resource guarding 5 month puppy

[snowman1]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any hope for me. We got a rescue pup about 6 weeks ago, got her from 4 months old. She was found by the side of the road with her littermates, probably over 8 weeks old, but not entirely sure. She is smart, very trainable with a confident temperament initially. But the past 2 weeks have shown an increase in resource guarding particularly the sofa. She isn't allowed on it, I had intended to allow her on it once she was housebroken, but the behaviourist who I have coming next week said not to let her up there if she is guarding it and to leave a lead on her and tug that, as she snaps at the air when I try to grab her collar to get down, she also air snapped at my 5 year old. She is also protective of an old cot mattress upstairs which she found under the bed. The worst incident was when she snapped at my 7 year old's face and scratched her. Then this morning she growled at an older lady who wanted to pet her. In this situation, there was a dog in the nearby garden barking which always stresses her and she was really cold.

When she does these things, I've really fought the urge to kick her up the backside, we ignore it back away (although there were a ton of tears when she went for my child's face I didn't know what to do except comfort my kid) and show her that she doesn't need to escalate the growl/snapping to get what she wants. When she needs to get off the sofa I cheerfully shout "Off" and give her a treat. I can do this 50 times a day.

She's come a long way so has gone from peeing everywhere to no accidents, walking like a crazed loon on the leash to a relatively loose one (still working on this) and going into her crate nicely with a kong ( the rescue said the fosterer had used a crate and she really liked it, so we kept it on).

The vet has checked her and says she is good, I have a behaviourist coming on Wednesday but I am wondering if anyone has come back from this to have a happy family dog? My priority is obviously the kids, there is plenty I will sacrifice for a dog, but I can't compromise on the kid's safety and never having any of the local kids or our friends round would be pretty awful and very isolating. I also hate being frightened in my own house.
The breed is a lab cross with a hound/staffie ? maybe? We are also in North America so some of the resources may be different too. The rescue have a return policy and are strictly no kill, also she is booked in for a spay after Christmas when the house is a little quieter if that's relevant.

Re the sofa, I'd be trying to stop her getting on it at all. This might mean blocking access to the room unsupervised (by an adult) or flipping all the cushions up on their end so that they block her way and make the sofa less comfortable to be on without them. I'd be sticking to that rule until she was well into her adulthood (2 years old +) and had absolutely demonstrated guarding was behind her.

I'd also be limiting her run of the house so that she couldn't roam unsupervised and get into situations where she has 'claimed' items and starts guarding them.

Lots of purposeful training sessions where she gives up something she likes (e.g. a toy) in exchange for something she likes better (treats, better toys, playtime etc). You'd be teaching her than giving something up isn't a bad thing because it tends to result in something even better.

I'd pre-empt food guarding and start working on getting her comfortable with someone with their hands near her bowl. When she is eating make a point to add tasty extras to her bowl (e.g. chunks of chicken). If she is already a bit guardy then just toss them in from a distance, slowly working up to being able to put them right in her bowl with your hands.

Only when super trustworthy with either of the above would I allow the children to try them. Super trustworthy to me means she allows hands in the bowl or gives up toys immediately and with so sign of fuss, every single time for months.

The snapping at the lady suggests nervousness rather than guarding. Make a point of taking her to lots of low/no stress places and having strangers give her treats while petting her. I have found standing outside supermarkets a good place for this as many people pass on by. If she finds this stressful without petting then take her there a few times first and just treat her (without anyone else petting or treating her) to get her used to it. Puppy classes can also help. The more places you can take her and she has a good/neutral experience at the more confident she will get. The trick is to do as much as possible but take it slowly without overwhelming her.

A compassionate behaviourist (run a mile from anyone trying to dominate her, be the alpha or get her to be submissive) that shows you ways to build her confidence and reward her for all the right behaviours is also a great move.

Excellent advice batten burg, thank you. I will try and pre-empt the food thing, because I think it could escalate too. I've been trying to get her to "earn her dinner" so using portions for "place", feeding her in the crate and closing the door, opening it again and getting her to wait for the signal to leave (we are trying to do the same at the front door). I also taking a handful walking to try and get her to be beside me and whilst she had until this morning been fantastic with others apart from a bit of jumping up and really good (albeit playful) with other dogs. You are right to make the distinction between the fear of the person and the guarding of things, think you are spot on there. Unfortunately, our house is typical North American open plan, whilst I restrict her from leaving the front room and kitchen area with a baby gate, the kitchen and sitting room are connected with about 6 m to cordon off, if she's in another part of the house (away from me) she cries and gets really upset and destructive. I think keeping her near me is the lesser of 2 evils! I hope the trainer person is good, she says things in the email like "don't set the dog up to fail" and things which seems fairly positive, the idea of waiting 18 months though fills me with dread! Things can be harder here in terms of socialization, it's been -22 wind chill this week so meeting and greeting is no pleasure for anyone but have met some very sympathetic dog walkers in the past few weeks who have been very understanding. I really appreciate your input and reply will try and implement your suggestions. I knew it would be hard work but it's as relentless as a toddler and, oddly, emotional!

Minus 22!!!! I thought going out this morning in -2 was cold. I don't envy you

It IS emotional. I don't know why we all forget that, but it is.

If you cannot limit access to the sofa, rather than teach her that getting on then getting off earns the treat perhaps you could pre-empt it? i.e. keep an eye out for times when she is about to jump and then get in there first with a treat as a distraction? Otherwise, I'd worry that she learns the getting on is part of the action that earns the treat.

Other people had has success with tethering a puppy to them (literally tying a lead to their belt) until it can be trusted with freedom of the house. I've never done this myself, so couldn't give any further info.

Best of luck - I'd be interested in hearing the behaviourist's recommendations.

I am having her over weds so will update then, I have a feeling the dog
Already
Knows she is about to get a treat when she jumps. If it’s just us 2 I can pre empt it, when I have kids homework dinner to make and 3 sets of snow gear to dry out it’s quite a bit more difficult! I will definitely update weds, again thanks for your advice and encouragement!
ask
About tethering ,

Hi thank you for your help earlier, the behaviourist came yesterday, of course the dog was on her best behaviour and in full show off mode! She made a few points one was make sure the treat isn't predictable, it doesn't always have to be food so it could be a toy, rotate them so she only gets a few of them when she gets off the sofa. Make the floor attractive and the sofa unattractive, so try and limit her access if you can put a coffee table or some kitchen utensils like a spaghetti scoop thing or even some kids toys that are noisy. She gave me some links to some videos for 4 on the floor training (for the counter cruising!) and said don't feel bad for putting her in her crate, she's still a puppy and is in the "high traffic" area of the house and just like toddlers, they play up when they are tired! She also advised more socializing, that means not just t meeting people and being with the kids, but making these situations into positive experiences. I really need to increase my supervision, working towards getting the kids to give her treats and play fetch, when meeting people if they have time then give them something to feed her. Basically she said it's a marathon not a sprint so it wasn't unusual for puppies to get a little guarded so I need to up the positive experiences to get her through it. So basically everything you said! You will have to send me your bill! Right, off for a walk in this ice storm! Thank you again!

Great stuff - really glad you have a plan. Thanks for the update.

Still don't envy you walking in your weather so good luck and stay warm