Treats and bones !

[Dara311]

Hey everyone,
Happy new year!!!

So, I want to know if any of you have any issues with your yorkies growling when you get near them or touch them while they are chewing on a bone, bully stick, or any other treat? I have noticed that Fiona has been doing it more so then often, and when she does it, I take it right away from her.....

Anyone else with this issue?

[camile]

Yes. Both of my girls are the sweetest babies in the world. They are very loving and can actually be timid at times. They are great with my grandkids and have never been disagreeable until they get hold of a bone or chew treat. Then they turn into little beasties. They will growl when I come near or have to take the treat. I never leave them with chews unattended and take them away after awhile so the chew doesn't get too small, (fear of choking). I have read here that others have the same issue. It really doesn't bother me, they just are protecting something special to them. At first, I was a little taken aback but its just a dog thing and I don't mind. In fact my dh and I laugh when we walk by and they make this little growl noise. Kinda cute. But I think everything they do is cute. Well, mostly.

[Lovetodream88]

Callie has never had that problem but shes also has always brought her bones to us to hold while she chews. When Sammy comes over (moms yorkie) they dont growl at each other either they switch tho its really funny to watch.

[chachi]

My Jewels will growl if Chachi approaches her while she has one but its more a game to her so we dont take it away

[princessizzy]

Izzy has NEVER growled at "me" while she has a bone or a treat BUT....With everyone else...OH YESSSSS.. BIG TIME!!! She would even attack the other little dogs that would even walk by. other wise she is the sweetest and most loveable furbaby ever... She just feels like it's going to be taken away.. I dont blame her..lol

So now I put her in the playpen where no one can bother her. This has been the best thing i have ever done

[Britster]

No, Jackson has never growled. Well, he will with another dog occasionally but even that is rare. They have to be really in face and annoying him for him to growl, and I don't necessarily mind him doing it to other dogs so long as he's not being too aggressive; just giving a warning growl. He has never growled at my 3yr old sister who has actually has taken the bone out of his mouth before (we don't purposely let this happen though, lol) and I can lay my face right next to him and he could care less. As a young puppy, I would purposely put my hand in his food bowl, and touch his bone and then give it back to him, etc.

[FidoTheYorkie]

Growling when people take a treat/bone of a dog is a dominant behavior , which is never allowed in my home, and no one should alow it.
Fido has never growled at be for taking a bone of him but the yorkie bitch I sometimes babysitt does that, she doesnt want me taking the bone of her, I just take it from her whatever she says, thats the best way, and if the dog lets you take the bone/treat then you compliment him/her very much and maybe let her have it again

It is VERY important to take the food and bone from the dog sometimes while he's eating it,and if he lets you have it with no proplom you compliment him very much and let him have it again, thats the best way, I did it with Fido since he was a puppy

[yorkieusa]

The best thing to do is work with them from the time they are puppies. The way to make it work is to always give the treat back to them - not to keep it. Just play with the treat on the floor with them. Make it a game. Pick it up, but give it back. Practice being able to get right in their face, even give a kiss on the cheek. Play with the treat along with them as though it is a toy. I would do this several times a day. You should, eventually, be able to pick up the treat, whenever you want to with no growling. But, as I said, you should always give it back. To make it a game, try shooting it across the floor with your finger. Try to get her to bring it back to you. Praise her when she does.

[ArmaniMan]

Chloe will growl if Armani comes near her food or treats- but not if I do. Armani won't growl if anyone comes near his food.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Dara311

Hey everyone,
Happy new year!!!

So, I want to know if any of you have any issues with your yorkies growling when you get near them or touch them while they are chewing on a bone, bully stick, or any other treat? I have noticed that Fiona has been doing it more so then often, and when she does it, I take it right away from her.....

Anyone else with this issue?

You could have a problem brewing with guarding. You need to take the treat/bully stick, etc away from the dog when she is growling, and give back something better like a piece of white meat chicken or dip the chew in a tiny amt of peanut butter and give back. The dog needs to know that you taking something away is going to result in getting something better, not losing the treat.

This could turn into a very big problem if your dog develops guarding. I would remove all offending items until this behavior was under control.
But I would not take the item away, because the dog will soon understand that mom takes away my fun and the dog will guard more. Think about how you would feel if you had someone come over and rip a slice of pizza or ice cream cone out of your mouth while you were enjoying it. You'd be pissed off too. The dog needs to know that even if you take it away, you will be giving it back with something better.

Just my thoughts.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by 107barney

You could have a problem brewing with guarding. You need to take the treat/bully stick, etc away from the dog when she is growling, and give back something better like a piece of white meat chicken or dip the chew in a tiny amt of peanut butter and give back. The dog needs to know that you taking something away is going to result in getting something better, not losing the treat.

This could turn into a very big problem if your dog develops guarding. I would remove all offending items until this behavior was under control.
But I would not take the item away, because the dog will soon understand that mom takes away my fun and the dog will guard more. Think about how you would feel if you had someone come over and rip a slice of pizza or ice cream cone out of your mouth while you were enjoying it. You'd be pissed off too. The dog needs to know that even if you take it away, you will be giving it back with something better.

Just my thoughts.

[Dara311]

Originally Posted by FidoTheYorkie

Growling when people take a treat/bone of a dog is a dominant behavior , which is never allowed in my home, and no one should alow it.
Fido has never growled at be for taking a bone of him but the yorkie bitch I sometimes babysitt does that, she doesnt want me taking the bone of her, I just take it from her whatever she says, thats the best way, and if the dog lets you take the bone/treat then you compliment him/her very much and maybe let her have it again

It is VERY important to take the food and bone from the dog sometimes while he's eating it,and if he lets you have it with no proplom you compliment him very much and let him have it again, thats the best way, I did it with Fido since he was a puppy

That is EXACTLY why she got it taken away from her, and I layed her on her back to let her know who is in charge!!!!! By the end of the night, if I came near her, she would drop the bone right away, and lay down, and then I would praise her for GOOD behavior, and gave it back to her.......

[camile]

Neither of mine exhibit this behavior with anything except chews, probably because they don't get them often enough. I could get down and eat out of their bowls with them and they wouldn't mind. I can hold the chew for them and they like for me to do this, less work for them I guess. And, of course I can take it from them, I just don't see it as a problem if my dog acts like a dog in this one instance. They have always done this and they haven't turned into wolves yet.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Dara311

That is EXACTLY why she got it taken away from her, and I layed her on her back to let her know who is in charge!!!!! By the end of the night, if I came near her, she would drop the bone right away, and lay down, and then I would praise her for GOOD behavior, and gave it back to her.......

I *personally* wouldn't lay her on her back... you don't really need her to know who is in charge. It's more about mutual respect and trust. She needs to trust you enough to know you're not going to take away her things and that there is no reason for her to resource guard them. If something of high value needs to be taken away from her, give her something of even HIGHER value in return, or better yet... the bone given back.