Resource Guarding: Understaning The habits
resource Guarding: Understaning The Behavior
Last updated on December 13, 2021 By Puppy Leaks 6 comments
Resource guarding (often called food aggression) can be an extremely dangerous behavior. If you’re not comfortable trying to handle your dog don’t hesitate to seek expert help.
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Resource Guarding: comprehending The Behavior
Laika bit me the very first day I had her. It didn’t draw blood however it was still rather unpleasant as well as alarming.
Not much about Laika’s history is known. She was discovered sleeping in someone’s flower pot in the middle of the night. She was taken to an animal shelter a few days later after the great Samaritans had no luck discovering her owner.
After four business days at the shelter she was taken off of the stray hold as well as put up for adoption. I’ve always presumed that since she was discovered on a low web traffic rural dirt road without any collar she was most likely abandoned. That’s just my personal speculation; I’ll never know.
The very first Bite
I wasn’t looking for a puppy as well as yet I ended up with Laika; a 4 month old German Shepherd mix. Not what I had organized however things just turn out suddenly sometimes. We hit it off instantly, well I believed we did. Puppies do tend to play with, kiss, as well as like everybody though.
As I was leaving the shelter with my new puppy the personnel handed me a towel as well as rawhide to take along, they had been provided to her when she shown up at the shelter.
They stated she may be more comfortable having a familiar product around as well as I agreed. I set her up in the backseat of my vehicle with her loot as well as we made the trip back home.
When we got house I opened up the backseat to take my new lovely puppy out to see her brand new permanently home; however she had changed.
Something had occurred to my wonderful lively puppy I was cuddling 30 minutes prior. She had been replaced by a demon. A huge nasty demon with a rawhide in it’s mouth. She was hunkered down as well as growling; her hackles were raised.
I tried coaxing her out of the vehicle in my sweetest voice. I tried running around like a moron with my arms flailing about understanding that puppies like to chase. I got down on the ground as well as politely asked her to find over to me. Nothing. Still hunkered over keeping that stupid rawhide; whenever I would get within 2 feet the growling started again.
I backed away, provided it a few minutes as well as approached again. exact same reaction; growling as well as hunkering down. I was at a total loss. exactly how did I expect to raise this puppy if I couldn’t even get her out of my car?
I tried the other side of my car, approaching from behind. As soon as I grabbed her leash she lunged out as well as bit me. I was in shock however grabbed that stupid rawhide she had foolishly dropped in order to bite my hand. I had the leash as well as held onto it for dear life. I was going to do whatever it took to win this battle as well as at least get this puppy inside.
Surprisingly sufficient as soon as I had that stupid rawhide in my hand she shed her demon skin. She was a adorable as well as lively puppy again. She suddenly wished to be my finest friend; whether it was just to get that rawhide back once again we may never know, it made it’s method into the trash immediately.
This is the demon aka Laika on her very first day house soon after she bit me.
And So The Quest Began
I might have called the shelter as well as requested one more dog, perhaps one that wasn’t defective. however I didn’t.
After my new puppy Laika went to bed I started researching resource guarding. Although I’ve dealt with many dogs I’d never experienced it as well as had no concept where to begin.
There’s a great deal of fantastic info available on exactly how to stop it from happening however just reading the very first chapter of Mine A practical guide to resource Guarding by Jean Donaldson made me recognize I was going to be able to offer with it; my dog wasn’t defective or mean.
By page 2 of the book I had already realized people put as well high of an expectation on my dogs; Laika was normal. We want no aggressive behavior, ever, from our dogs towards any type of human throughout their entire life. This would be the equivalent of asking a human to never lose their temper. I understand I definitely haven’t satisfied that expectation.
We likewise expect our dogs to be able to protect our own valuable resources when it comes down to it. We’d like them to differentiate between the great guys as well as poor guys. many dogs are bred particularly for their guarding abilities. (did I mention Laika is a Shephed mix?)
Donaldson doesn’t suggest in any type of method that resource guarding isn’t a serious problem to offer with. You just very first have to acknowledge that it’s typical for a dog to protect his resources. They’ve been doing it for years. nobody undernull