my dog growled when touched when eating his chew bone the one with the meat in the middle should we buy more?

Question

my husband doesn't want to buy anymore I say he. he just wasn't to be left alone. HE REALLY LOVES THEM HE ONLY DOES IT WITH THAT.

Answer 1

mne always growl if you go to take a treat off them but having said thart why would you want to take a treat of him cos mine will happily let you take there dinner off them but you give them a treat and its cos theyve been good surely so you take it away and they would feel as if theyve been naughty but havent actually done anthing probably confused with your behaviour cos i probably would be

Answer 2

He does just want to be left alone and I wouldn't recommend punishing him for growling. He could bite you and really you can't punish him for saying no. If he didn't growl then he would simply bite if upset.

That said it is not acceptable for you and any one else for that matter to not be able to take away the bone if needed. You should do some training with him.

Start by getting as close as possible without him growling. Then sit down next to him and give him a treat. Slowly get closer and closer and make sure he understands that you are not a threat and him behaving will get a reward. Keep going until you can handle him however you like without growling or guarding.

If you can't approach stop giving the bone until further training has been done. If you can't get close enough to reward you can throw treats to him. Make sure you use high motivational treats i.e. liver, rollover or whatever he really likes.

The other exercise is to hold his bone in your hand and allow him to sniff and chew without letting go. If he growls gently say no and when he stops growling praise him as much as possible. Then say give or whatever your command is and take the bone back. Give a big treat and lots of praise. Then return the bone and repeat over and over again.

He will learn that if he gives it up he will get a treat and the bone comes back. Then there is nothing to growl about. If you are unwilling to do this work you can't give bones without risking a bite.

Good luck and it does get better. I had a pup who growled at everyone when she had bones. With these exercises she was fine.

Answer 3

Growling at you over anything is a sign of dominance, you should not allow him to growl at you over anything. I suggest you keep buying him the bones since he loves them, but first, make him sit or lay down before you give it to him...that is if he has already been taught how to sit or lay on command. Also, touch him on purpose while he's chewing on it...if he growls then take the bone away and say "no growl" to him...wait a few seconds then give it back to him...touch him again...if he growls take the bone away again...repeat this several times and he will get the idea that you are the alpha, or leader, of the pack and he must respect you.

Answer 4

Your dog is *resource guarding*. Dogs will guard what is *precious* to them.

He likes the bone..and you like giving it to him...why stop? Just do a little *desensitizing*.

When you give your dog the bone..sit near him..and just ignore him. Then hold out a small piece of cheese. Make sure he can see it. Then let him have it when he reaches for it. Don't touch or move towards the bone.

Then just sit again...then bring out another piece of cheese. (you should have a stash near you when you begin).What you are teaching him....is that when you are near him..and reaching towards him when he is chewing his bone....he is *getting more*....you are not trying to take it away. Good things happen when you are near him and his bone.

Repeat this every time you give him a bone, for a while...so he learns that good things happen when you reach near him and his bone.

Next you need to teach him either the *leave it* or *let go* command. (*leave it* means to leave something that is not in his mouth. *Let go* means to let go of something in his mouth).

The easiest way for me to teach you the *let Go* command, is to direct you to a great link.

Go to www.dogscouts.com.

Click on their learining or education link. Find the link that says reliable retreive(trust me...it focuses on the *let go* no the retrieve).

Follow the instructions. You can ignore the part about *the hold*.

Once he gets this command down well with another object...you can start using it to get him to give you the bone....but it is important at first...that he brings it to you. Trade it for a treat, after you have decided he has chewed the bone enuff, and put it away until you decide he can have it again.

Never let the dog have the bone when you are not around. (he will learn you need to be there for him to have it...another good lesson). If he has the bone when you are not around...he will be more stressed about it when you are around him with the bone. You can eliminate that by linking your being around with the bone.

Don't deny your dog the bone...just becasue he loves it and is acting as a dog does when a dog loves something. Just learn how to *deal* with his guarding issue.

You will both be happy then!

That said...people who get on their *high horse* and tell you the dog should *NEVER* growl....need to get a clue.

Growling is not a bad thing. It is the dogs only way of telling you when he is upset, scared, stressed*.

Growling is a good think..in that sense...as it is teaching you about what scares, upsets, bothers your dog. How else is he supposed to tell you?

Write it down on a notepad?

Growling is sadly, very misunderstood.

When a dog growls...pay attention to what is making him growl. You will learn a great deal about your dog...and be a much better dog owner since you know what *issues* he has. Think of a dog's growl as a way to *prevent* a dog bite......as long as he growls...he's *telling* you when he is upset..and what upsets him..so you can deal with it.

That is *not* a bad thing....!!

Answer 5

NOT NORMAL WOW that would be the day any dog growled at me.and was not imedditly corrected!..i've takin in strays and yes some had food aggession problems but that is one major thing i worked on....I am boss if i want ur food it mine not urs until i give it back...should i deside to take it again YOU will allow me and i will return it. growling at u over ANYTHING is bad. i don't want to tell u how to handle this because really i don't want u to get bit by ur own dog... i would really see if it just the bone. if food aggession goes unchecked it can become worse... ok here is what i do take heed as it get u biten if not in a good mind set...NEVER show fear. first i would always make dog sit and wait for food any food. i would set it down after the dog is calm but the dog can not have it until i say so controling thier food= leader... lt dog eat a bit take food back not by picking it up just step toward the food. if dog does not back away step in closer..(I like to sit on floor) touch dog in a way that says back up like in shoulder or neck not rough just a touch. claim food for a bit let dog feed again keep doing this over and over.....or better yet get a behaviorist. as it is easier to show...then explain.
i have been nailed but a stray here and there in the begining of their foster stay. my dogs have never thought they had control of anything. i could let my 4 yr daughter sit with her hand in the food bowl... or take a bone from their mouth( my dogs not strays) and not that i let her do these things.

good luck.

Answer 6

Well, for starters that isn't a good thing when the dog growls when he is eating something. It means that he don't want you to take it away and is showing domance. Yeah I would get him more, but you should learn him that if he gives it to you, you will give it back.

Answer 7

thats a very normal thing. thats what dogs do when they are ina pack. your dog's just scared that you'll take it without giving it back. You need to teach him/her that its bad and that the bone comes back to him/her. they need chew bones, dont believe in what people say here. You need to show your dog who the boss is. Does it do the same with food in a bowl? You need to be persistant, do not give up, that will only make him/her understand that hes the boss and hes right. I dont mean your hubby, i mean the dog ;) lol

Answer 8

You are right, if the dog enjoys them, get them, but isolate the dog outside or in another part of the house while he eats them and stay away from him until he is done. If there are children in the house, lock the dog away from them or don't buy them anymore. He is food aggressive and that could be extremely dangerous for kids who don't know better.

Answer 9

This is food aggression and should NOT be tolerated. When a dog growls at you over a toy or a food item, IMMEDIATELY take the toy or food away, YOU are boss, not the dog. If you let it slide, it will only get worse. It's not OK to think this is "cute", unless you don't mind being bitten later on.

Answer 10

He loves the treat, give them when he has behaved very well and you want to reward him. do not give him this around children, never should feed dogs around children. Then lat him be when he is enjoyuing it. This is the doga way and it is natural. Just know when he has this treat let him be. When you are making love you don't want to talk to mom on the phone right?