tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post5089599078897473921..comments2023-07-26T09:09:29.649-04:00Comments on acd6pack: Breeze's food issueacd6packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05377057535245112797noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-78302050202886586702012-12-06T14:48:22.064-05:002012-12-06T14:48:22.064-05:00I am glad to hear the alcove is helping, and agree...I am glad to hear the alcove is helping, and agree with others that she might be warning the other dogs away, whether they've ever gotten her food before or not. She knows her food is there, she knows other dogs are there, and she may not feel completely safe in her crate. I think she's just discovered that growling "works". If another dog touches her and she growls, that dog moves away - it worked! The thing is you don't want to punish her for growling, because it can lead to dogs who go straight from looking fine to biting, with no warning in between. Instead you want to change the environment to make her feel safe. And apparently your voice does make her feel safe because she knows you won't let the other dogs bother her! I bet if you tape-recorded yourself and left the room it wouldn't take long for her to realize you weren't really there by her sense of smell, and she'd go back to growling. <br /><br />I don't think this means you're doomed to have to stand next to her while she eats for the rest of her life (hopefully). :-) But I think treating this like resource aggression is a good plan, and the book Mine! as recommended above is a great resource. Here's another good article, which has more to do with dog-to-person resource guarding, but is still very helpful. http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/resource-guarding/ You can modify it to work with the other dogs by giving her extra treats when a dog walks by. And the "Say Please" protocol is so important - she has to learn that good things only happen when she does what you want. If you use a clicker, you can try to click and treat whenever she is eating without growling. If she growls, a simple "nope" and the treats stop. Also hand feeding is a good way to teach her that the food comes from you and there isn't a bowl for her to guard that way. Unfortunately I've had a lot of practice (and not as much success as I'd like) with Ziggy resource guarding. It's not easy to deal with but it can get better with time and training!Dog Foster Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05397597808629183126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-69682449926372704592012-12-05T19:13:35.041-05:002012-12-05T19:13:35.041-05:00Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. Maybe...Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. Maybe it'll offer insight to something I'm not seeing.acd6packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377057535245112797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-16289593208510220862012-12-05T19:12:45.146-05:002012-12-05T19:12:45.146-05:00That's a great idea but our house, although ve...That's a great idea but our house, although very old, has had additions and the downstairs is all open with only one room having a door and that's where the cat food and litter box is. Breeze is relaxing more and it's odd, even when growling, the tail is wagging like crazy. acd6packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377057535245112797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-7525142703573430882012-12-05T19:10:03.209-05:002012-12-05T19:10:03.209-05:00Well, that's the weird thing, nobody has gotte...Well, that's the weird thing, nobody has gotten her food, ever. She's always eaten in her crate and I am very strict about nobody bothering each other, especially a new arrival. I think that it might be a lack of confidence that will improve as she matures. For now, the alcove is working really well and I don't have to talk as much.acd6packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377057535245112797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-29129659517134131362012-12-05T19:07:41.131-05:002012-12-05T19:07:41.131-05:00He pees on his feet?! Oh Silas!
