Less respect for one of owners

[rhylmarova]

Hi everyone.

My Rotti is now 8 months old and I feel we have made incredible progress to when he was a puppy - as some of you would say, a fluffy ball of hell

I am the primarily carer for the dog, which means that I spend most days with the dog around, provide food and particularly train (both home and going to training classes). As a result, I feel I have built a pretty good bond and trust my dog in return for him trusting me.

The one problem we have and keep working on is possesivness (sp?). This is limited only to raw bones and we are working on it constantly (trading). What started worrying me though is Lion's reaction to my boyfriend when there is food around. He obviously feels the need to protect the food and will start marching towards my boyfriend barking...

When this happened first, I have introduced my boyfriend to all feeding times with him adding good stuff in return for fullfilled obedience commands.
It got better but it is still an issue. Last time when he's done it again (yesterday), I gave him a bit of 'talk'...pretty strong and so did my boyfriend. Seems to have sunk in...but will see today during feeding time.

Just to add...my boyfriend or me have never 'bothered' the dog when eating. He needs to wait until released to eat but that is all. He is in obedience training class with me and this has made a major difference to my relationship with him.

Any suggestion on what approach to take beyond pushing my boyfriend to attend the classes with me?

Sorry for long post..but this thing has me concerned.

[dogsbydoug]

How often do you 'trade' with him for the bones? How often is he given the bones? If we give 'high value items' such a marrow bones or bully sticsk, we crate the fosters and our own dogs are separated and left alone until they are done with whatever they were given. We don't bother them while they have these items.

That said, we CAN take the bones or what have you from the dogs if necessary - but I will always offer a trade - a cookie or a piece of cheese, and then step on the 'high value item' and get myself between the dog and that item, and I will then calmly pick it up. Mot of the time I only have to move one of the dogs back onto their 'spot' of carpeting that they chew these items on.

Regarding his 'attitude' with the boyfrend - have boyfriend help with feeding, training and general care of the dog more than he normally does. How does your boyfriend react when thedog acts this way?

[derektjeep]

I'm sure that if your boyfriend and you can look up a good class together, a good instructor would be able to work with the 2 of you.

The best luck.

[rhylmarova]

Yes, that is what I can do too.

I give bones regularly...during the day, after a walk, Lion will get a bone and will chew on it under my feet with no probs. If he is in a place, where he gets in the way, I tell him Place and he moves there with the bones. If I need to take it off him (e.g. I want him to continue to chew on it somewhere else), I trade for something else yummy and than give it back to him.

The times he does this is when he is chewing on it in the hallway (its really a room not a narrow passage that it may suggest), my partner will just be passing by and he will protect it from him...that is why it is worrying me.

I am in a class with a lovely trainer and am working on it with her (she suggested the same...involve boyfriend in feeding etc.). I need to get my boyfriend to join in the class (he gets up every morning at 6 am and works like a dog, thus attending class at 7.30 pm is not a easy choice for him...

As for his reaction. In honesty, we tried couple...
1. Tell him off (verbally only) but let him continue to chew on the bone
2. Sort of laugh at him..silly boy...and trade for something else

In both cases, he will come back to my boyfriend within seconds of marshing at him...with his ears in the back ('I want to cuddle' style)...and lick his hand.

But I guess the summary is...class together. Thanks guys.