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  1. #1
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    Exclamation Possessive of Me?

    I have a 4 month old female lab. She's a very exciteable puppy who's obsessed with bumpers. However I've come across a problem I've never had before, she's beginning to become possessive of me. I took her to a puppy play class and she pretty much ignored the other puppies but when she WAS playing with a bulldog under my legs and again with another lab puppy, she attacked them! Growling, shaking her head hard and she was clamped on really tight. Everytime they were playing near me she would do the same thing. How can I nip this in the bud before she gets older or before it becomes a constant thing?

  2. #2
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    How much socialization with other dogs is the puppy getting? Meaning off lead time to play? Growling, head shaking and biting down is all part of puppy play when they are younger. Granted when they are adults, that kind of play can be more of something else, but with a 4 month old, it might be bratty playtime. What did the trainer say?

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    What does she do when you pet, fuss up another puppy? Some dogs do resource guard their owner. My sister's dog did and it was serious. Laddie would happily play with the other dog till Sis pet the other dog. Then he'd beat it up.

    But I also find that when dogs play they often like to be around my feet, between my legs. It's as if they want to include me or the other owner.

    Maybe my dogs just don't resource guard me but I did make a point of having mine and the other one sit and treat them both. My way of saying the other dog's presence is good, gets treats. With the other owner's permission of course.

    Yes, what did the class instructor say?

  4. #4
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    She jumps between me and my other dogs when I try to pet them but I usually have her sit and wait her turn and she stops but at the class the instructor just told me to stop her and get up and walk away. He said she was bonding very strongly and quickly to me since she's been separated from our other dog (who is the only one who plays with her) since he got neutered a few days ago.


    She plays pretty rough with my other dogs and she spends most of her time sniffing the ground at the puppy play and at the dog park she greets the dogs but is more interested in me and whatever toy we're playing with.


    This is didn't seem like play and even the instructor had to stop the class to intervene. I was thinking about taking her to day care so she has more exposure to other puppies/dogs and learns to play without being distracted by me. Do you think this would be a good idea?

  5. #5
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    I bet she's just being too rough and bratty, not possessive. She is too young. However, dogs that are obsessed with balls and other toys versus people and other dogs have more of a tendency to resource guard and be anti-social. Which is not a typical Lab behavior. Have you spoken with the breeder? Doggie daycare with a staff of professionals may not be a bad idea for her, but only if she is with other younger dogs that are her size and dogs that have a proven record of playing well with others. Also, I would do the NILIF with her and be sure that you are being consistent with all rules, especially as they pertain to her stuff and food. I have seen dogs that are nasty to other dogs when their owner is around, but when the owner is gone they play well with others.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Labradorks View Post
    I bet she's just being too rough and bratty, not possessive. She is too young. However, dogs that are obsessed with balls and other toys versus people and other dogs have more of a tendency to resource guard and be anti-social. Which is not a typical Lab behavior. Have you spoken with the breeder? Doggie daycare with a staff of professionals may not be a bad idea for her, but only if she is with other younger dogs that are her size and dogs that have a proven record of playing well with others. Also, I would do the NILIF with her and be sure that you are being consistent with all rules, especially as they pertain to her stuff and food. I have seen dogs that are nasty to other dogs when their owner is around, but when the owner is gone they play well with others.

    She isn't possessive so far with food or toys, I can take her food or toys away without a problem and I haven't seen any possessive behavior with food or toys around my other dogs so far. The daycare has trainers overlooking the play and they say they can help with behavior issues if they arrive, they are also grouped together based on size and age.

  7. #7
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lobita View Post
    She isn't possessive so far with food or toys, I can take her food or toys away without a problem and I haven't seen any possessive behavior with food or toys around my other dogs so far. The daycare has trainers overlooking the play and they say they can help with behavior issues if they arrive, they are also grouped together based on size and age.
    Why are you taking her food away? There's old, misguided advice out there that regularly messing with your dog's food will prevent food guarding. BUT, reputable research (Skinner, animal behaviour) shows that is not so. Worse, what the research does show is messing with food can Create a food guarding dog where you might not have had a problem.

    The CAPPDT thinks so highly of this article from Doggone Safe that they put it on their website. Both sites have lots of other good information.


    https://www.cappdt.ca/UserFiles/File/...%20parents.pdf

  8. #8
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    We don't take food away either. We will put our hands in their food bowl and let the eat around us. When one of the dogs gets grabby with a toy we take it away and put it up. As far as being possessive of you, try putting her in situations where she would be jealous and treat her when she is good and gives you the behavior that you want. Once she starts giving you that behavior start linking it to a command, like settle or place.

 



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