monicaei

HI

I want to preface this with the following facts-

1. Julian is 8 years old and has NEVER been an aggressive dog. Perhaps overly spoiled but sweet and even tempered.

2. In the last 6 weeks she has gone through ALOT. Her 11 year old brother dies, we brought a new rescue puppy (1 year old) home, the power went out due to a hurricane for over a week, and there have been relatives and their dogs in our house due to the storm.

That being said- today she lost her little dober mind. We gave the dogs a knuckle bone, in two pieces so they could each have one. Leo (the new boy) tends to steal her chews and toys, but this bone she was guarding. Mostly low growls and laying on it. But he went for it and she just lost it. Teeth bared, overly aggressive and the message was clear. Not normal posturing. Most troubling was although I could take the bone from her she never submitted until we flipped her over and made her. SHe got put in her room to cool off and then a long walk at heel, practicing all obidence commands to remind her who is in charge. She is a great dog. The kind of dog who walks at heel off leash, has been well socialized her whole life and a treasured member of the family. I am so upset right now. We didnt raise a mean dog!!! ADVICE PLEASE

Reds

Unless you continue to have aggression issues with her, I would chalk this up to her just feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Dogs pickup on the emotions around them, and it sounds like you had a very hectic stressed out house.

Sounds like you dealt with the situation quite nicely. I hope everyone's home was left alone from the storm.

I really do believe that dogs live in the moment, and most likely Julian's forgot all about.

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Brotherly Love

greenkouki

I think she needs to be separated from the new guy some more. They are just getting used to each other and he has obviously pushed the limits. I don't blame her. I definitely wouldn't have just sat and watched it escalate though! I do think it would be nice to get them out and do things together, so they will develop more of a partnership. It is a bit concerning that she did not let you have the bone, but I think she was just really "in the zone" at the time of the incident. Hope to hear some better news soon

Kahlua

The poor girl is probably so stressed she was bound to break down at some point and the pushy newcomer was asking for it. She made her point and you have made yours. I think things will be ok, but I wouldn't try giving special treats that aren't eaten right away until things are settled down and you can supervise if he tries to steal hers again. Obedience lessons/reviews with both should also help. Good luck.

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DSDI 047

ellenm

Keep all high value items/toys away from them if they are out together loose. Put them in separate rooms, or crates to chew on bones. Definitely walk them and exercise them together if they are fine being out running as a twosome.
IMO,
It sounds like the new dog just got way too pushy and rude and your girl told him off in no uncertain terms. With a houseful of strange people and dogs, the loss of her old pal, and this new intruder in her life....she just had had enough! The stealing of her prized bone was just the last straw!!! It sounds like she had been warning him over a period of time, lying on her toys to keep them form being stolen, etc. Her escalating into a growl, bark and a bite is normal dog behavior to defend her stuff. She didn't launch into a full blown attack and give him gobs of puncture wounds did she?

I would not read too much into her guarding the bone from you in the heat of the moment, unless she's done that before. At age 8, it doesn't sound like she's suddenly going to go off the deep end with humans over food if she never has before. You know her better than any of us, however.

** Rereading your earlier post...what did you mean by she never submitted? Were you asking her to down and roll on her side with the other dog right there? She did let you take the bone away, right? I'm confused....

monicaei

No, thats whats got me so upset. She has NEVER had food guarding issues. We worked on that well into adulthood. Its MY food/bone/whatever. This is a first (except as a very young pup, but that hardly counts). I have already called the trainer we went through obedience classes with to schedule Leo- it was the first thing we did after the walk. Shes going back for a refresher as well! But as far as that goes she is very well trained. I just want a more professional opinion. I have no desire to have an old cranky bitch

bubsy

She was resource guarding a very high value item...a real bone. If I have 2 dogs here and want to give bones, they both go into crates to enjoy them in peace. I would not have let your boy get into her space while she was chewing on that bone. Murphy will guard a bone with his life from others dogs, but I can take it away from him at any time...BUT that was something I worked on with trade offs and leave its. Are you saying that she only gave up the bone because you alpha rolled her? Or she gave up the bone and then you rolled her? I would never give the 2 dogs bones again unless they are safely separated...and I would work on her dropping high value items for you.
Resource Guarding
If you're interested, this is a good read:
Amazon.com: Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs: Jean Donaldson: Books

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monicaei

Oh and I meant that even though she let me take the bone she never put the teeth back in her mouth and tried to stare me down. And yes I put her down on her side and make her look away after that.

ellenm

Good for you for calling a professional who already knows the dog. She can evaluate the dogs together and give you some good advice.

In the words of my breeder however, "they don't call them bitches for nothing!" My two year old girl runs circles around my sweet 5 yr old neutered male. She stole everything from him until he finally growled and mouthed her after tolerating a lot of thefts for about 30 days! He stood up for himself and she respects that his toys/bones are his. I did not reprimand him for standing up for his own stuff. I knew he would not hurt her, just make a point. That's when you have to really know your dogs....another dog may have escalated into a serious bite on the younger dog.

I only give bones with the dogs separated now or with a family member in the same room supervising.

bubsy

Ok, when you were trying to take the bone away where was the boy? Was he hanging around?

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