Pup and resource guarding

[PanadTe]

My 10 week old pup has an attitude of what’s his is his and what’s our other dogs is his too! We have to separate them when our older dog has a pig’s ear because pup will steal it and older one will let him, then just look longingly 🙄… If I try to take it back the pup will get grumbly. I’m reading about resource guarding. But any tips to nip this in the bud?

I’d be tempted to let them sort it out for themselves tbh!

Alternatively, feed treats separately, practise ‘drop it’ and then treat, or swap upwards - so a more valuable treat in exchange for the pig’s ear.

I wouldn’t give the pup pigs ears, especially with another dog around. They’re an incredibly high value resource like a bone and will lead the pup to resource guard and be aggressive. Only give things like that when in his crate when no one will be near him.

I have two dogs and anything food related that isn’t gone in one bite they are separated. Not worth the risk of a scrap, especially as an older dog could really do some damage to the puppy

Thank you. I’ve started teaching drop today. Hopefully that’ll help. He’s very food focussed.

We’ve been focussing on sit, touch and leave since we’ve had him too.

I don’t give him pig’s ears because he’s too young, he just steals them off older dog.

Older dog has sole use of the bedrooms, pup isn’t allowed in there… but older pup seems to purposely goad pup by seeking him out when he has a chew. It’s like he wants it stealing, or the chase!

Thank you.

I will be more strict on the longer lasting treats.

Funnily, they eat from the same bowl at the same time with no issues… but I think this is because older dog isn’t really food focussed so can take out or leave it. And dinner isn’t really that exciting

We have 4. Gone in a flash treats or split up. Lots of practice sitting lined up and take turns receiving one. They never try and steal or growl. Dpuppy (4!!)has her own toys they others won't lower themselves to play with.. All 10+ now. Way too mature!

Thank you! I shall take this advice. Sounds sensible!

Separate them completely when the older dog has a chew.

My younger dog will guard a very high value chew or raw bone. So she takes it into the garden. She’s away from my other dog and I let her in when she’s done. That way she doesn’t feel the need to guard it.

Thank you. Yes I shall separate them with long lasting treats. This makes sense.

I was just worried that the grumbling might be inherent and more to it than just separation

Eating out of the same bowl, asking for trouble especially now you have a pup with a tenancy to guard

Yep, this too. They should be fed completely separately at meals.

I'll also say that very small puppies often get away with things that slightly older puppies would be told off for. I call it the "puppy license".

So up until about 10-12 weeks they can often get away with stealing food and treats and the older dog will accept it as they're babies, but once they're a bit older it won't be tolerated and you could end up with a nasty fight.

Please don't put your older dog in that position.

Thanks. We started off separate bowls. But then neither seemed fussed about which bowl they ate out of, so we just mixed.
They’re both sighthounds, so not greedy eaters. Take it or leave it types. We’ve had sighthounds previously and always just left food bowl down.

Thanks for info about puppy ‘license’ we are consistent at sticking up for older pup… who is only 16 months himself.
He’s a whippet so loves the chase from the pup.

If the puppy is already showing signs of resource guarding then I would re-think the idea of free-feeding and allowing them to share a bowl of food.

If the puppy tries to warn your older dog and the older dog suddenly thinks "hang on, who are you to warn me?" then it could very quickly turn nasty.

And once they've fought over food once you'll need to be doubly sure it doesn't happen again.

On the other end of the spectrum, the older dog could end up bullied and it's already looking like it will. And we all know what tends to happen in those cases (not saying it will here)...the behaviour escalates until one day the older dog is given up because it's old and it snaps. There's loads of dogs in centres given up because they couldn't acclimate with a new puppy or attacked it.

This needs solving, and quickly OP. Thankfully, your puppy is young.

No more high value treats.
Offering something else in return for handing over whatever they are guarding.
No going on furniture (dogs then guard humans next to them/furniture etc)
No sharing bowls.
No throwing food around the garden (use a slow feeder) - it's a bad idea anyway given the dog might swallow worms or other awful things if it's a manic eater.

TBH I don't think puppies should be given treats that take a long time to eat anyway. They should either be playing, sleeping or being trained. Giving dogs treats to focus their attention on is, IMO, lazy. It teaches them that if they are bored then food will be provided to entertain them. They need to entertain themselves.

Thanks.

We certainly wouldn’t get rid of our older dog.

The pig’s ears are for our older dog, but the pup got one so we bought them one each. We’re not lazy dog owners. We’ve owned dogs for a long time now. Just not 2 at a time.