ok, now I'm a little worried.

iBaman · 01-07-2012, 08:39 PM

Went over to my parents house, where Sheldon spends a lot of time with their dogs, an 8 year old male pitbull (duke) and a 9 month old female pitbull (Oy), who are both fixed. Sheldon gets along GREAT with them. We take pack walks, they romp, play, explore, all that jazz. Sheldon has had issues in the past of resource guarding, but has been doing FANTASTIC as of late (hasn't shown any signs of it, doesn't guard other dog's bowls like he used to, etc). So, last night were were all hanging out. Sheldon was at my feet, and Duke was standing next to the couch. him and Sheldon were sniffing each others mouths for a good minute or so. All of a sudden, Shel lunges at duke without warning. Thankfully, I was right there and able to grab Sheldon's collar, while my dad grabbed duke. After everything settled down, they were great, playing again, acted like nothing had ever happened. About an hour or so later, Sheldon was laying at my feet, duke was all the way across the room next to my dad, and Sheldon starts growling and barking at duke, trying to get at him for NO reason at all. Is he resource guarding me and my family?

iBaman · 01-08-2012, 01:00 PM

>.> 52 views and no suggestions? We're taking him to a behaviorist soon, because I know that's what you're going to suggest. I don't really know if this could be RG though...same goes for DA...it just doesn't make sense....

Holmeshx2 · 01-08-2012, 01:12 PM

no way to know without being there however the fact he has issues in the past with RG and the fact both of these incidents (the attack and the warning) he was between your feet would make me suspect he's guarding you which is a HUGE no no since that means he's claiming you as his possession not looking at you as his leader. Do you do NILIF? I would definitely start and if you are I would increase it substantially.

Again not sure without being there but making a general assumption from what you said makes me think hes guarding you.

Mac's Mom · 01-08-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

>.> 52 views and no suggestions? We're taking him to a behaviorist soon, because I know that's what you're going to suggest. I don't really know if this could be RG though...same goes for DA...it just doesn't make sense....

I have had resource guarding issues with my boys. A lot of people will probably disagree with me but I really feel its normal. And I think that keeping your dog close and intervening the way you are is great. Again, I know people are going to disagree with my method, but when our boys get carried away I instruct them both to go in their crates for a time out.

RebelGSD · 01-08-2012, 01:56 PM

It is not uncommon that dogs resource guard their people. This is a tricky situation as he is going after a really nice pittie who does not have any aggression issues - yet. If your dog keeps attacking and challenging them, the other dogs may end up with undesirable behavior and everybody may end up hurt in a fight. Maybe avoid taking your dog along until you resolve the issue. My understanding is that it was their home and the two older dogs have the right to be safe in their home.

LissG · 01-08-2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

>.> 52 views and no suggestions? We're taking him to a behaviorist soon, because I know that's what you're going to suggest. I don't really know if this could be RG though...same goes for DA...it just doesn't make sense....

i'm one of the 52 but i'm sorry i don't know what to say...but i hope someone with more experience then me comes along and can offer you some sound advice...

RebelGSD · 01-08-2012, 02:26 PM

As far as training I would recommend building very strong obedience and practicing NILIF. Depending on his age and his neuter status, some general dominance issues may be emerging.

carmspack · 01-08-2012, 03:29 PM

There is no reaction without an action?
First of all the family , the unit to which the dog belongs to is not a resource . The resource would be food, water, space .
The most likely explanation for the first incident is that your dog was being crowded . There was some communication between the two dogs , meaning that it was not out of the blue , sudden , you just missed what was going on.
Your dog is in the house of your father , and dogs being territorial , your fathers dogs. They have their routine and special places.
After a while guest and fish start to smell - time to leave , see ya later .
So your dog being smart and knowing all this is slammed up close to you , wherever you are sitting. Close as he can be , between your feet.
Along comes the fathers dog . Did you see how he approached . Did he come on straight , at an angle, fast , slow, relaxed , stiff -- even subtle things are like billboards to the dog.
So now the fathers dog is very close. Your dog laying down? Other dog standing . Superior position. Not sniffing as so much as lording it over his head over the muzzle of your dogs. Maybe your dog throwing out signs of discomfort -- calming signals , which the other dog misses or disregards, because it is his house . Everyone is missing the non verbal communications.
Then there is so much pressure , no room for your dog to move away, and so he snaps -- give me some room will yah. No surprise. Luckily it did not advance into a defensive brawl , because the other resident dog would have been drawn in.
Your dog was not totally secure because he showed you this by being so tightly close to you. Find out from your dad what the normal routine is . Does your dad normally sit where you were. Does the dog like that spot for himself. Maybe the resident dog was resource guarding , his spot.
Later on , dog plastered close to you. Having had social pressure from the other dog , maybe your fathers dog laying some distance away was fixed or locked into a steady eye contact , once again your dog , having been pressured before went pre-emptive warning the other dog to not bother him?

I would really watch the dynamics. I don't see anything wrong - I see normal dynamics between dogs . It is not his home.

