suprising agression

[KameronRenzo]

Hey guys Im new to the site so bear with me...I recently had Kameron spayed at 6 months. Before she was spayed she never really showed much signs of aggression but recently she had been showing signs when chewing on her rawhide bone. Before the operation she never snaped at me but now everytime someone goes near her she growls/snaps and its scarying me. She is very well trained and listens very well. I tell her NO, but she wont really listen. Does it have anything to do with her getting the surgery or is she just becoming a rottie? Any suggestions...

[sophie's-mom]

Does she growl and get "aggressive" when she has a "treat"?

Seems to me like she may have possession issues.

Please give additional information. Is she given treats in a crate or out and about? Does she seem to growl when someone comes near her in general or when she has a high value item?

Answering these questions will give a better idea what type of advice to give you.

Thanks.

[Nishasmom]

I don't think it has anything to do with the spay. She is just maturing. I have found that food aggression is the ONE thing I haven't been able to break.

I recently started a new technique...I hold her food (made extra good w/ wet food, egg, or cottage cheese). I hold the bowl in my lap (I am on the couch) and pet her head, and talk gently while eating. I have no idea if this will work, I'll let you know

Many suggest to leave your dog alone while eating/chewing on a bone. I did that for a while, but I don't like the idea of my dog having these aggression issues.

[KameronRenzo]

she only growls when she has her "valued item".

she gets treats outside the crate

I just tried the "trade it" method with a piece of cheese and she obvs stopped chewing the bone and came to the cheese. That worked pretty well but she still is growling when you go near her when she has an item or is eating. I just dont wont her randomly snapping at people cause they go near her....

ps. after I got her spayed she was randomly growling my girlfriend (basically her co-owner) for no reason..but that was only right after we picked her up...any ideas???

[Weltterr]

You have to do the trade over, and over, and over, and over........Just like training any command, it takes 100s of repetitions until the behavior is permanently imprinted in the dogs brain. You have only begun working with her to overcome this problem.

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by KameronRenzo

she only growls when she has her "valued item".

she gets treats outside the crate

I just tried the "trade it" method with a piece of cheese and she obvs stopped chewing the bone and came to the cheese. That worked pretty well but she still is growling when you go near her when she has an item or is eating. I just dont wont her randomly snapping at people cause they go near her....

ps. after I got her spayed she was randomly growling my girlfriend (basically her co-owner) for no reason..but that was only right after we picked her up...any ideas???

She could have been in pain. That might have caused growling. As for growling when she has a high value item - it means she doesn't get them anymore if she's going to be growly with one. Rawhide is not good to give anyways, as it can break apart easily and cause a blockage - BUT, I would not be giving your girl these types of bones until you can curb this behavior.

Or, put her in her crate with a high value item and leave her alone. If she gets growly each and every time, she ONLY gets those treats in her crate.

[Nishasmom]

Shelby427: how would you curb the behavior?

[Sharon Marples]

Do you have her in any formal obedience classes yet? If not, I would suggest that you do so. She may be viewing you as an equal and not as her alpha model. It seems as if she is making her own rules and this needs to be stopped. A good professional obedience class would be good, that way you can learn the items to work with her on during the week inbetween classes. She needs to start learning that you are the boss and that she is not.

In the meantime, do not leave her out with any high value item. She should only get those when she is in a crate and is alone. Do not set her up for failure (biting, snapping, any type of aggression) before you get this totally under control.

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by Sharon Marples

In the meantime, do not leave her out with any high value item. She should only get those when she is in a crate and is alone. Do not set her up for failure (biting, snapping, any type of aggression) before you get this totally under control.

I have been doing training classes since we got our dog. She is well behaved, and obedient (except for the high-value guarding). Here's the deal...1st day home, I gave my 7 wk old puppy a sausage thing from the pet store. I randomly went to pet her and BAM she tried to attack me!!! A 7 pound attack dog (she was even protective of poo she was eating!). Anyways, my first reaction was to flip her over and hold her like that until she stopped growling. I then (shaking) called my trainer...her advice dont let her have stuff like that anymore . We didn't listen, but instead let her eat stuff out of our hands ect. She has gotten way better.

When I found this site, most recommended letting her be alone in her crate . I did that for a while, but recently spoke with my breeder about it. She said to keep working with her on it. (none of her dogs have it {which I don't believe}). I can pet my dog, walk by her, talk to her, ect. when she is eating. BUT if I spend a lot of time petting her, she gets angry. So...what if she was chewing on something in the yard and my kid (if I had one) went up and laid on her (as kids do)? I want my dog to be "kid proof" is this possible?? Or is there no hope, my dog can never be trusted w/ high value items. I would do anything it takes to break her of this...any advice???

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by Nishasmom

I have been doing training classes since we got our dog. She is well behaved, and obedient (except for the high-value guarding). Here's the deal...1st day home, I gave my 7 wk old puppy a sausage thing from the pet store. I randomly went to pet her and BAM she tried to attack me!!! A 7 pound attack dog (she was even protective of poo she was eating!). Anyways, my first reaction was to flip her over and hold her like that until she stopped growling. I then (shaking) called my trainer...her advice dont let her have stuff like that anymore . We didn't listen, but instead let her eat stuff out of our hands ect. She has gotten way better.

When I found this site, most recommended letting her be alone in her crate . I did that for a while, but recently spoke with my breeder about it. She said to keep working with her on it. (none of her dogs have it {which I don't believe}). I can pet my dog, walk by her, talk to her, ect. when she is eating. BUT if I spend a lot of time petting her, she gets angry. So...what if she was chewing on something in the yard and my kid (if I had one) went up and laid on her (as kids do)? I want my dog to be "kid proof" is this possible?? Or is there no hope, my dog can never be trusted w/ high value items. I would do anything it takes to break her of this...any advice???

She should NOT be allowed to have such items unless she is crated. There is no reason to risk it. I also don't see the reason why you have to pet her when she has these items? Can't you leave her alone?

Also, children need to be taught how to interact with dogs. IF you had a child, there's no reason for the child to be around the dog unsupervised. If you are all outside playing, there is no reason for the dog to be chewing a bone. The child should be taught to NEVER, EVER lay on the dog. Period.

[Nishasmom]

I understand that dogs and kids should always be supervised. But don't you think you should be able to do anything to your dog at any time (eating or not).

I can leave her alone, but she has gotten worse since I started leaving her alone. Basically the advice I have gotten here says: your dog has a right to protect stuff that is hers. If you don't trust her, ignore the behavior by letting it go on "safely" in her crate.??? I have gotten so much conflicting advice

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by Nishasmom

I understand that dogs and kids should always be supervised. But don't you think you should be able to do anything to your dog at any time (eating or not).

I can leave her alone, but she has gotten worse since I started leaving her alone. Basically the advice I have gotten here says: your dog has a right to protect stuff that is hers. If you don't trust her, ignore the behavior by letting it go on "safely" in her crate.??? I have gotten so much conflicting advice

No, I don't like to be bothered when I'm eating so I give the same respect to my dogs. I don't bother them. I've never had to bother them (unless Shelby gets growly then she doesn't get them anymore, which is rare).

If you're confused, get a trainer involved. Each dog is different, you have to see what works for your dog.

[Nishasmom]

Okay; your right every dog is different. Nisha likes to be in her crate. She actually goes in and waits when we open the "treat drawer". My trainer says the same thing as you...leave her alone. So I guess I will; I know it wont "fix" the problem, I guess it will just prevent stressful situations from happening. But...if you had to, would you be able to take a raw steak out of your dogs food bowl she was eating out of (without her growling)? Or is my dog just bad?

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by Nishasmom

Okay; your right every dog is different. Nisha likes to be in her crate. She actually goes in and waits when we open the "treat drawer". My trainer says the same thing as you...leave her alone. So I guess I will; I know it wont "fix" the problem, I guess it will just prevent stressful situations from happening. But...if you had to, would you be able to take a raw steak out of your dogs food bowl she was eating out of (without her growling)? Or is my dog bad?

Yes I would and I can tell you why. I have taught Hudson to "wait" before he eats. Meaning, he must sit in front of the bowl until I release him to eat. I can say "wait" while he is eating and he will sit back down and wait. At this time I can put my hand into the bowl and take the raw steak.

Shelby on the other hand was not taught the "wait" command, but she has never been aggressive with food, as we have always thrown treats in her bowl, we take up the bowl to put more yummy goodness in there and put it back down. She'll just wait for it. So yes, I can confidently say that I can take a raw steak out of their bowls with no issues.

[KameronRenzo]

she knows im the boss trust me, she listens to every snap....we are just having this one problem with the high valued items....do you guys think the trade it actions is the way to go?...