really possesive with bully sticks

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by Ucdcrush

Joe, I am curious what was your instant instinctual reaction when he bit you?

I had a dog snap at me once when taking a rib bone away, I grabbed her by her neck and pushed her over and held her till she stopped growling, then took the bone, gave it back, took it, a few times. After that she never protested when I took food away. She was not mentally scarred by the experience as far as I could tell in the next 15 years I had her.

Biting the human is an instance that IMO calls for a quick immediate correction. Then take the food, give it back, take it, give it back, until he gets the message that he gets the food on YOUR terms not his. When he willingly gives it to you when he feels you pulling it out of his mouth, that's a good sign, give it back and let him eat it. It does not take long to train, but now is the time before his bites can do more serious damage.

Well said! Cannot allow any dog to get away with defending his food from a family member! NONO!

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by Miraculix

Initially, I over read the part where the OP mentioned the dog is 10 weeks old, so I was thinking ...oh man, adult dog with food guarding aggression.... but then I went back and re-read the 10 weeks old part. Now I am thinking what a cute little puppers growling there with his skunk breath, razor sharp teeth and bully stick in his mouth....

VERY cute at 10 weeks, unfortunately not nearly so cute at 2 yo and 90 lbs!

[liljoec]

Originally Posted by Ucdcrush

Joe, I am curious what was your instant instinctual reaction when he bit you?

I had a dog snap at me once when taking a rib bone away, I grabbed her by her neck and pushed her over and held her till she stopped growling, then took the bone, gave it back, took it, a few times. After that she never protested when I took food away. She was not mentally scarred by the experience as far as I could tell in the next 15 years I had her.

Biting the human is an instance that IMO calls for a quick immediate correction. Then take the food, give it back, take it, give it back, until he gets the message that he gets the food on YOUR terms not his. When he willingly gives it to you when he feels you pulling it out of his mouth, that's a good sign, give it back and let him eat it. It does not take long to train, but now is the time before his bites can do more serious damage.

I actually did exactly what you did. I did this a couple times and I also give the bully stick to him while he is tied to his dog run. If I dont he runs away with it and will not come to me. I'm going to continue doing this exercise with some of his favorite treats just so he knows that I will give it back to him or he will get something good in return. Fortunately he doesnt have this problem with any other item. I can lay down right beside him when he is eating his food. During meal time, I can pet his neck, head, face, even put my hand in his mouth and he is really well behaved. Zero aggression. I have no trouble taking his food away and he patiently waits for me to return it. Its just the bully sticks.
For those folks who say just let him have it and why would I take it away? For one, I dont think he needs to eat an entire bully stick since I think they are a bit too rich for puppies and also I need to make sure this isnt going to be a lifelong problem.

[liljoec]

Originally Posted by codmaster

VERY cute at 10 weeks, unfortunately not nearly so cute at 2 yo and 90 lbs!

Exactly, thats why I'm trying to knock this little problem out. Funny thing is, its only the bully sticks. I could really just never give him one and we would never see this behavour (until he does it with something else that we werent aware of...) Hopefully I can just get it resolved and it really will be a non issue.

[rob31]

Biting the human is an instance that IMO calls for a quick immediate correction. Then take the food, give it back, take it, give it back, until he gets the message that he gets the food on YOUR terms not his. When he willingly gives it to you when he feels you pulling it out of his mouth, that's a good sign, give it back and let him eat it. It does not take long to train, but now is the time before his bites can do more serious damage.

Very good advice, bad behavior needs to be addressed while they are still young. You could also try teaching him the "leave it" command. I saw it on an animal planet tv show and the dog seemed to learn it quickly.

[Ucdcrush]

Let us know how it goes. He might just need a few more learning experiences to drive the message home.

[Dennq]

At my house bully sticks are doggie crack!

[selzer]

Hmmmmm.

Well, now, if you are taking the sticks away because you do not believe he needs to eat the whole thing then YOU have created the problem. You have given the dog a high value treat, then taken it away and kept it. Now he is afraid if you get his food it will be gone forever. Not good.

I can take ANYTHING away from any of my dogs and never had to hole them on the ground or correct them. I make it a point to practice while they are eating. I take the thing, look at it, and hand it right back.

If you want him to eat less penis, then cut it in half before giving it to him. But do not take away and keep a high value treat from your dog.

In fact, I would not given him these you have started a problem with them. Avoid them. Go and get a bag of pig ear strips. These seem to be super high value as well, doggie crack. This time though before giving it to the dog, teach the dog the words, GIVE or DROP IT, you can use something edible or a toy, always give it back or exchange it for a better treat and put it up. Then up the ante and have the dog give you the pig ear strip and always give it right back. Do this as a game. Eventually, you will give them a treat or give it back only some of the time. Not the high value treat, but the ordinary toy or treat.

It is ESSENTIAL that your dog let you open his mouth and take something away. That is why we practice. When it is something dangerous like a bottle of IB Profin, you can take it away and say -- that's mine, but you will get it, with no growls or running away.

When I give a high value treat, I always give it right back. They do not think I am going to keep it, so they do not feel they need to defend it.

[selzer]

I do not use them. I cannot get over what they are. And, they DO stink. Someone gave me about half a dozen of them, and times being what they are, I gave them to the dogs, but first I transported them in the car. They were stinking in my car. I gave them to the dogs and they stunk while they ate them. Ewwwww!!!!