Way post meal (1/2 to and hour) food bowl guarding - Page 3

hi jack -- DH offers some good comments --- but befopre you correct your dog make sure that YOU have taught him correwvtly -- some dbe careful that you are reading that passive disobedience -- it does exist --- but the concept is really to get your dog WANTING to work / behave with you -- that is so say [ i hate the word obedience because it has many misconnotations ] - it must come from his heart -- true obedience is that which has gone beyond making and forcing !! but that is another topic --- did your dad have to threaten you or hold a gun to your head for you to listen /pay heed to his words ?? and as far as the food on the ground .... as i stated sit and LET the dog learn to seek YOU out for it's food and all the rest of his resources --- you are attending to his needs --- the dog will come to respect you for that when you do your obedience -- FOOF on the ground -- and what mind you does that teach the dog ... and how does that solidify your relationship ,in your actions always think what you are saying to your dog and vice -a -verse... -- in my opinion --it just takes you right out of the picture and teaches the dog he doesn't need you to gain his needs -- sometimes i couple my dogs in attaining their needs with my as you would call it obedience -- they must HIER to me to eat -- they must sitz and fuss to play with the ball --- they must down stay inorder to get into the vehicle to go to bitework -- this is how i control my dogs -- to allocate to them what they need by following my direction -- i am not adversarial --- also when i have taught them what they need to know and if they think ... noy when they have already -- even if they even THINK of blowing me off[ and i know they haven't made a mistake] -- i have already intervened. make the dog want to come to you to be fed --- no need at the begging to go to him --- let him learn you are the way for him to eat ...

DH has issued some excellent advice I think and it is exactly in line with the program I was given by a canine behaviorist. All dogs are different in their responses and Blitz is very responsive to being ignored. In fact, he just hates it when no one pays him any attention. We have stopped making a fuss over him when we first come home too; he is ignored for at least 30 minutes although he is almost standing on his head putting on his best boy act trying to attract our attention. (That old "I'll be good, I promise" routine, you've seen it too.) I believe it has helped to teach him his place in this pack which not the alpha spot. Try turning your back to your dog when he misbehaves and alway pick your battles. Good luck with your dog. Blitz tries to bully visitors, not us, and he lives his life on tough love, nothing in life is free. It's a constant job of reinforcement as he is always looking to challenge for a higher spot on the family totem pole. It never works out too well for poor old Blitz, but it doesn't stop him from trying. I can almost see him plotting his next attempt at rebellion. He's not always a fun dog LOL.

I wanted to thank all of you for your advice, especially D.H. and ALPHAPUP. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to write such well thought out, insightful replies. Jack