Resource guarding? Or precursor to resource guarding?

[jprice103]

When I am playing with Cheyenne (11 months), if I go get another toy, she will immediately drop the one she has and run over and try to take the toy I picked up away from me. She doesn't growl, and gently takes it. Then once she gets it, she nudges me with it to try and engage me in tug with it. I can take the toy away from her without any issues, other than her trying to hang on to it. I can even pry her mouth open to take it, and again...tail is wagging, no growling or anger at all. She loves playing keep away and loves to be chased.

So my question is...is this resource guarding, or just playing? Is it something that I need to discourage or is it innocent play? And if it is something that I need to stop, what is the best way to accomplish that? Never let her get the new toy? Direct her back to the one she had?

I just want to make sure that I am not encouraging poor behavior in any way!

[W.Oliver]

From what you've described it sounds like good play. What you're experiencing is a trait of a trainable dog. This is a key activity as a foundation to training....dogs without drive for the toy are more challenging to train.

My dogs get very rowdy, punch in, pull back and even growl....all simply rough play.

[gsdraven]

Play. If you want her to stop snatching the new toy out of your hand, work on a wait command (or leave it, take it) so that she learns she only gets it when you give it to her. Her nudging you with it is a very good thing... you wants to play with you.

[martemchik]

This is play. YOU are the resource, FOOD is a resource, a toy is not a resource. Many dogs want whatever you have at the time. They can be chewing on a bone or playing with a tennis ball but as soon as you grab a rope they will want to play tug. This is a very good thing as the dog wants to play with you, not just take it and run. My dog does this with any toy I pick up, and with other dogs that he knows (his 4 year old cousin Westie) he will steal anything that dog has in his mouth.

[gsdraven]

Originally Posted by martemchik

This is play. YOU are the resource, FOOD is a resource, a toy is not a resource.

A toy could very well be guarded and considered a resource just as with food or a person (or even another dog). However, there was no guarding behavior described.

[jprice103]

Thanks everyone! I feel so much better now. Like I stated, I didn't want my ignorance on the subject to result in not recognizing a potential issue!

And yes, I'll definitely work some training into it, and have her wait for me to give it to her...thanks Jamie!

[Jax08]

Originally Posted by martemchik

This is play. YOU are the resource, FOOD is a resource, a toy is not a resource.

Anything can be a "resource". Jax is a resource guarder with other dogs, and even the cat at times. And her resource to guard is ALWAYS the toys.

To the OP - she is trying to engage you to play IMO. Follow Jamie's advice on the Wait command. Or you could even use this time to train. If she wants the toy, have her sit, down, etc.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Ditto on what everyone else said. Halo brings us her bones to hold for her while she chews, so I made a game out of it:

Can I have that? - YouTube

Can I have that? - YouTube

She chews for a bit, I ask for it and she lets go, I make her sit and watch for a couple of seconds than I release her to chew it again. We usually do this a couple of time and then I just give it to her and she lays down and chews it on her own. As the others have suggested, work some training into it, teaching her to give it up on cue and then take it back, to sit, to wait, to make eye contact before letting her have it again. If it's something you can tug with, do that when she brings it to you.

[squeakermama]

I would always require some type of obedience before getting anything from me. Just a sit or a wait but never let her take anything even if it was gentle. Sounds like harmless play but doing the above could prevent any problems before they occur.