Dog was aggressive with me today for the first time

[msssm]

My 4 year old dog got a hold of a rib bone tonight. Not something she has ever had before.

When I discovered her with it she immediately started growling at me. It took me a while to get it off her as if I went too close she would lunge at me.

I'm surprised she has done this. I get that a bone will be high value to her as not allowed to have, but I am the boss and she has never challenged me before.

Any advice on how I can deal with this aggression if it ever happens again in the future? Many thanks 🙏🏻

I would offer a distraction any time you need to remove something high value. Squeaky toy, you running about so she follows if she likes to play etc. Don't just try and grab it, offer something in exchange. Never punish growling either.

I really like Patricia McConnell's approach to resource guarding. I think you would find it helpful.

Did you offer her a swop when you tried to take it off her?

My dog used to do this, he's never ever bitten me or gone for me though. He's very protective over his bones (I get them from the farm shop).

I used to take them away anyway and put it out of reach and told him "No" firmly. He soon learned not to growl when he had them, now he lays on top of them instead 😂

She's resource guarding.

How would you feel if you had your favourite ever snack and someone 10x your size loomed over you and tried to snatch it without warning? I bet you'd be pretty pissed off, right?

The growling, lunging and snapping is your dogs' way of saying "piss off, this is mine" - in future you need to call her away from the item (with treats or a toy if necessary) and reward her for listening and coming away. Once she's safely in another room then you can go in and remove the bone.

I second pp’s advice not to punish growling. It’s her way of communicating she’s pissed off. If you remove that because it’s bad then she only has more physical aggression.

@wishawish91

My dog used to do this, he's never ever bitten me or gone for me though. He's very protective over his bones (I get them from the farm shop).

I used to take them away anyway and put it out of reach and told him "No" firmly. He soon learned not to growl when he had them, now he lays on top of them instead 😂

Please never ever tell a dog off for growling. It's their warning sign and all dogs should feel able to growl at people or other dogs - it's their way of saying "I'm not comfortable with what's happening or what you're doing to me - please stop".

If they feel a growl doesn't work (because they've been told off for it in the past) you risk them going straight to snap, snarl or bite instead.

A growl is an excellent warning system both for you and the dog - please don't take that away from them.

She is not resource guarding she is behaving in a totally normal way for dogs.

She has something she really really likes and you swoop down to remove it. She wants it. She politely in dog language asked you to go away. How else can she express herself? To be aggressive she would have bitten you to go away, she didn't.

Make sure she can not get things you do not want her to have and swop with a very high value treat. Although in this case finding a decent swop will be hard. It may need to be some meat of another rib.

She was not aggressive and you are not the boss at least not in her eyes, dogs dont think like that

Huge apologies for my rudeness in not returning to this thread. I really appreciate the responses and they are very helpful.

I've had a bit of a mental health blip. I would never just not bother responding when people have gone out of their way to respond and help.

Normal service will resume as soon as possible.

(Hopefully)