Carmen

iBaman · 01-08-2012, 04:12 PM

...that makes sense, carmen....I had him next to me so he would stop rough housing with Oy (they were getting to be too much for the house, so we had them calming down)...I feel bad now =/ I thought the sniffing each others' mouths was a calming signal? Cause that was one of the times he snapped. This was when I wasn't holding on to him, and he had room to move, so I dunno. Duke isn't allowed on the furniture, and my dad was sitting in his normal spot. But I guess having him stay so close to me was making him nervous...

iBaman · 01-08-2012, 04:13 PM

Oh, and we practice NILIF. Have since Day 1 =3

01-07-2012, 08:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
iBaman Master Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 809	ok, now I'm a little worried. Went over to my parents house, where Sheldon spends a lot of time with their dogs, an 8 year old male pitbull (duke) and a 9 month old female pitbull (Oy), who are both fixed. Sheldon gets along GREAT with them. We take pack walks, they romp, play, explore, all that jazz. Sheldon has had issues in the past of resource guarding, but has been doing FANTASTIC as of late (hasn't shown any signs of it, doesn't guard other dog's bowls like he used to, etc). So, last night were were all hanging out. Sheldon was at my feet, and Duke was standing next to the couch. him and Sheldon were sniffing each others mouths for a good minute or so. All of a sudden, Shel lunges at duke without warning. Thankfully, I was right there and able to grab Sheldon's collar, while my dad grabbed duke. After everything settled down, they were great, playing again, acted like nothing had ever happened. About an hour or so later, Sheldon was laying at my feet, duke was all the way across the room next to my dad, and Sheldon starts growling and barking at duke, trying to get at him for NO reason at all. Is he resource guarding me and my family?

01-08-2012, 01:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Holmeshx2 Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ft. Bragg, NC Posts: 1,646	no way to know without being there however the fact he has issues in the past with RG and the fact both of these incidents (the attack and the warning) he was between your feet would make me suspect he's guarding you which is a HUGE no no since that means he's claiming you as his possession not looking at you as his leader. Do you do NILIF? I would definitely start and if you are I would increase it substantially. Again not sure without being there but making a general assumption from what you said makes me think hes guarding you. __________________ Jinx vom Wildhaus

01-08-2012, 01:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
iBaman Master Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 809	>.> 52 views and no suggestions? We're taking him to a behaviorist soon, because I know that's what you're going to suggest. I don't really know if this could be RG though...same goes for DA...it just doesn't make sense....

01-08-2012, 01:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
RebelGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,706	It is not uncommon that dogs resource guard their people. This is a tricky situation as he is going after a really nice pittie who does not have any aggression issues - yet. If your dog keeps attacking and challenging them, the other dogs may end up with undesirable behavior and everybody may end up hurt in a fight. Maybe avoid taking your dog along until you resolve the issue. My understanding is that it was their home and the two older dogs have the right to be safe in their home.

01-08-2012, 02:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
RebelGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,706	As far as training I would recommend building very strong obedience and practicing NILIF. Depending on his age and his neuter status, some general dominance issues may be emerging.

01-08-2012, 03:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
carmspack Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: ontario - Posts: 3,317	There is no reaction without an action? First of all the family , the unit to which the dog belongs to is not a resource . The resource would be food, water, space . The most likely explanation for the first incident is that your dog was being crowded . There was some communication between the two dogs , meaning that it was not out of the blue , sudden , you just missed what was going on. Your dog is in the house of your father , and dogs being territorial , your fathers dogs. They have their routine and special places. After a while guest and fish start to smell - time to leave , see ya later . So your dog being smart and knowing all this is slammed up close to you , wherever you are sitting. Close as he can be , between your feet. Along comes the fathers dog . Did you see how he approached . Did he come on straight , at an angle, fast , slow, relaxed , stiff -- even subtle things are like billboards to the dog. So now the fathers dog is very close. Your dog laying down? Other dog standing . Superior position. Not sniffing as so much as lording it over his head over the muzzle of your dogs. Maybe your dog throwing out signs of discomfort -- calming signals , which the other dog misses or disregards, because it is his house . Everyone is missing the non verbal communications. Then there is so much pressure , no room for your dog to move away, and so he snaps -- give me some room will yah. No surprise. Luckily it did not advance into a defensive brawl , because the other resident dog would have been drawn in. Your dog was not totally secure because he showed you this by being so tightly close to you. Find out from your dad what the normal routine is . Does your dad normally sit where you were. Does the dog like that spot for himself. Maybe the resident dog was resource guarding , his spot. Later on , dog plastered close to you. Having had social pressure from the other dog , maybe your fathers dog laying some distance away was fixed or locked into a steady eye contact , once again your dog , having been pressured before went pre-emptive warning the other dog to not bother him? I would really watch the dynamics. I don't see anything wrong - I see normal dynamics between dogs . It is not his home. Carmen

01-08-2012, 04:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
iBaman Master Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 809	...that makes sense, carmen....I had him next to me so he would stop rough housing with Oy (they were getting to be too much for the house, so we had them calming down)...I feel bad now =/ I thought the sniffing each others' mouths was a calming signal? Cause that was one of the times he snapped. This was when I wasn't holding on to him, and he had room to move, so I dunno. Duke isn't allowed on the furniture, and my dad was sitting in his normal spot. But I guess having him stay so close to me was making him nervous...

01-08-2012, 04:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
iBaman Master Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 809	Oh, and we practice NILIF. Have since Day 1 =3

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement