Quote:
Originally Posted by tenderfoot
I am not saying to get rough, but to be impressive with your attitude and energy. Respect is not demanded but commanded.
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Thanks for your great advice, Tenderfoot and everyone else.
Tenderfoot, in the situation that I described earlier:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracy
I've been dropping food into Toby's bowl for breakfast and supper and the growling has definitely subsided - though not 100%.
I began this evening by cutting up some brocolli I was eating and putting it in his bowl and then prepared the scoops of kibble to feed him with. I put him in a sit/stay and there was the slightest under the breath noise, but he stayed and looked at me until I put some food in his bowl and said go. I stuck by the side of the bowl, showing him I wasn't going away.
Then I stayed by his bowl and kept adding food - no more noises at all.
Much better than it's been!
A question:
When he was making the slight noise, should I have taken the food away completely? Or is best to just stay in his face like - get used to it buddy, this is how it is!
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What would 'not getting rough, but being impressive with my attitude and energy' look like?
Also, to clarify - I have been Toby's only care taker for just over 2 weeks and it has been during this time that his behaviour has become aggressive, mainly around food. Prior to that my parents, who were fabulous to take us in, were always around and before them there were 2 of us looking after Toby. Last weekend Toby stayed at our old house, with my ex-boyfriend, who used to own Toby together with me, and I was told that no growling at all happened.
Could Toby be reacting to a new home with a single owner? I don't really see that my behaviour with him has changed all that much to warrant the disrespect. Then again, I have had to adjust and get used to it being just me and Toby and perhaps I haven't noticed my behaviour...lots to think about!