6 month golden retriever resource guarding and showing teeth

biggebruv · 28-09-2017 06:31AM #1

my golden lab has done this a few times this week now I'm upset is it my fault I have him like this ?

he's very good with almost everything else
but when a piece of tissue falls on the floor or an empty food bag he will snatch it up and put it all in his mouth and when I go to grab it he will start growling and showing teeth and then get snappy when I try to pry open his mouth to get it

same when if he won't get down from jumping on the bed for instance
is he going to be an agressive dog?
I'm so worried about this

DBB · 28-09-2017 07:13AM

Op, this needs to be handled sensitively and carefully right away. You need to stop grabbing stuff off him, and you need to handle getting him off the bed differently, because you're confirming to him that he's right to be worried about losing stuff that he really wants, which will lead to escalation. Treatment for this behaviour involves a process of changing the dog's emotional response to having prized (to him) stuff taken away, and it will be a gradual process with a number of factors that you need to understand.
It's not your fault as such, it is a trend that seems to be becoming more and more common, particularly in some breeds, including labradors. But, how you handle it now will have repercussions for how the behaviour develops over time.
I'd strongly suggest that you engage the help of a good, qualified behaviourist to help you nip this in the bud asap. If you let us know what part of the country you're in, we may be able to suggest someone good.

biggebruv · 28-09-2017 09:11AM

DBB wrote: »

Op, this needs to be handled sensitively and carefully right away. You need to stop grabbing stuff off him, and you need to handle getting him off the bed differently, because you're confirming to him that he's right to be worried about losing stuff that he really wants, which will lead to escalation. Treatment for this behaviour involves a process of changing the dog's emotional response to having prized (to him) stuff taken away, and it will be a gradual process with a number of factors that you need to understand.
It's not your fault as such, it is a trend that seems to be becoming more and more common, particularly in some breeds, including labradors. But, how you handle it now will have repercussions for how the behaviour develops over time.
I'd strongly suggest that you engage the help of a good, qualified behaviourist to help you nip this in the bud asap. If you let us know what part of the country you're in, we may be able to suggest someone good.

hi thanks for the reply I'm in Dublin thanks

DBB · 28-09-2017 10:06AM

Whereabouts, roughly?
Dublin is very well supplied with some good trainers and behaviourists

tk123 · 28-09-2017 10:43AM

I have a resource guarding retriever too which is why I taught pup #2 to give/swap and never took anything off her because it's tricky to deal with! A friend ignored my advice and took to taking everything out of her girls mouth and she ended up in emergency vets recently with a blockage because she eats everything rather than give it up(!)

DBB's advice is spot on - you need a behaviourist to assess him and give you an action plan. With Bailey it took a LONG time going at his pace to manage it - he could still guard something now so I'd need something really high value to swap for it.. I carry a cheese string and furry rabbits ear in my bag just in case lol

Even at that there's times when I have to choose my battles with him depending on what delicacy he's picked up (!)

DBB · 28-09-2017 01:14PM

I thought I was definitely losing my marbles having already got the breed wrong in another thread, but I don't know whether op's dog is a Labrador (that's what the opening post says) or a Retriever (that's what the thread title says). Not that it matters, if there's a problem, there's a problem.
Retrievers are recognised by behavioural organisations across the world as having become increasingly likely to show aggression towards human family members in the types of situations you describe op. Definitely need to act quickly with your pup.

biggebruv · 28-09-2017 01:39PM

DBB wrote: »

I thought I was definitely losing my marbles having already got the breed wrong in another thread, but I don't know whether op's dog is a Labrador (that's what the opening post says) or a Retriever (that's what the thread title says). Not that it matters, if there's a problem, there's a problem.
Retrievers are recognised by behavioural organisations across the world as having become increasingly likely to show aggression towards human family members in the types of situations you describe op. Definitely need to act quickly with your pup.

I'm in the Claire hall area of dublin

DBB · 28-09-2017 01:43PM

http://apdt.ie/index.php/find-a-trainer/dublin/

Scroll down to either Karen Kelly (Swords) or Ciara D'Arcy (Raheny), both excellent trainers who'll be able to help you.

6 month golden retriever resource guarding and showing teeth

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