Post by alfiemummy on Apr 7, 2014 20:51:48 GMT
Alfie has a bit of an issue with possessive behaviour over certain things, he has done since he was young. We can work around it but would like to find out if anyone can help at all.
It's probably best if I explain the exact problems, sorry if its a bit long!
He is absolutely fine at mealtimes, I can make him sit and wait for his food and walk to the other end of the house and back and he won't move until I say he can eat. I can put my hand in his food bowl, push him away and do just about anything you like without any problems at all, he just simply moves away and waits.
If there is another dog in the house or we go to someone else's house with a dog and food is involved, he will eat a lot faster and tends to barge others out of the way to get to the food, although he does not growl at all.
With treats such as chewy sticks there might be a little reluctance or resistance but he will usually give it up
If he has a toy in the house, usually he will just give it up unless you are actually playing with him. He likes to play tug of war and also 'chase me' which I am aware probably isn't helping.
The main problems are:
1) Tennis balls
These are a real problem and obsession for him. I do not take them out on walks or give them to him in the house anymore as he fixates on them. In the house he will run and hide behind the curtain and guard it all day long. He would probably guard it for weeks on end if you let him. Nothing will make him let go of it, not treats, not another tennis ball or anything.
If I take them out with me it will ruin the whole walk, he will bark constantly until you give it to him, when you do he will not come near you or leave it alone. The only thing that makes him let go is another tennis ball. If you manage to remove the ball and try to carry on the walk he will not leave you alone, barking & jumping the whole time.
The only time he is allowed a tennis ball is in the garden under supervised play, I have to store them in the shed.
Of course sometimes he will find a tennis ball out on a walk that another dog has lost, so even though I am not giving him one we still run into this problem!
2) Things he has 'found', 'stolen' or 'shouldn't have'
In the house: He will bring in twigs, moss and tiny stones (from our pebble dashing) from the garden. He will also take socks, paper, wrappers and practically anything tiny that falls on the floor. Sometimes he will take these items from the table. We are quite careful in the house to not leave out any washing or wrappers and always try to pick up everything but there are inevitably things that slip through.
On walks: He will pick up chicken bones, sticks, bottle tops, wrappers and other general rubbish if it takes his fancy
If he gets hold of anything in the house that he is possessive over, he will always run behind the curtain in the living room.
Out on a walk, I am able to catch up to him, he does not run away at all.
However in both situations he will clamp his mouth very tightly shut and growl if you try to take it back. If you tried to forcibly take it away I am quite confident that he would snap at or bite you. Sometimes a treat will work at persuading him to let go - he does know what 'drop it' means, but if he doesn't want to let go then he won't! If you try to catch him in the act and stop him with a 'leave' he will just ignore you and snatch it away faster.
Sorry it was so long but I wanted to explain in detail. It is a very frustrating issue
Any advice gratefully recieved.
It's probably best if I explain the exact problems, sorry if its a bit long!
He is absolutely fine at mealtimes, I can make him sit and wait for his food and walk to the other end of the house and back and he won't move until I say he can eat. I can put my hand in his food bowl, push him away and do just about anything you like without any problems at all, he just simply moves away and waits.
If there is another dog in the house or we go to someone else's house with a dog and food is involved, he will eat a lot faster and tends to barge others out of the way to get to the food, although he does not growl at all.
With treats such as chewy sticks there might be a little reluctance or resistance but he will usually give it up
If he has a toy in the house, usually he will just give it up unless you are actually playing with him. He likes to play tug of war and also 'chase me' which I am aware probably isn't helping.
The main problems are:
1) Tennis balls
These are a real problem and obsession for him. I do not take them out on walks or give them to him in the house anymore as he fixates on them. In the house he will run and hide behind the curtain and guard it all day long. He would probably guard it for weeks on end if you let him. Nothing will make him let go of it, not treats, not another tennis ball or anything.
If I take them out with me it will ruin the whole walk, he will bark constantly until you give it to him, when you do he will not come near you or leave it alone. The only thing that makes him let go is another tennis ball. If you manage to remove the ball and try to carry on the walk he will not leave you alone, barking & jumping the whole time.
The only time he is allowed a tennis ball is in the garden under supervised play, I have to store them in the shed.
Of course sometimes he will find a tennis ball out on a walk that another dog has lost, so even though I am not giving him one we still run into this problem!
2) Things he has 'found', 'stolen' or 'shouldn't have'
In the house: He will bring in twigs, moss and tiny stones (from our pebble dashing) from the garden. He will also take socks, paper, wrappers and practically anything tiny that falls on the floor. Sometimes he will take these items from the table. We are quite careful in the house to not leave out any washing or wrappers and always try to pick up everything but there are inevitably things that slip through.
On walks: He will pick up chicken bones, sticks, bottle tops, wrappers and other general rubbish if it takes his fancy
If he gets hold of anything in the house that he is possessive over, he will always run behind the curtain in the living room.
Out on a walk, I am able to catch up to him, he does not run away at all.
However in both situations he will clamp his mouth very tightly shut and growl if you try to take it back. If you tried to forcibly take it away I am quite confident that he would snap at or bite you. Sometimes a treat will work at persuading him to let go - he does know what 'drop it' means, but if he doesn't want to let go then he won't! If you try to catch him in the act and stop him with a 'leave' he will just ignore you and snatch it away faster.
Sorry it was so long but I wanted to explain in detail. It is a very frustrating issue
Any advice gratefully recieved.
He had a stick he wouldn't drop and I was there for about 15 minutes just standing there with it in my hand and him holding the other end until he finally let go after a whole lot of whining and all our friends going home without us!
