Resource Guarding

[yuugi]

Hey all

I am a first time dog owner to a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Matilda, who is now 6 months old.

Comments

[xianghua]

Handfeeding would definitely help. I would also recommend feeding her some of her food throughout the day as treats, and some of it in interactive toys (like a tug-a-jug, bustercube, or even a kong- the thought here being that a tired corgi is a happy corgi, and occupying her brain is a good thing and gives her less time to think of Evil Plans.)

I'd also highly recommend the book "Mine: A Guide to Canine Resource Guarding" by Jean Donaldson.

[teacupdiaries]

When I asked how to handle growling over dinner (food/resource guarding), I got some great advice that might be applicable for your situation: http://community.livejournal.com/dogsintraining/644975.html

I've been working on hand-feeding little bits of food throughout my boy's meal while petting him, touching his paws, moving the towels, etc, and we haven't had a growl since the first incident.

[magnoliafly]

I have a resource guarder (also a PWC) and this can be a challenge but you're in the early stages so this is completely preventable. I recommend ordering the book I linked in the above thread called Mine! by Jean Donaldson. It has step-by-step exercises written specifically to work with your dog starting at whatever level they are at. It also explains resource guarding very well

[magnoliafly]

Telling her to drop it is nearly the same as taking the food away. You're still preventing her from having that object in a way, even if it is her choice. I would work on leave-its and drop-its separate from the resource guarding and not use it for this issue until you've done some of the other exercises. You don't want her to associate you with someone that is going to challenge her for her food or toys - you want to be the awesome person that brings even BETTER stuff, especially in the beginning

[dr_brat]

If you do take the bowl away because she is growling, I would put it right back down as soon as she stops growling. By taking it away and keeping it, you're telling her that she was right to be concerned. If you have to take something like a pig ear chunk away, trade her for something else.

[xopammieox]

Hi there! I also have PWC who exhibited very very similar actions. He became very possessive over pig ears, but didn't seem to over other things. However, one thing I would like to stress to you is don't think it is ONLY pig ears that are the culprit. This behavior very easily translates to other objects, especially high value ones. I would just take the pig ears away completely (that's what we did) so that she doesn't have a "successful" incident where she growls or bites to get the pig ear, because that will teach her a very dangerous lesson that aggression gets her what she wants. The less situations you put her in where she feels the need to guard, the less she will do it