not demanding the stick back will you repeat the drill. Ideally you will wait until the dog looks into your eyes for permission to chew the stick, and then you will let him have it. Calmness and good manners always win.
Saying "drop" in a mildly startling manner disrupts the dog's focus on the toy; leaning towards the dog is pressure. Closing your distance is a form of pressure, like someone stepping into your space, and leaning back is a release. You are not acting in a threatening manner, but simply claiming what is yours. If the dog does not drop the stick then you can give it a quick twist, which helps him to release it, then praise warmly as if he gave it up himself.
Another option is to trade a better item for the toy to convince the dog to relinquish the toy: You give me what's in your mouth and I will give you a cookie. That can work, but what if they don't think the cookie is better than the steak they just stole off the counter? You have to search for a better item and by then he has possibly swallowed the first item. Or are you teaching the dog that when they guard a toy they get a treat? Best to teach good manners in the first place, and then it will never be an issue.
When your dog is good at releasing the item after 5-10 seconds of chewing, then increase the time he is allowed to chew, so as he gets more invested he still has to practice releasing it to you. Increase the time to 20 seconds, then 45 seconds, etc. The next step is to repeat the process without holding the stick. When you remove your hand from the stick, it becomes their possession and the dog might decide to challenge you. Because you are testing your dog at a higher level, you have to begin again at 5-10 seconds and increase the time from there.
Practice this drill every day and with lots of different items. You should be able to just walk past your dog chewing on a toy and say "drop it" and he does. As he gets good at this you can increase the value of the item to ensure that he can handle all levels of distraction, including a meaty bone. In all of our drills we quickly increase time, energy (learn to handle the energy in the world while remaining calm), and our distance away from dogs which is the distance of respect. Some dogs are great when you are two feet away from them, but what about when you are 20 feet away?
If you have acquired a dog who already has serious guarding behaviors, please find a great trainer who can help you. Intense resource guarding is not for the light hearted. It takes patience, knowledge, and confidence to help a dog overcome this issue. Giving up on the dog is not the answer. If you pass on a dog who has this behavior issue he is likely to end up drifting from home to home as each family surrenders their responsibility, or he could be euthanized. This is a trainable situation and even in the worst-case scenario it is still manageable. Until you are able to get the help you need, you should prevent the opportunity for anyone to encounter this dog when he has an item of value by placing him in his own room or crate while he enjoys his toy. It is your job to keep everyone safe.
Everything belongs to the true leader of the pack. If a dog is claiming anything as his own, it is usually a lack of respect for the leader. Relationship is a balance of love, trust, and respect. This is not about dominating your dog, but about being a thoughtful, responsible dog owner. The leader always has the best interests of his pack at heart, and a well-mannered pack is a safe and happy pack.
Love Them and Lead Them.
About the Trainers: Doug and Elizabeth Simpson have worked with animals all of their lives and are thrilled to share their knowledge and understanding of dogs with their people. With 30 years of experience their methods are tried and true. They attribute this to good socialization, fair and consistent training and lots of love. Tenderfoot Training www.tenderfoottraining.com (303) 444-7780
