[yorkipower]

Lexi will be 6 months old on 12/29. This morning I caught her with something in her mouth. She ran away, but stopped and listened when I told her to sit (although she had the "I know I'm doing something wrong" attitude - head down, cowering). I first told her to "drop it!"...she ignored me. I picked her up and tried to open her mouth. She growled and snapped at me!!! She has never done anything like this before. I have no idea how to stop this behavior before it gets out of hand. Anyone else have a BAD DOG!?!?????


Lexi is already exhibiting Canine Possessive Aggression (“CPA”) also referred to as “object guarding” or “object hoarding.” You are right to be concerned as this kind of behavior could ultimately wind up as a bad bite or, worse yet, a dog with a serious aggression problem! (Take it from someone who knows, a dog-related lawsuit is NOT fun). However, I don’t believe that outright punishing Lexi for hoarding is going to work. In her eyes, she needs to protect the object she has found because she knows you are going to take it away from her – you are the “bad guy.” Punishing just reinforces that notion. Instead, you’ve got to change the way she sees you in terms of all things good in the world. I’m gonna suggest a two step approach:

1) Make her believe that anything she wants in life comes from you;
2) Let her learn to trust that if she gives up what she has, you will be ready to give her something even better (this can become a special game between the two of you).

OK, first for the new two weeks, put her food bowl in the closet and let it collect dust. You are going to hand feed her. Since you’ve taught her to sit, that’s great because you can also make meals into rewards for doing “good” behaviors. I’d recommend you read a book called “Ruff Love” by Susan Garrett – but READ THE ENTIRE BOOK and truly understand what it is that Garrett is suggesting (focus on the puppy section though): In a nutshell, you take away all privileges from your dog and make her work for them. All of these privileges need to be tied back to you. You are the “good guy” -- the source of all things special. Another great book, which complements Garrett’s writing, is “Building Blocks for Performance.” Both books are available at http://www.Dogwise.com. If she is crate trained, you can use that to your advantage too, when you are not interacting with her directly, she is to go into her crate. She must give you a sit or a down before she can come out. During playtime, she is to “ask” to join the gang of dogs, by coming to you with a sit or a down, you then “give” her the playtime as a reward. No toys around the house. You are to be the toy supply. Any toy she has access to will come from your hands. This leads me to the second part of her training:

Second part – here we go – teach her to trade! Give her a low reward toy or treat – something she likes but isn’t crazy about. It should be something large that you can grasp without getting to close to her little fangs. Then get something you know she really likes. While she is holding the low reward toy, YOU play with the high reward treat, make a fuss over it and let her see you do it. Inevitably, she will look up and give you those pleading eyes; she may even drop the treat she has. If she does, praise her and hand her the higher reward treat, if she doesn’t hold the high reward treat in front of her and ask her to “give” when she reaches for the high reward treat, she will probably have to drop the lower reward treat. Say, “Thank you” or “give it” and praise her. Do this again and again and again. She should learn “Thank you” or “give it” as a code to give up that special something. Start working with higher and higher reward treats – starting out with things she really likes and would be reluctant to give up. Once she knows that giving up stuff does not mean she looses out, she will be less likely to hoard and show aggression.

If this becomes too much for you, I do recommend you speak to a dog behaviorist. Time is on your side her since your girl is still just a pup. Good luck.