rehoming a resource guarding golden retriever

MizMix

I posted here years ago about my golden retriever that bit me while resource guarding (edited to say twice in the space of 9 months- in the face on one occassion). No warning sign either times. We ended up keeping him and ensuring he didn't have toys or anything like that and being extra aware. 6 years later we have two kids. We've moved house and don't have a gate so he's in more than usual. We had him checked with a vet, we went to a trainer- even the trainer said they felt we should consider rehoming as I was pregnant at that stage and they said resource guarding was pretty impossible to stop completely. We kept him- I was wracked with guilt at the thoughts of rehoming a dog and giving up on him.

Two weeks ago he snapped- not a direct snap but snapped at a friends kid. He seemed spooked by what he was wearing (big puffy jacket) or something but still....far from ideal righT?! Once he wasn't threatened he just wanted to play with him.

Today while I was busy my son was eating. I've a feeling the dog got a scrap of his food. My son was just walking past (perhaps put his hand out) but the dog snapped (loud snarl and a snap). Seemed to bite his top but he definitely snapped and would have nipped his arm if he was in a tee shirt.

He's 8 years old. He is a lovely dog but he is and always (since we got him at 2 or so months old) had strange quirks. We had a golden retriever growing up who was the typical retriever- I'm familiar with the breed. We got his guy from a reputable breeder. I did call her years back and she said at the time she'd look into finding a farmer or someone similar. But she never got back to me.

At this stage I want to rehome him. I don't want to put him down- he is far from perfect but would make a good pet for someone with no kids. But I don't trust him and if I'm being honest with myself I should have rehomed him years ago as we have made too many adjustments given we have young kids. I'm never relaxed when he's in with the kids. My youngest son adores him and the dog does too but there's too much unpredictability with his resource guarding and the fact that a kid won't pick up on a warning sign. We really have given him the best life and given him chances- I understand dogs don't have a human moral code so to me he's not a bad dog but he's too unpredictable with kids. Even I got no warning sign when he bite me.

Any advice on how I could go about this? The risk factors won't be a risk factor for an adult only household who are aware of his resource guarding.

tk123

MizMix wrote: »

Any advice on how I could go about this? The risk factors won't be a risk factor for an adult only household who are aware of his resource guarding.

I'd disagree.. They won't be a risk for a household who's got experience with a resource guarding dog and are willing to actively address the issue working with a behaviourist which is a big ask. I have a resource guarder - nobody believes he guards until they see it with their own eyes.. which has thankfully been once or twice when out and about because we actively work on the issue and have plans put into place around it etc.

Your best bet might be a retriever specific rescue..

MizMix

Yes I probably overstated 'no risk'. I guess what I mean is that at a different stage of our lives we could manage him. He's difficult to describe- so gentle at times but the times he has resource guarded it's like he's possessed for a few seconds. The lack of warning signs (they are there sometimes but not always- or even I missed them) are too unpredictable with kids esp now they have friends over.

I will be totally upfront about our reasons for rehoming- wouldn't even consider otherwise! I'll look into retriever rescues Monday. Tahnks