#1
|
||||
|
||||
Need a little help....
I've been absent for quite awhile, but I suspect there are a few folks on here that will remember me (Hazel).
I have an 8 year old pound puppy who has been absolutely fabulous. I've since gone through another experience with a rescue that ended in a resounding and heartbreaking failure. Decided the next time, I would skip the rescue path and invest the time and energy into finding a reputable breeder with experience and an obvious investment in the breed I chose. I brought home an 9 week old Lab puppy with deep and proven English champion lines back in December 2012. He was neutered at 6 months, as I don't need or have the capacity to deal with a breeding male. Aside from the normal obnoxious puppy behavior, he has been absolutely a blessing. Continues to mature emotionally, and so smart. However.....he has just recently started to develop an unusual food aggressive posture at night. Just the one meal, and never with me. Mostly with my son, who has walked him and fed him for the last two months on summer break. He's pretty mellow on the other meals, but dinner can be a high value meal as I often will add in either a protein high canned food or some steak or chicken from the two-legged folks. Going on for two weeks and escalated a bit tonight with my son, after he snapped a couple times and gave him a good scratch. What the heck is going on? Talked to the breeder and they thought it was just his testosterone blooming, but he is cut so I would think that wouldn't be a big influence. Need help.
__________________
I used to have a Multiple Personality Disorder, but the doctor says we are fine now. Harley - 8 year old Beagle x Dobie Jet - 10 month old Labrador Retriever |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
maybe take away the high value food during the night meal for a bit to help.
he could be guarding the dish from your son because of the high value food. |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Did consider that, and took him back to dry kibble only for the past few days. No change in the aggression.
__________________
I used to have a Multiple Personality Disorder, but the doctor says we are fine now. Harley - 8 year old Beagle x Dobie Jet - 10 month old Labrador Retriever |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Are you feeding the dogs in the same room? Has anything else (besides the addition of the new puppy) changed?
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
How old is your son, I know some dogs will see a small child as a threat to their food as the child is closer to the dog's level and it bowl of food. You need to let your dog is not OK to growl at your son . I would try feeding your dog then tell him to sit and take the bowl away for a second so he will learn that he can't growl at a person . I did this with my last dog as I did not want him to be so protected of his food when my grandchild was around.
|
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Nothing has changed at all. Other than he hit 44 weeks on August 14th.
The dogs have always been fed in the same room, several feet away from each other. I always put the puppy's bowl down, make him sit and wait, put the older dog's bowl down, make her sit and wait, and then release them at the same time. He's never made a dash to get to hers first rather than his own, and if he finishes first (if??!!) and he makes an attempt to go for hers, I can stop him with a simple correction. Jack is going to be 13, and he's already 5'1, so significant height difference there. And he's always fed the puppy at least one meal each day, and lunch and dinner daily since he's been on summer break. That includes the days when I put in the special extras, so it would make more sense for Jet to see Jack as the bringer of really yummy things. Jack can give him treats (dried chicken strips, etc.) with no problem, and Jet will obey his commands when Jack asks him to sit, or beg, or high five. Doesn't make any sense.
__________________
I used to have a Multiple Personality Disorder, but the doctor says we are fine now. Harley - 8 year old Beagle x Dobie Jet - 10 month old Labrador Retriever |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
So how is the food aggression happening? When your son puts down the food? I'm trying to understand and visualize it in my head..
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Nope, Jack can put down the food, put the puppy in a sit / stay / wait, release him calmly. But if Jack walks out of the room and walks back in, the puppy then decides to growl at him.
We did make some progress today. Fed Jet his breakfast this morning a handful at a time, and made him sit/stay/wait for release before every bite. Bought a couple of "thinking" toys earlier today and split up his meals into those this afternoon, which also seems to be working (but realistically, it is just one day!) I am glad that we have quickly found some workarounds, but would really like to understand the aggression if fed out of a traditional bowl with a person / people who have fed him regularly for months with no issue. Is testosterone REALLY an issue in a neutered male when they hit the age in which they would start to come into their own, if uncut??
__________________
I used to have a Multiple Personality Disorder, but the doctor says we are fine now. Harley - 8 year old Beagle x Dobie Jet - 10 month old Labrador Retriever |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Actually, as I understand it, it can be. After castration, it can take 8 mos for the testosterone to leave a dog's system... If he was approaching sexual maturity, he might still be feeling the effects of the testosterone, even though he's been neutered.
Sounds like you're getting things in hand.
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference." "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!" "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Hey there, Hazel! Hope the pack is still doing well!
I had him neutered late in his six month, but I've been researching online and clearly there are other glands that produce hormones beyond the testes. It could simply be a minor surge in hormones. Driving me nuts though. But fed his dinner in this crazy egg shaped dispenser (better than the giant Kong one with the big hole in it), and he did pretty good. I guess there will be no food bowls for him for awhile. He's so good in every other way. Jack can give him a piece of steak, freshly cooked bacon, etc. and not a peep. I'm at a loss.
__________________
I used to have a Multiple Personality Disorder, but the doctor says we are fine now. Harley - 8 year old Beagle x Dobie Jet - 10 month old Labrador Retriever |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
dog when he was eating , my granddaughter was small and the dog saw her as a threat to his dog . |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I guess it could be testosterone so it may taper off....but if this type of aggression occurs with food, maybe it's occurring in other subtle ways as well? And if so, this needs to change for a household to run smoothly. I recommend group obedience training from a referred trainer from someone you trust - Jack should go with you to this training. I like the idea of a food dispenser for now, but I really think the obedience course can help dooger see Jack as a boss equal to you.
__________________
Please tactfully EDUCATE or IGNORE posters you don't agree with. Please PM me & Include URLs and post #'s for any issues and it's my pleasure to help. I'm firm - but fair. Mind the Rules and enjoy your stay. Newcomers FAQ - How do I post on this BB? Pet facebook group Check out the Pet podcast Follow me on Twitter |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
I don't necessarily agree with this comment, as it implies that growling should be punished. This article sums up why growls are important warning signs that should not be suppressed, but investigated instead. http://voice4dogs.blogspot.ca/2011/0...ish-growl.html
Quote:
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
SunGurl, here is an interesting podcast on resource guarding that might have useful tips for your situation: http://www.dogstardaily.com/radio/302-resource-guarding
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
Marko does bring up a good point here:
Quote:
You're well ahead of that game, though, since you've spotted the problem and can monitor it to keep it from getting as bad as what we ended up with. (And, just so you know, we were finally able to get Gauge's problem under control, but it was more luck and muddling through back then than any insight on our parts. ) Yep, still all well, though aging...gracefully, so far, thankfully! And all the voices are doing well, too! How's about youse guys?
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference." "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!" "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|