Dog growled at DS

[Dontquiteknowwhattodo]

I have a 3 year old sheprador that I've had since he was a baby. Also have DS9 and DD11. We also have 3 cats, 2 of who were here before him

Once, when he was a puppy he growled at one of the cats when they sniffed at his bowl whilst he was eating. So I started feeding him in a separate room in his crate. My children know to leave him alone if he is eating. He has no issues with me with me going near his bowl if hes eating as the only reason I do is to add more things to it. I always ask him to budge his butt before I go near his bowl though. I never surprise him as such and it's not everytime he eats it's just occasionally.

Last night my DS9 was eating chocolate balls and one rolled onto the floor, the dog has started trying to eat the ball, DS has stepped towards him and dog has dtarted growling at him

He didn't move towards ds or show his teeth, it was clearly a warning growl because he wanted the chocolate and knew ds was going to take it.

I immediately got up and asked the dog to come to me, he did and I told ds that he was not to ever try to take any food off the dog again. Even if it's somthing he's not supposed to have, let me know and I will sort it out. Ds knew he wasn't in trouble and the dog wasn't in trouble either.

DS feeds the dog frequently and if ds goes into the kitchen the dog very excitedly runs to his crate hoping it's his dinner time so he has good associations of DS and food

It's the first time he has ever growled at one of us and it's made me feel a little uneasy

Your dog has resource guarding issues around food, which you have managed effectively until now.

Honestly, I would carry on as you have been just remind your DS about the rules. At 9 I would expect your DS to know better than to do it again. Children (and adults) make stupid mistakes in the heat of the moment - as it was chocolate, I imagine your DS reacted without thinking.

Possibly not what you want to hear, but your dog sounds like a bit of a gem in terms of resource guarding if all he did was grumble but didn't lunge or bare his teeth!

Obviously it's an issue, but if you continue as you have been (handling properly) I think this is really minor. It's a bit scary, but it could have been a lot worse. It was just a blip and your DS has learnt a valuable - and thankfully quite gentle - lesson about animals and food

Totally agree with @TheHungryHungryLandsharks .

DS dropped something. DDog got there first and communicted his desire to keep it. I think you managed the situation perfectly.
Hopefully being growled at didn't frighten your DS and no harm has been done.

I know it can be unsettling, but try to think of growling as a form of communication rather than an act of aggression. DDog didn't snap or lunge and he came to you when asked.

Do you think there is anything else I can do? Funnily enough, I'm really frightened of dogs 😅 so I've always been very careful to try and respect his space, I would never ever want him to be In a position where he felt he had to bite ( he has never shown any aggression even when attacked off another dog )

It was scary hearing him growl, he barks at the door if someone knocks so I'm used to that but hearing him growl shook me up, but I do appreciate he was well mannered to give DS a warning 🙈

I've spoken to DS a few times since and asked him what he's supposed to do if the dog ever has food he shouldn't have and DS has replied each time not to go near him and to come and tell me.

Thank you and yes I agree about the lesson, I think it's shook me up more than DS tbh, he hasn't mentioned it since ( unless ive spoke to him ) and him and the dog have both been absolutely fine with each other since

Thank you. It has shook me up and I'm probably over thinking it, I just wouldn't ever want my dog to feel like he had to bite and I wouldn't want anyone to be bitten either. He is a proper sweet heart but very food orientated.

Yano what I think it scared me more than DS 😅 it was a very deep rumble, I've never heard him make that noise before

Yes I said to DS he growled because it's his way of getting his point across and he can't speak like us. I have spoken to DS a few times since it happened to make sure he understands what to do if he drops or sees the dog with food he shouldn't have again

Hopefully it was a one off and I'll be extra diligent if DS is eating around the dog from now on

Does your dog know a leave/ drop command?
I'd teach that. The key is to do it slowly and regularly. You start of with the classic treat on floor covers with your hand for a few seconds- then let him have it. Slowly increasing the time.

