Dogs Guarding Me

[ClareL]

Hi, I have a new dog staying with us for a while and just wanted some advice on making sure she gets along with my other 2.

We did the intro at the park which went well, she had a snap at the first dog as she could smell the treat he just had so she is a bit food protective so we are being careful so that and its been fine.

With the other dog he wants to play all day and annoys her a bit so we have had a few grumbles but nothing too serious. So we are happy with that.

The main issue is both she and the first dog seem to be protective of me and get in grumbles while we sit on the couch both wanting the other to go away. Just wondering the best way to deal with this?

Sorry its so long just wanted to give background in case it helps. They are being kept separate during the day so no issues when we aren't home

[Aidan]

The main issue is both she and the first dog seem to be protective of me and get in grumbles while we sit on the couch both wanting the other to go away. Just wondering the best way to deal with this?

Let me get this straight, there is you, the new foster, and one of your existing dogs all on the couch together, and both dogs have a bit of a grumble?

If the foster isn't staying long then it's probably easiest to just have one in the crate and let them take turns. That's the laziest thing you could possibly do, so I'm in favour of it!

If you want them to be able to do this and the foster might stay a while, then the consequence of grumbling could be getting put in the crate, or if they are trained really well, to stay on a mat for a while. It doesn't need to be long, a couple of minutes. The idea is to provide a 'cost' for the action, but not to increase anxiety, so keep it all low key and calm.

How bad is the food guarding? Sounds like a bit of resource guarder. I would want to be able to give one dog a treat, then the other, sitting next to each other. It's the "doggy zen" thing, "to get the thing, I must show some self-control". The basic doggy zen exercise is a good place to start.

[poodlefan]

What you view as "protection" may be no more noble than the behaviour both dogs would display over a bone.

It may be resource guarding. I'd not be giving any short term foster dog the same privileges as my own. No couch privileges for the new girl.

Edited August 3, 2009 by poodlefan

[ClareL]

Thanks

Food isn't bad, my boy tends to drop the treat on the floor before eating it so she trys to steal it and scare him off but i thought it might help with the other behaviour. They can all eat together but she now has hers in another room just in case.

We will try the crating thing with the grumbles, it isn't bad and it probably is just normal interaction but I just want to make sure it doesn't get worse

[Aidan]

Food isn't bad, my boy tends to drop the treat on the floor before eating it so she trys to steal it and scare him off but i thought it might help with the other behaviour.

It's not bad, but I would consider it to be a problem. Once you have done the basic "doggy zen" exercise, you then have both dogs in a sit side by side. Give one dog a treat, then the other so long as they don't try to butt in. When they can do that with no problems, you can do stuff like make them wait with treats in front of them until released to eat.

When that sort of thing is easy, toss kibbles on the ground so that you keep the dogs eating about 5' away from each other, then bring them closer together.

If you see any signs of anxiety any time, end the exercise. Take a break, then back it up a few steps and try again. Ensure everyone is safe at all times, don't push it.