10 month old doxie beginning resource guarding

Hi Aidan,
I know you have an article you recommend on this topic, but I can't seem to find it.
It started with a treasure he found on a walk-was able to trade for squeaky ball-but it was the first time he growled at me.
Today he did the same with a turkey neck - this was a new treat for him, he didn't have a problem with beef bones. I was able to trade him for a handful of boiled liver bits.
His owner is very permissive on many levels as you may recall, even tho we have started working with a trainer. What do you think about the nothing in life is free protocol while I also work on the resource guarding?
Many thanks-Jen

Comments

Aidan's picture

NILIF and resource guarding

Hi Jen, I think NILIF is a good idea all the time, even with dogs who are not resource guarders. There are varying degrees of NILIF (which is an oxymoron, I know!)

The Resource Guarding article is here:
http://positivepetzine.com/food_guarding

Regards,
Aidan
http://www.positivepetzine.com

shalinix's picture

Can this be adapted to territorial guarding?

Hi Aidan,
Just wondered if and how these principles could be adapted to territory guarding within the house. I have two dogs: Data, a 6 yr old male standard dachshund, whom I've had since he was 8 weeks old; and Bijli, a 2 year old female mixed breed, who was running around as a lone stray puppy for about a month before we were able to catch her and bring her home at approximately 12 weeks. Initially, Data slept on my bed and Bijli on her own bed in my bedroom, until April this year, when due to medical reasons (mine) they had to be kept out of my room. Since the ban was lifted, I find there has been a shift in doggie dynamics. Bijli has now established herself as the boss of my bedroom, and Data sleeps in the living room. Any attempts by him to enter (even if invited in by me), results in loud protests and his being chased into another part of the house. So far there has been no physical damage to either, but I am feeling a bit out of control in my own home. I should add that the only time Data gets snarky with her is if she approaches when he is in my lap for our ritual evening cuddle. Otherwise he seems to have become quieter and somewhat depressed. I hope you can help, as I can't find either a behaviourist or clicker trainer in my city (New Delhi, India) and positive training books are hard to come by here.
Thanks very much,
best regards,
Shalini

Aidan's picture

re: Can this be adapted to territorial guarding?

Hi Shalini, yes it can be adapted to territorial guarding, the principles are much the same.

This is resource guarding. The resources are the bedroom, and you.

Complete up to Step 2 first, for a good foundation.

Bedroom:
Ban both dogs from the bedroom. It's setting up too great an opportunity for Bijli to exploit, and I feel that the easiest effective solution would be to simply keep them both out of the bedroom.

Ritual Evening Cuddles:
Train both dogs to "Go to Mat" and stay there using the instructions found in The Book of Training Levels.

The idea here is that YOU take control over who gets a cuddle and who doesn't, not either of your dogs.

You take this control by asking one dog to stay on their Mat while you cuddle the other. Brief cuddles at first, work up to longer and longer periods.

What I do is actually have both dogs on their respective mats, then go to them individually. Neither dog is to leave their mat or there are no cuddles for anyone.

If you just give brief cuddles and alternate between dogs quickly you can get many trials in a cuddle session and start building up your times very quickly.

Regards,
Aidan
http://www.positivepetzine.com