Resource Guarding
So I have a bit of a dilemma and I just want to get your guys input.
I know that some dogs are resource guarders, but most of the time it seems to be over food, toys, treats, you as a person, etc. Well I have come to the realization that Sake doesn't guard any of these things. Her and Miso share food bowls, water bowls, toys, treats, our attention, everything is great!
The thing she decides to guard are random odd objects and Im not sure how to approach training this bad behavior out of her. So far she has decided to guard:
Dirt holes dug in the backyard
Area Rugs
Under the Bed
Here are some examples of her guarding:
Now at first we thought this was something funny that she was doing, and she wouldn't actually bite feet, just kind of bark and mouth them like "HEY, thats mine!", but last night she got under the bed and Miso poked his head under there to see what she was up to and the GROWL that came out of my little creamie was astonishing! Then I went to see what was going on and when I put my hand under the bed she bit me! Not hard, didn't break skin, but it was a definite nip. I said OUCH and got up and left, but she still was under the bed defending it from anyone that dare come to close.
Im not sure what to do, because it's not like I can redirect her attention (tried with cheese to no avail) or take away the object of her guarding because I can't move the bed every time she decides to guard it...
Im at a loss...so I turn to you, my trusted Nihon Ken-ites to help.
I know that some dogs are resource guarders, but most of the time it seems to be over food, toys, treats, you as a person, etc. Well I have come to the realization that Sake doesn't guard any of these things. Her and Miso share food bowls, water bowls, toys, treats, our attention, everything is great!
The thing she decides to guard are random odd objects and Im not sure how to approach training this bad behavior out of her. So far she has decided to guard:
Dirt holes dug in the backyard
Area Rugs
Under the Bed
Here are some examples of her guarding:
Now at first we thought this was something funny that she was doing, and she wouldn't actually bite feet, just kind of bark and mouth them like "HEY, thats mine!", but last night she got under the bed and Miso poked his head under there to see what she was up to and the GROWL that came out of my little creamie was astonishing! Then I went to see what was going on and when I put my hand under the bed she bit me! Not hard, didn't break skin, but it was a definite nip. I said OUCH and got up and left, but she still was under the bed defending it from anyone that dare come to close.
Im not sure what to do, because it's not like I can redirect her attention (tried with cheese to no avail) or take away the object of her guarding because I can't move the bed every time she decides to guard it...
Im at a loss...so I turn to you, my trusted Nihon Ken-ites to help.
Comments
Good luck!
Thanks Chrys, I will look into that book and order up a copy. Most of the info I have found is about guarding toys/food etc. though so it's really hard to adapt to my situation.
Just before I was about to hit "enter comments " I went back and reread your comments . You mentioned a treat "cheese" in an attempt to redirect . Sake could see this as rewarding this behavior.So I would stay clear of treats .
As for the bed, I have been telling her a stern "NO" when she tries to go under there and I think she is getting the point. It will be solved in a few weeks when we finish building the new bedframe which has no access underneath.
Or maybe she has a foot fetish like the butler from Mr. Deeds, or maybe she's afraid of shoes? I'm sure none of this is accurate. Where's SNF?
I guess if you can catch her in the act of rug guarding or hole guarding, try a sound aversion like Vicki S (the UP UP UP) and go from there, sort of removing her focus from it and her need to hover and guard it.
Other than that, its sad but I'm drawing blanks. You are right, standard answers are about food or toys that are guarded. The SINGLE THING I took from my uninformed days of watching Cesar was "be creative" in your training. I run into things with my dogs or fosters or dogs that we just see having a tough time with their owners, and try to consider what you know works (sound aversion, redirection, rewarding a desired behavior, removing a guarded object) and try to apply it to your current situation. I'm sure you can still reinforce 'leave it' with holes and rugs.
Easier said than done, I know
Is there a trainer you can call to kind of pick their brain a bit?
Joe, you don't need another female...another male definitely, but not a female....Jiro? I mean...ya know? :P
Jesse
Jesse, PEER PRESSURE!
