bc_girl

Hi again everyone I have contacted Cosmolo off the forum, I think in the next two weeks when I have the cash I will get her out to try and fix this. It is very upsetting when your gorgeous pup has such behavioural issues and is so loving and sweet otherwise. Strangely, when he has had bones stuck in his mouth (happened twice in the 5 years I have had him) he has come very sheepishly up to me for me to help him. I think he knows he's called my bluff, unfortunately although backing away when he growls is giving him a victory, I believe it would be pretty stupid to challenge him when I don't know how he would react Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

Actually I can get him away from it with his leash, but that doesn't really solve my problem as he will still growl the next time. The only other thing he 'resource guards' is ME - if another dog tries to get my attention, he will growl at them, but my trainer said he was being protective and to correct him for doing that. He honestly does not give a rats about toys, boring food, his bed etc. Cosmolo - The second visit was after I contacted the trainer to say the original strategies suggested weren't working - which was when they suggested just leaving him alone

Hi all It is my dog that Bundys_mum is talking about. The problem is not so much the cost of getting out another trainer, but the fact that I can't afford to get out another trainer and NOT solve the problem. If I have no luck in making some progress myself in the next week or so I will definitely seek further professional help, but being that I am a student and just forked out an entire week's wage to get a trainer out not just once but twice, to solve the problem to no avail, I'm not keen to do the same again right away. I believe the problem has worsened of late as I have followed the advice of the trainer and tried to reassert the pack hierarchy. I have been working on the triangle of temptation, which he does perfectly. He won't actually take the bone without me saying so, but once he has it I cannot approach him without a growl. Fortunately we don't have any young children around, but that is exactly why I am trying to solve this problem, I 100% agree with Bundys_mum that is is not acceptable. We did not just leave him to eat as a puppy, we did try to practise removing his food and he was fine. The problem is only with bones and as I got him as a 16yo, I never thought of the possible consequences of this possessiveness and stupidly did not practice doing the same with bones. Also, before anyone asks, he goes to obedience training, did puppy preschool, is socialized etc, we sincerely tried to do all the right things with him.