I agree with y...He pees on his feet?! Oh Silas! <br /><br />I agree with you about dark colored dogs. My boy Bill never looks dirty and it's a surprise to find that he's tracked dirt all over the sofa.acd6packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377057535245112797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-12857313285256264872012-12-05T19:01:13.892-05:002012-12-05T19:01:13.892-05:00Well, as I keep saying, good thing she's cute!...Well, as I keep saying, good thing she's cute! We'll get through this.acd6packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377057535245112797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-1048733078224190622012-12-05T19:00:42.406-05:002012-12-05T19:00:42.406-05:00I thought that it was just conversational growling...I thought that it was just conversational growling too but as I observed more and more I could see she was doing it when another touched her while she was relaxing, when she wanted what somebody else had and that type of situation. acd6packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377057535245112797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-40816090891316678362012-12-05T18:58:56.004-05:002012-12-05T18:58:56.004-05:00Breeze seems more content in the alcove with me ba...Breeze seems more content in the alcove with me babbling away. So far so good!<br /><br />Hopefully Shyla will settle in her crate as she gets used to it and realizes that it's a nice spot to relax.acd6packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377057535245112797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-86164398358987190262012-12-04T11:41:58.251-05:002012-12-04T11:41:58.251-05:00I don't have any useful suggestions, I'm a...I don't have any useful suggestions, I'm afraid. If it's a resource guarding problem, maybe Jean Donaldson's book, "Mine!" would have some useful suggestions. Love the photo of Breeze with a dirty face! Here's a link to the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mine-Practical-Guide-Resource-Guarding/dp/0970562942<br /><br />Susan and WrigsLife with Wrigshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10391045831485462448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-75845581467542243012012-12-04T06:39:46.923-05:002012-12-04T06:39:46.923-05:00Agree with Collie222 - as long as you're there...Agree with Collie222 - as long as you're there, she knows you won't let the other dogs take her food! What about putting her in a room with a solid door that can be closed as opposed to a wire crate door or a baby gate? Once she realizes she is alone and no other dog can get in, maybe she'll relax and be able to enjoy her food...liparifamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15205794075118001139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-3374092605222181032012-12-03T20:55:27.545-05:002012-12-03T20:55:27.545-05:00All it could take is just having one of the others...All it could take is just having one of the others stealing a bite of kibble. So now, since she can't see them trying to steal from her, she is being vocal to warn them away. Being confined in her crate, probably makes her feel she is at a disadvantage in protecting her dinner. But the sound of your voice, knowing you are near to help keep the others away, calms her. Hopefully, enough time will pass without any food theft, and she will relax her guard.Collie222https://www.blogger.com/profile/03885140752873789359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-30661038961078689012012-12-03T15:55:31.086-05:002012-12-03T15:55:31.086-05:00I hope your growling solution works! You don't...I hope your growling solution works! You don't want her to start getting defensive toward the others, for sure. <br /><br />Those white dogs just can't get away with making any kind of mess. Bless their hearts. I do sometimes wonder about the things that people with dark colored dogs just don't realize--Silas pees on his own feet all the time, for instance, and has to be wiped down before I'll let him on the furniture. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-47466306575853156222012-12-03T13:11:08.019-05:002012-12-03T13:11:08.019-05:00That's a head scratcher for sure! Maybe she&#...That's a head scratcher for sure! Maybe she's "talking" to her food or to you? That's good that you've found a solution - however temporary that may be. <br /><br />I guess Breeze doesn't realize she's white and that dirt shows up much clearer on her! ;) Blueberry's humanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09939332241280524991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-47537779302478856832012-12-03T11:22:44.328-05:002012-12-03T11:22:44.328-05:00My cattle dog was a constant growler too, so const...My cattle dog was a constant growler too, so constant that I realized it was a way of talking for her. It still put others on edge and wasn't the nicest form of communication, but I got pretty used to it. Sounds like giving her more space is a good solution. Kirsten (peacefuldog)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17157607807509631485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-10741023967592588152012-12-03T09:43:19.102-05:002012-12-03T09:43:19.102-05:00I'm afraid that I don't have any great ide...I'm afraid that I don't have any great ideas. I do like your idea of trying a different location that's less confined for her to eat. Maybe that is working?<br /><br />We are having a slightly similar problem. Our Shyla barks insanely when in a crate if I am not in the room with her. As you can imagine, the crate is needed for times when I can't be in the room with her to supervise. Fortunately, she stops when I leave the house... Some behaviors are really hard to break...KBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16885661679762446456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-22493792363908719452012-12-01T22:48:15.372-05:002012-12-01T22:48:15.372-05:00Blind Hiker goes crazy when anyone gets close whil...Blind Hiker goes crazy when anyone gets close while she is eating...they only ever do it once! Blind Brook eats so fast, nobody has a chance. I wonder if maybe Breeze is just developing her personality and maturity. Oh well, she's a love!<br /><br />acd6packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377057535245112797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469835689360801078.post-1900186994432973322012-12-01T22:39:19.878-05:002012-12-01T22:39:19.878-05:00As she can't see, she may be warning the other...As she can't see, she may be warning the others that, that is her kibble....can't understand why the other blind dog doesn't growl. Could be something in Breeze's past.<br /><br />XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & RoxyBella Roxy & Macduihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268052368797347239noreply@blogger.com