I think she is very strange, but I love her!
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Resource growling usually has an escalation pattern: freeze, stare, growl, show teeth, snap, then bite.
In that video she is jumping and biting (no freeze, stare, showing of teeth). Looks playfully (tho one bite does look a bit hard). I wouldn't let her practice playing like that, but I wouldn't lump that behavior into the "Resource Guarding" issue. IMHO.
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She does freeze, stare, growl, show teeth, etc. SOMETIMES before this behavior happens, and sometimes she doesn't. She DID do those things under the bed.
AND, she doesn't ALWAYS go into this mode. I must move that rug, with my feet, 10 times a day and maybe once out of the ten times she goes into this mode.
Jesse
1. Actually it looks like you are encouraging the behavior by activating her prey drive via motion, via sliding/flicking the carpet or kicking dirt which only works up her prey drive and then she forgets her manners by being mouthy and that develops into snaps.
2. Also it is strongly possible you are reinforcing via sound….the tone in your voice when you cover the hole with dirt is encouraging and approving as you move your feet. It is best not to say anything at all and ignore the hole (you must instill the hole is not fun, you are not playing ….demonstrate it really is not that interesting by walking away) and cover later when she isn’t around, if in fact the hole is what she is concerned with and not the flinging dirt or flailing foot action.
It is going to be a little tougher though to correct, probably because the prey behavior now is reinforced over time. She probably thinks all of this is a game, which throws her in overdrive the minute anyone even moves or stands near the hole, object, or space which she now she may be obsessive over by expecting movement. Vicious cycle.
The only thing I can think is to change the way she plays her game and change it up. For example with the dirt hole and carpet, teaching her to go out away from you in a send away like in agility may be of benefit. When you do that she can have a reward of tug or a moving object of YOUR choosing via a buffalo hide or furry tug animal hide ON the precious contact point (the rug) which may replace interest in the carpet motion itself when she returns. Teaching a “go to rug” command may be helpful also. Only work with the “tug” command once you have taught her a “drop it” command first. The objective is to switch the game of snapping to a controlled grab of the fuzzy and use the send away rather than having her focus on the carpet or dirt hole itself. You actually can use the hole as a contact point, the same as you would with the rug. You also can use a flirt pole to redirect her drive but you need to teach a solid “wait” command and “enough” to end the action.
The point is you want to redirect her drive on to other objects to play but it has to be controlled and on your terms.
I would train with the clicker to teach each of the following so she develops more control over her actions:
• “Drop it”
• “Take it”
• A send away
• “Go to rug”
• Going to various target spots you select (each place will have a different word)
• “Tug”
• “Wait”
• “Enough”
Eventually after each command is solid, the objective will be to chain it together in sequence for play. After the new way to play is established and if she misbehaves she gets a time out and the fun stops if she mouths or her teeth graze body parts.
Getting all the command lines seems simple but it has to be absolutely consistent in order to have success in a series. It will take time and probably some help from a decent instructor.
Actually I would go to an advanced basic obedience class with your dog if you have completed an intro basic obedience course, and if your dog can work around other dogs on leash. Talking to an agility person would be helpful if you can get an intro with a trainer once you have some of the basic items down from a basic obedience course.
As far as under the bed, well most Shibas have a thing for under the “whatever” (couch, bed, chair, shrub) you name it, and this is usually brings out the little monster in many. I’m not sure what to say, other than do not to allow access to the bedroom and do not engage the dog when she decides to go nutty, take everyone (other dogs too) and leave to have fun in another room. You will be surprised how fast they will come out from under the bed when no one plays or you go elsewhere to have fun.
Most of all do not reinforce the mouthy behavior verbally and stop flailing and foot flicking and redirect to other activities. ….bubbles, sprinkler, flirt pole, chuck-it, whatever works that you can use as a reward and can control via commands.
She sounds pretty typical (how little problems end up escalating with Shibas) where she needs help in developing/maintaining some control with more structure.
Just some ideas and my take from what I see…..
Snf
Snf