Once that's working, start rewarding with another treat from your hand while picking the floor treat up. Basically your treat hand starts off above or beside the floor treat - slow sreps in moving the treat hand away from the floortreat. Do this sitting down on the floor with the dog. Try and avoid any type or race for the treats. Stop the exercise immediately if that happens & try again later.

Slowly build on this, once Ddog has learned that he gets a treat from your hands rather than what is on the floor, upp the game.

Stand up, drop the treat- give a leave and reward from your other hand. Cover the dropped treat with your foot if needed & pick up - do not let him have the floor treat! . Again if it turns into a race go back a step.

Key is to not let the dog have the floor treat at any point- sounds wasteful, but it should be destined for the bin.
I taught one of my greedy dogs this when DC were little- I ended up throwing cocktail sausages at the poor dog and he would not touch them!

Dogs see kids in the household as playmates, siblings or similar. What happens when your son takes an ice cream from your DD? Does she just let him? Or would she complain?
The growl was an appropriate response.
I think what you did is fine.
Just tell your kids to not take food off the dog and make sure you handle these situations.

Teaching a 'leave' is always useful. However, I wouldn't advise sitting on a floor withholding treats from a dog that guards food. You are putting yourself at risk of being bitten in the face.

If you read my post properly I said:
You start of with the classic treat on floor covers with your hand for a few seconds- then let him have it. Slowly increasing the time
Once that's working, start rewarding with another treat from your hand while picking the floor treat up ...

It can be done and I doubt the dog would bite OP'S face off if its done slowly and consistently.

We have a very powerful bull lurcher and I’ve taught him “leave it!” for anything he picks up and he does generally leave it. He doesn’t seem to have any resource guarding issues and I’ve taken all sorts out of his mouth without any hint on incidence. There is absolutely no way I’d risk a bite from those jaws! 😳. I’d let him eat it and deal with the vet bill!

Growling isn’t to be particularly discouraged, apparently, as a dog that isn’t allowed to growl is likely to go straight to bite!

I did read your post properly.
For starters, you don't teach a 'leave' by covering the treat and then letting them have it. You wait until they stop showing an interest in the treat and then give them a different one.
And no one said the dog would bite OP's face off. But even a little snap can leave a scar. So whereas you 'doubt' it would happen, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Having had a dog who RG I don't think you can ever completely train it out of them but you can manage it. We got professional help and I would say DDog is around 90% "cured" now. He will bring me things and swap for a treat but if he takes something into his bed I would never go and try and grab it, its very unlikely he WOULD react now but I am not taking the chance.
He is not allowed high value items, especially ones like bones or chews that take time to eat, DH said that Ddog no longer had an issue but recently someone did give him a chew, despite me asking them not to - hes a big soppy softie and a breed that is supposed to be good with kids (whatever that means)so people tend to forget he is a big dog with big teeth, and he took it into his bed and grumbled at anyone going near him. He did give it to me as I know how to handle him but it made me realise that his RG still needs to be managed.
If DH or DS had gone in and tried to grab his chew I can't say he wouldn't have bitten them for sure.
Growls are a warning and communication so shouldn't be discouraged and its usually pretty easy to see what state the dog is in. DDog only bit once (DH) and I could see it was going to happen but DH felt he knew best.

100% agree.

OP has been handling this issue perfectly until a small slip, in the heat of a moment, over complicating it and adding new commands will do her, her son and the dog no favours.

A dog growling over a piece of unanticipated chocolate is hardly unusual. He was communicating. I mean, that's what dogs do. If he's otherwise a sweetheart then I doubt he's going to turn into the Hound of the Baskervilles overnight, and your son has learnt a valuable lesson about animals.

My dog will growl at my kids if she’s sleeping, has food etc. the growling is a warning, which you don’t want the dog to suppress as they could bite without warning one day. Not saying yours would at all, but best to have the warning. It’s normal!