late/sudden onset resource guarding - help

[MitchyInge]

at least I think it is resource guarding, 3yr old Weimi has started biting (quite hard ) after his walk when he usually gets biscuits and/or a bone to take into his run

this progressed to not letting me come between him and his bone when I arrived the next day to take him for a walk, if I walked near him he went for my feet and legs and when I approached with the lead he bit my hands, wrists and arms - he has quite a stash of 'treasures' around the garden

really need to crack this as a) he is one of my secret special favourite dogs and I heart him so this has made me sad and b) is obviously not going to do him any favours if this behaviour escalates and he bites the wrong person

have had no luck so far with offering swaps, as nothing really trumps a juicy bone does it?

please help!

Has anyone ever taken bones etc away from him, Mitchy?

well have always been able to get between him and his bone to take him for a walk, which is not quite the same thing of course - have had to take other things from him (usually by swapping for a bone) but I don't know if it's ever been checked in the past

he can be quite a handful and bones are so handy for distracting and occupying him - as his owner says he needs the same level of supervision as a 2 or 3yr old child, but immediately prior to this I was thinking how unnaturally good he was being, wondering if his extended puppyhood was finally at an end

isn't it unusual for a dog to just bite so hard, without giving any warning - no showing of teeth, growling or snarling first?

I should think he needs the standard all clear from the vet and then to be seen by a qualified behaviourist.

Are you not his owner then? (Sorry to be nosey, just trying to understand your relationship with him).

oh dear

I am technically a qualified behaviourist, (although have abandoned KC accreditation process) and am mainly walking and pet/house sitting these days - I used to run groups but am looking for a new venue, although don't know where the working hours will come from now am so busy

Mitchyhinge I am a behaviorist too and any consolation I would want another behaviourist in to look at this situation.

It is too difficult to assess this behaviour via threads and would need to see the exact behaviour in the situation. But as you know it will need to be dealt with as these things get worse not better. Good luck and let us know how you get on . I would be interested to know the reasons.

I would defo go for a check at the vets first though as Bella says.

yes, that was first thought - think there are difficulties getting him to a vet, though I know one who could make a home visit without charging the earth

he is supposed to have bitten/hurt people before but have never seen it or had any cause for concern in that way over the hours and days and even weeks of looking after him - could only have been more shocked if it had been my own dog, really

wish I hadn't lent my copy of culture clash out because I seem to remember she had some good ideas about this sort of thing

have got someone more senior to help next week but she is a bit pack-leader ish, although this might not be wholly bad as he is a dog who needs very firm, confident handling