Puppies
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Resource guarding or just excited?
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Resource guarding or just excited?
I recently started to play two ball with my 14wk golden retriever to set foundation for fetch. I bought two identical tennis balls and things went well on the first night – he brought the ball back, dropped, and went for the other. The second time I played it he came back with the first ball but not to me, to an area slightly off to the side by the wall and laid down with it and did not want to drop as much. The third time he came back with the first ball but with a growl (and wagging tail). If I get his attention, he would still go for the second ball but again doesn’t want to drop the first so he either runs after the second with the first in his mouth or he would drop by accident and I’d go pick it up.
Do I have something to worry about? It’s the growl that set me off a bit. He did have one incident before with a Himalayan cheese chew, where he didn’t want to give it up after 20min with it and growled. I never gave the chew back to him again.
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2 Replies
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Growling can also be an invitation to play or part of play. My dogs and I grow at each other, during play. My dogs growl at each other when they invite each other to play. For example they will hold half a toy/bone on their mouth offer the other half to the other dog and growl. Of course it could also be resource guarding. Robert has a lesson on that.
On the fetch, Robert suggests having the dog on a long leash to bring them back — it is not a negative correction, it is a bring bring bring while pulling them towards you. The fun in the game should be you, as opposed to the toy. So you just have to make yourself so over the top that you top the toy. When I get the ball it is a party and I throw the ball back as quickly as possible. Short distances are better. The object is for the ball to be how we play with each other, rather than it being a chew toy. In the beginning I also use treats, so when they give me the ball they get a treat and a party.
If it turns out that the ball is too high value you could use a lower value toy. Leaving the ball to do the even exchange exercise.
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Thanks Ed! I’ll try the things you mentioned and check out the resource guarding video.
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