[JM87]

I currently have two dogs: a dachshund mix (11 months) and a pure pomeranian (4 months).

I recently bought mini rawhide bones for my dogs to chew on.
I gave them each a bone, but my dachshund chose to set aside the bone I gave him. Instead, he went and snatched my pomeranian's bone away. When my pomeranian tried to bring her bone back, my dachshund started to become very aggressive. Although he did not bite her, he growled and pounced on her in a very unfriendly manner.

After I took the bone away, they went back to playfully fighting in the backyard and then they took a nap together in the same bed as they always do.

I'm not sure if I should be so worried. He has always been a very sweet and loving dog, but his behavior shocked me that night. He has never shown any signs of aggression until this incident. Any ideas/comments?

 

[pawzaddict]

That is called resource guarding. There is a good sticky on it I will find for you

 

[pawzaddict]

http://www.dogforum.com/dog-behavior/resource-guarding-causes-prevention-modification-7511/

and welcome to the forum

 

[fawkese1]

ditto pawz, that sticky is really helpful, i would recommend reading that, then we can answer questions you have about it... RG is very VERY normal behavior for dogs, it can be a little unsettling though, but you'll see some suggested solutions in that sticky, for now, i would feed the dogs/give them bones when they are separated only

 

[JM87]

Thank you

I already hand-feed him daily, and he is only protective of his bone. Should I consider only giving him bones when he is away from other dogs? Is this something I shouldn't be trying to correct?

 

[fawkese1]

Thank you

I already hand-feed him daily, and he is only protective of his bone. Should I consider only giving him bones when he is away from other dogs? Is this something I shouldn't be trying to correct?

i would say, only give him bones when he is away from other dogs, but you might want to work on some things like positive interrupters, drop it and leave it, for just in case moments...

 

[catflwrs185]

My 3 year old chihuahua/basenji mix does the same thing when my sister's 1 year old poodle mix is over. They usually take turns, but when my dog is chewing it, my sister's dog gets in face. He usually gets pinned for snapping at her. Then no more bone. He RG when I'm around but only when he has a tendon.

 

[kmes]

My 3 year old chihuahua/basenji mix does the same thing when my sister's 1 year old poodle mix is over. They usually take turns, but when my dog is chewing it, my sister's dog gets in face. He usually gets pinned for snapping at her. Then no more bone. He RG when I'm around but only when he has a tendon.

Pinning down a dog is not a good idea...
It really scares the dog and often results in a bite. Not to mention that what you are doing can actually cause your dog to guard more!
Catflwrs, please check out the resource guarding thread that Pawz linked to! It will show you the right way to deal with resource guarding.

 

[catflwrs185]

Thank you, but I've worked with dogs for 4 years and was in pet retail. So I know what I'm doing. Although you're right, I wouldn't suggest pinning a dog down if someone doesn't know what they are doing.

 

[Criosphynx]

Thank you, but I've worked with dogs for 4 years and was in pet retail. So I know what I'm doing. Although you're right, I wouldn't suggest pinning a dog down if someone doesn't know what they are doing.

Ok, if we are playing that card. I have worked in "pet retail" for ten years, including kennel work/grooming and exotics, most of which, as top manager/aniimal wrangler, and I would never recommend pinning a dog, even if som'one "knows what they are doing". Thats dangerous advice. Dangerous. Thats how people and kids get nailed.

please read the RG sticky Please.

 

[catflwrs185]

Not like i was telling anyone one too. It's what I do and I know how my dog will react. People have different ways of dealing with situations.

 

[DJEtzel]

Thank you, but I've worked with dogs for 4 years and was in pet retail. So I know what I'm doing. Although you're right, I wouldn't suggest pinning a dog down if someone doesn't know what they are doing.

Not like i was telling anyone one too. It's what I do and I know how my dog will react. People have different ways of dealing with situations.

Your dog isn't learning anything except for fear though. This is all part of the bs dominance theory.

 

[pawzaddict]

Pinning a dog, rolling a dog, doing whatever where the outcome is you scared the dog, is not good. Stick to positive reinforcement and it will work. Also ditto fawkese on working on drop its, leave its, give its, etc etc. But with you not the other dog

 

[fawkese1]

My 3 year old chihuahua/basenji mix does the same thing when my sister's 1 year old poodle mix is over. They usually take turns, but when my dog is chewing it, my sister's dog gets in face. He usually gets pinned for snapping at her. Then no more bone. He RG when I'm around but only when he has a tendon.

http://www.dogforum.com/dog-training/training-please-read-before-posting-4330/

many methods can be considered abusive, and are so aversive that we feel as a team they are not safe to recommend over the internet. The Dog forum team reserves the right to make a judgement call as to what they feel is harmful advice. Physically aversive methods should only be used under strict direction of a professional in real life and not recommended on an internet forum

pinning a dog falls into this category... please do not give this advice on this forum again. working in pet retail does not qualify you to give this advice, and though i understand that you are getting what you might believe to be a desired result from doing this to your dog, i assure you that the dog is learning little more than to fear you. there are much less intimidating and more effective means of communicating to a dog what you want/don't want, at a minimum there are less dangerous routes you can take when choosing a training method/technique. please read the thread i linked to and if you have any questions about it feel free to ask. i hope that you will hang out with us and continue to share and learn with us but as stated in the sticky, there are certain things that are not appropriate to an internet forum and should be left to a professional IF you choose to go that route. thanks.

 

[sea]

Some dogs are like that, it may have to do with insecurity as well as competition when it comes to the ownership of some things. I have had some dogs who would bite my other dogs if they thought the other dogs was looking at their food or if the other dogs came too close to them while they were eating, those dogs that I had that behaved like that otherwise behaved quite normally, just except for that one quirk.