How come my dog doesn't care about an object, but then when I go to grab it, it will try to get it first?

Question

I just recently asked this question ( http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070308070919AAKX9oD&r=wand got several well-informed answer ) and got several well-informed answers from people and I was wondering if this had any connection to it. Whenever I go to get a toy that my dog isn't playing with, it will race over and try to get it first. I mean, Girlfriend (our dog's name), wasn't even thinking about the little toy until I went to go grab it. (Grrrr! I here her continuously clawing at her cage because she wants to get out) if you read about my last question, you know why. Anyway, why does she do this? I grab a towel she has no interest in and isn't playing with, she will try to grab it from me. If I try to play and take ball from her, she will run away with it and try to defend it away from me. She's actually a very timid dog, but not when it comes to taking control of things. We have had her since birth, in 1997. She is a miniature snouzer and she actually knows a lot

tricks like, stay, sit, stand, cage (go to your cage), come, bark, etc. And when I snap she starts eating. She gets vicious when you try to pet her or do anything while she is eating because I just learned she is food aggressive but she is so timid, it is not hard to get her in her cage, but she is vicious at the same time she is running from you, barking and growling.

Answer 1

This is resource guarding...... and that is BAD. Get a professionals help.... with guarding dogs this isn't about dominance or being the Alfa dog. This is a fear reaction. You say that she is a timid dog. Be so careful, this is a dangerous situation and I strongly recommend getting a professional to help you.

When you get a trainer look for one that has experience with this type of situation and one that uses positive methods... I agree with a previous answer, no shock collars (those hurt a lot no matter what they say on the packaging), no prong collars (they are hard to use correctly and can hurt your dog), no leash correction (this is jerking, snapping, or popping the leash with your dog attached to it).

It sounds like you may need a more trusting relationship with your dog. My dog guards the couch, I have had to ban the dog from the couch (I should never have let her on the couch in the first place). Now that the couch is off limits, and I have given her a place that is hers we have stopped the issue for now. My dog is currently working with letting go of things that she wants so that she can have them. It is a very zen approach if I let it go she will give it back (or if it is dangerous something better).

Answer 2

basically your dog thinks she is boss!! she does not have to be a dominant character for this to happen it's just that you haven't shown her you are boss so by default she has awarded herself the title,all of the other problems she is displaying point to this as well. in the wild pack only the alpha male and female get to do all the nice things first. well basically they get to do everything first as they are the most important. you can do one of a couple of things when she does this with toys. firstly you shouldn't just have toys lying around the house. as boss you decide when she plays. so put all those toys away. during the day get a toy out and encourage her to play by either treating or making a big fuss of her (whichever works best). if she doesn't want to play thats fine, the toy goes away, if she growls at you you immediately put the toy away and walk away from her making no eye contact and not saying anything, the alternative is to take her by her collar and lead her out of the room and shut her out for 5 minutes or so without saying anything, basically giving the message that that behaviour is not acceptable and as the boss you will only allow her to be part of your pack when she behaves correctly.

Answer 3

Seems like your dog is trying to tell you that even dogs will claim what is theirs. Does she do it to things "you" own?

My dog does the same thing but she's doing it because she wants to play. She'll wait til I go for it and then come running and try to pull it from me, playfully growling and all, shaking it with her mouth while I hold it but as soon as I let go and walk away she leaves it and walks away too and as soon as I go back so does she.

Macs

Answer 4

Fearful aggression is the beginning to BIG problems later! You need to squash the problem behavior now. Establish dominance and trust now and you will have a wonderful relationship forever.
It's not the dogs place to tell you what you can or can not have or do it is your place to have that responsibility. Once you take that responsibility on for the dog he will thank you for it!

Answer 5

I believe you each and every of ways. My canines recognize whilst their food is pit down they are not allowed to touch it until I say so. additionally they recognize to drop or launch something they arise with. Having a dogs that growls at you and guards his food in case you get everywhere close to it ought to be noticeably risky. I recommend what if one in all your babies drops something together as walking by using and the dogs turns and bites the youngster bc it theory the youngster became into going for the food. it particularly is unquestionably not the canines fault bc the dogs became into ALLOWED to act like that. As for the those that say "enable the dogs consume in peace". Or "how would you experience if somebody took your food?"..... this is a dogs!!

Answer 6

Do a Google search for "resource guarding". You need to educate yourself quickly about this serious problem. I hope I'm being clear : this problem will not 'just go away'. Get the help of a trainer who uses positive methods (no shock collars, no jerking-and-punishing crap) and take care of this problem ASAP.

Answer 7

She's just playing--it's all a game to her. My advice is to take her for a lot of walks outside. It seems to help their behaviour indoors and around people.

Answer 8

dogs love to interact with other people, that includes playing!
now your dog is trying to play with you, it needs to be played with or your just not any good and being a dog owner!

animals need attention, and right there he is trying to play with you!

Answer 9

She just wants to play with you. She needs more activity.

Answer 10

she is bored and is trying to get tour attention ,if you have a new baby ,girlfriend or new hobby even she probaly feels left out --spend a little more one on one time with her ---and that should change matters.