Reactivity to Female and Resource Guarding

by Sue
(Kitchener)

We adopted a Great Pyr in September. She was nearly 2 years old and had spent most of her life chained to a tractor in a shed. She was fostered for about a month with another dog (male, not Pyr) and there was food aggression but no other concerning behaviour. We have a Leonberger (female) who is just over a year old. Angel (the Pyr) has been getting more and more aggressive. She has gone for our Leo a few times which is distressing but we have been able to manage it. In the last two weeks she has started growling at my kids if they come near her when she thinks she's guarding something. This morning she growled at me because she thought she was guarding a Christmas present. Obviously we can't let this behaviour continue but aren't sure how to deal with it. She is a wonderful dog the rest of the time. Affectionate, playful and a great companion. I guess we need a professional to get involved but I wondered if anyone here had any advice in the short-term. Many thanks. Sue

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Dec 28, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		Resource Guarding
by: Donna

Two males or two females can work but it is not something we ever recommend especially with rescues. They don't always see eye-to-eye and it is not something that can be remedied.

The resource guarding is something that can be worked with. Note that it is a good thing that she growls. She is warning she doesn't like what you are doing so you must heed that. Do not stop the growling or they just go for the bite.

Until you get professional help in for now you can trade her for something of a higher value. A treat of a piece of chicken (liver, beef, cheese or whatever you have) that you can let her smell and throw it away from what she has and you can take what she did have. When she does go for the treat you throw to the side, praise her good behaviour.

Make sure to have a positive-reinforcement trainer come into help you. I found this website. If they don't have someone who can come to your house, have them recommend someone who can.

http://www.puppypowerdogtraining.com/

That said, you still have an issue with Leo and Angel that usually does not resolve itself.

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