Hi
I am after some advice from others who have experience with resource guarders.
My dog is nearly 2 years old and I first saw signs of his guarding on the car trip home when he was 8 weeks old, blocking a toy from me and letting out a quite growl. I didn't think much of it at the time.
I always feed my dogs in separate rooms and when I would put his food down as a pup he would rush over and lay over of the bowl and would growl at anything/anyone that was near by, I never tried to take food away from him I was just walking past to leave the room. He also started to block the water bowl from my adult dogs so they were separated when I was not home. I was extremely worried about this as he was only a young puppy and got advice from different trainers and organised a trainer to come to our house when he was around 3-4 months old.
When the trainer came for our first session he was on his best behaviour and didn't show any signs of guarding. I was lent a few books and was given a training/managing plan which we stuck to. After this he did show improvement and had very good meal time manners and would sit and wait for his food and would not eat until he heard we said ok and no longer growled at me when I walked past or was in the same room while he was eating.
I have continued his training and always made sure then he had high valued treats that he is separated from the other dogs and that he was left alone. But he will give me things when needed, for example things he should have.
We were managing quite well until the past few months where he guards dog toys from the other dogs and humans, so toys were are left out unsupervised or they dogs were keeped separately. He will have a toy and sit next to you on the lounge and growl and if anyone approaches he will snap. You can't even pat him without he becoming stiff and growl.
Unfortunately my parents have been getting really angry with him and yell and snatch things off him which is only making the problem worse. Yesterday he found something in the backyard which he should not of had and my father cornered him, scruffed and pinned him down and yanked if off him as he was growling and when he let him go he bit my father.
I have booked another training session.
I am concerned that he's behaviour is getting worse I and I fear that he will start guarding me from my other animals soon.
So my question is when do you draw the line and try medication?
Has anyone else with a resource guarder used medication to calm they dogs and had success?
Sorry for the long post.
