The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Long

[Denise L.]

Training class on Saturday morning:

The Good - a girls' soccer team was gathering to practice at the field where we train. Another woman and her dog (cocker), Cyrus and I were hanging out waiting for everyone else. Three little girls came up and asked permission to pet our dogs. The cocker's owner said no, but I allowed them to pet Cyrus. He was sweet and gentle as usual and I was thrilled the parents encouraged the kids to come over and ask! No Rottie fear, yay!

The Bad - Cyrus showed aggression towards a Malinois who joined the class late. This is the first time I have seem him initiate aggression. The trainer put a muzzle on Cyrus and walked him closer and closer to the Malinois popping the lead when Cyrus lunged. Then I did the same. When we were able to walk by without incident, off came the muzzle and all was well.

The Ugly: After we got home Cyrus was pooped. He planted himself and his marrow bone beside my bed. I was passing by so I stopped to give him a quick head pat and he growled at me! Up until now the only resource guarding I ever saw this dog do was try to hide whatever with his chin...I have always been able to take stuff away from him. I yelled "no lip!" and he growled louder. Well, I threw the hissy fit of the century! Screamed at him "Who the "F" do you think you are? I take care of you, I feed you, I love you, ALL GOOD THINGS COME FROM ME! How DARE you?" My throat is still sore!

That got his attention and I put him in the dining room (the only place I could think of that he didn't normally like to hang out) and put him in a down stay. He started to break and I yelled "Ah, ah you STAY" and went about my business. He stayed and he watched every move I made. After about 15 minutes I brought him to the kitchen and we did some resource trading. He did well so I let him have his bone back.

The rest of the weekend he was his usual sweet self.

Whew!

[Judi W]

Good job Denise!!!!

Putting on your actress hat and imitating an insanely furious mad woman who is a fraction away from committing murder can usually leave a lasting impression that does not need to be repeated. Outrage can be very effective.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Good job Denise!!!!

Putting on your actress hat and imitating an insanely furious mad woman who is a fraction away from committing murder .

She was acting??? - From her description "I" believed it was REAL and NO imitation there :)

Isn't it great though when they can make you proud with strangers (especially children) - they will remember the nice "big" dog they met at soccer practice :)

[Judi W]

That part of my comment was for the people who believe you should never get angry at your dog no matter how egregious their behavior. When I've done it, I wasn't acting either, but I tell people I am. :)

[Denise L.]

Originally Posted by Judi W

That part of my comment was for the people who believe you should never get angry at your dog no matter how egregious their behavior. When I've done it, I wasn't acting either, but I tell people I am. :)

I was FURIOUS!!!!!

After being such a good ambassador earlier in the morning? Then to act like an a$$?

You bet I was angry!

[Judi W]

Hummm, just maybe because he was so wonderful earlier and he knew you were so very pleased that it made his heart swell with pride - and his head as well!!!!!

[samanthac]

*giggle* I love Judi's description. Good job Denise. Disel hits the deck when I do my crazy lady 'act'!

[moondog]

This is a story of when the Ugly becomes the Beautiful! Good for you Denise!

Luna will on occasion do that lower the head over the bone thing, and after living 9 years with me, it's now a pretty rare event. She doesn't get away with even that. I pick her adorable Rottie butt right up and put her into a sit, take her bone and give it a good inspection while musing to her aloud about "Luna, what in the world is so special about this bone" and then I give it back to her. That diffuses on the spot any inclination on her part to resource guard and heads off any propensity for possessiveness to escalate.

[Carol Burke]

Good job, Denise. I'm with Judy on this. I'm a great believer in "one over the top" correction rather then 50 nags will usually stop the problem.

I was petting my old girl one day and Moe comes up and tries to push her out of the way, she doesn't move, he decides to bite her, misses her and nails me. By the time I got through screaming at him, after I clipped him under the chin, he thought death was near and was hoping for it to come quickly. This was three years ago and he will still growl at one of the housemates(canine) occasionally, but he has never so much as curled a lip at me.