Dog aggressive over toys at playtime? Solutions for resource guarding.

This is called resource guarding. There is rarely a need to touch a pet's food while they are eating - it is quite normal for them to want to finish the meal and be protective of it. During playtime, distract Zelda with a toy other than the one she is playing with to get it away from her rather than just taking it away.

Hi there. Resource guarding is a very common (and normal, to some extent!) behavior in dogs. Do not try to take high-value treats away from her while she is chewing them, as this will only teach her to be anxious and on guard whenever you approach. Instead, leave her alone to chew them in peace. You can also practice walking up to her while she is chewing on something, dropping a tasty treat like a piece of cheese or a hot dog slice, and walking away without bothering her. This way, she learns that having you approach her when she has a "treasure" is a good thing, and not a threat! If this behavior escalates over time instead of getting better, then I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can evaluate her in person and help you put together a training plan to address it. Play growling during tug of war is normal, and it not typically a cause for concern.

This is not unusual behavior as they are trying to work things out. I recommend to always supervise them together until you know there is not chance of a fight. Some dogs are more possessive of toys or food or their person and thats just how they are. Certainly not leaving toys down and only giving them toys when you are home to supervise will help. Do not allow them to steal each other's toys. Also, both dogs will likely think ALL the toys belong to themselves and not the other dog. If you cannot supervise then, you may separate them during chew times with their toys. Heavy daily exercise will help to get some of the energy out and this can help to decrease aggression. I also recommend to pick up some books about dog behavior so that you can recognize what the dogs are saying to each other. Lastly, there are several different training methods out there. You may opt to find a trainer who can come to your house and show you how to modify the dogs' behavior. Find a trainer who's style works with yours. This will take some time to condition the dogs and yourself. I hope this at least points you in the right direction. Please post again with any further questions.

It's normal for dogs to be somewhat possessive over food and toys with other dogs, so without more information it's hard to say whether this is an issue or not. In many cases, it's easier to simply manage this issue by feeding the dogs separately and not giving high-value chew toys or other items that are likely to cause fights when the dogs are together. If you feel that the aggression is excessive (i.e., there have been injuries to the dogs, or he behaves this way over everything, rather than just food and high-value items), it is possible to work on the problem but this takes a lot of time and effort. The basic approach involves teaching him that having another dog nearby when he is eating means good things for him - often this is done by walking another dog nearby, feeding a treat, and moving the other dog away. It usually takes hands-on guidance from a professional to do this correctly, so if this is something you want to work on, I would strongly recommend getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer in your area.

Toy guarding and resource guarding can be a scary experience. There are a few things you can try, such as removing the toy completely so that it isn't guarded, or trying the "trade game" The trade game involves using Nala's favorite treat and "trading" the toy for the treat. Every time she drops the toy, give her a treat, and then give her the toy again to help her learn it is a GOOD thing to give up the toy, and not scary. If the behavior continues or she does actively try to bite you, then talking with a veterinary behaviorist in your area is best as aggression toward people can be difficult to treat and requires professional supervision.

Hi there. Aggressive behavior over food or other high-value resources is very common, and can even be considered normal in dogs. I would recommend managing this issue by continuing to feed the dogs in separate rooms or parts of the house, and picking up the food bowls before allowing the dogs back together again. As long as you're consistent about doing this, you should be able to avoid any issues.

Hi there. Many dogs will freeze and growl, snarl, or snap if they have something valuable (like a bone or bully stick) and they're afraid you might take it away. This is actually quite a normal behavior for dogs, and is just their way of trying to protect their stuff :) To help Sam learn that you're not a threat, you can try walking by and casually tossing him a treat occasionally while he's chewing on his bone. This way, he learns that good things happen when you approach - so no need to growl! NEVER reprimand him for growling, and never try to forcibly take the bone away, as this will only teach him that he was right to be wary of you approaching and is likely to make the problem worse. If you want more detailed information about how to work on this problem, I highly recommend the book "Mine!" by Jean Donaldson.