If the object is non-essential, it can be removed from the home, such as a toy. Just make sure you have a valuable reward. Blocking off areas so that the dog does not have access to certain items might also be necessary. They go hungry and die. It’s also the number-one reason why pet parents seek professional help from behaviorists, trainers and veterinarians. Put a bland food in one bowl. She is also the founder of The Vetitud, a site for veterinary professionals. Have at least two of all toys and beds but remove food-based toys unless supervised. Territorial aggression can be seen in dogs that attack strangers, such as the mailman, for no reason. If your dog has this problem, it may growl, snap, or bite to protect a resource, such as food, toys, beds, or other objects, from being taken away by another dog or person. Over time, your pet will learn that there is no need to protect its possessions. Reasons for resource guarding may include: If the sign your dog exhibits is growling, be sure you are dealing with the growling properly. Possessive Aggression in Dogs. After all, you can always manage toy possessiveness by removing it, or manage food possessiveness by providing more of it. If the dog already has the item, he will need to have been taught a “give” or “drop it” command that tells him to give up the object for a reward. For some dogs, a diversion with something else they really want to do will result in them leaving an object. You may need the help of an animal behaviorist to deal with a possessive dog’s aggression. This problem is dangerous and serious and requires the intervention of a veterinary behaviorist. Most dominant dogs are also possessive dogs. Signs of possessive aggression can be a component of dominance aggression where other bad behaviors are observed. Check out our Leerburg Questions and Answers with nearly 3000 previously answered questions. As always, if you feel as if your dog may pointedly bite or attack you please, please seek the help of a boarded veterinary behaviorist. Instead, teach your dog to trust you around its treasures. Using a leash can help ensure success at the outset with a minimum of confrontation (see Handling and Food Bowl Exercises). Highly valued items (e.g., the ones the dog is most likely to protect) such as rawhide bones, pig’s ears, etc., should not be given to the dog at all during this initial training period. According to Dr. Spano, there are also less obvious signs that your dog may be developing — or exhibiting — possessive aggression. We’re committed to keeping clients and staff safe during COVID-19 with NEW admittance and check-out processes. Approaching calmly, offering a food reward and taking the possession, praising the puppy and returning the object teaches the puppy that your actions are not to be feared. The worst thing you can do is to force your dog to give up the item he's protecting. It’s important to remember that the aforementioned tips should only be attempted when your dog is exhibiting mild possessive tendencies. Note that what your dog considers an object worthy of possessing may not be something you think has any value. This aggression […] Just as their wild relatives, like wild dogs and wolves, they would form their own territories and would protect it from intruders. It's better to find a way to convince your dog that giving up the item means something good will happen. At first it may be best to confine or supervise your dog so that it cannot gain access to any items that it might pick up and protect. They may solicit attention and then respond to the attention with a challenge. To determine whether your dog is displaying possession aggression, watch it closely for signs of aggressive behavior in certain situations: Different dogs may display different degrees of aggression. Booby traps (Snappy Trainers™, motion detectors, unpleasant tastes) can also be used to teach your dog to stay away from selected objects and areas. Often the dog will present the object for play, and then strike when the owner reaches for the object. There are multiple reasons that a dog may exhibit aggression toward family members. Different dogs display aggression differently as well. If your dog is actually trying to bite, you must be very careful. A territorial dog may show signs of aggression when another human or animal approaches the item he feels possessive of, such as a toy or even his favorite human. It might also be possible to train your dog to “leave” items and not pick them up again if you can effectively supervise (see Teaching Give and Drop and Stealing and Stay Away). But the same dog may snap or growl if it's approached while it's chewing on a pig's ear. Possessive aggression occurs only when the dog is defending an object. The treatment of possessive aggression involves a number of options. Some dogs only show aggression in connection with a specific object and nothing else. If a puppy is eating, calmly approaching and talking softly while perhaps petting and dropping delectable food treats into the bowl may help some puppies learn that your approach is nonthreatening. Get Help From a Professional. Some trainers recommend a multi-step process that conditions a dog to willingly move on from a resource. When someone says their dog is aggressive, the first thing that comes to mind is that they have a dog that bites, but aggression can mean a lot of different things. Dogs that protect their treats or toys should have them taken away, and only allowed access to them when alone in the crate or confinement room. When they were in the wild, dogs needed to compete for everything including food, mates and nesting places. Repeat the exercise often, each time your dog is resource guarding. Of course, if there are items that your dog might steal and then protect, you should keep them out of the dog’s reach by using sealed containers, or keeping them behind closed doors or high enough that the dog cannot reach. Dogs that do not relinquish toys or objects to owners. When a dog shows aggression to protect his food, it can be a serious issue. It could be a wide range of items; not just the obvious. For instance, a dog may not care if people or other animals approach while it's playing with a toy. The key introducing a new dog to a jealous dog is to get a dog that will back off quickly to signs from your current dog and will also not push your current dog to “do something about” the new guy’s behavior. When a dog behaves aggressively toward people or other animals that approach valued objects, the behavior is described as possession aggression. â ¢ Possessive aggression: When aggression is directed toward a person that the dog views approaching something of high value (food, toys, family members). Although protecting possessions may be necessary if an animal needs to survive and thrive in the wild, it is unacceptable when directed toward people or other pets in a household. Just like all dogs are individuals and have individual behaviors, dog aggression comes in varying degrees and forms. Possession aggression in dogs is natural behavior that originates from the instinct to react to a perceived threat. Other common causes include: 1. Possessive dogs are guarding resources, and the longer you let them get … For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. 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