SAMPSON SNAPPED at ME!

[Sammy-Doo's Fam]

Two minutes ago...
We got him a bone from Walmart and he splintered it so we went to take it away and he growled so I backed off. then I tried again and he snapped at me with his teeth! We had to use tongs to get it away... Mom yelled at him.

Me, I'm astounded... I was bit in the face and needed 17 stitches done by a plastic surgeon when i was 7 so I was slightly freaked...

I know he was being possesive over the bone, but what do we do to correct this?
And should this incident worry us???

[gene]

You did the right thing by removing it. I think the only way to get past the possessiveness is to give it, have him drop it, praise and return.......repeat, repeat, repeat. A long and not easy process.

[Tink]

OMG I'm so sorry! That had to be a rude shock!
I can tell you that would be the LAST bone he'd get here.
Certain treats are just too prized to be shared. I find that when I give my dogs a treat like that I need to separate them first or there will be a rumble.

It is NEVER acceptable for a dog to snap at you... and once they've gotten by with it, it's almost certain to happen again until it's handled. I'm sure others will have good ideas on this for you. I really don't, 'cause none of mine have put me in that position yet.

Good luck and be careful until you know he's learned to act better.

[mtd885]

You should train Sammy to 'leave it'. There are many ways to do this. I favor the Paul Owens method and suggest you check out his book and video or do an online search on Google or one of the other search engines. Here's one example. http://www.dog-obedience-training-revie ... ve-it.html
These dogs are easily bored and just as easily trained!

[Lucee&Rusty]

Our two have both done the growl and snap thing at each other.
We have also been growled at when we or the kids approach their bones.
I won't accept this behaviour from them so what we did is give them a stern reprimand and told them to leave.
Then we pick the bone up and tell them good dog.
Then we give the bone back. We do this several times.
Just like Gene said. It is part of their ongoing training. They learn that the bone will be removed if they growl.
When they behave, it is returned. They now give up their bones with no fuss at all now.
If you are worried about being snapped at put Sam on a lead.
Sam's no dummy, he will learn quickly. We use training treats in this process as well.

[cissy k]

I am so sorry that happened to you! What a shock that must have been. I do not have any worthy advice as we just got our pup but I agree with the other posters who have said you should Google it and start practicing some methods.

Best of luck!!

[lmtoth2]

Kirby did this with us awhile ago. We gave him a high prize treat and he totally growled when I went to take it from him - it totally shocked us. My husband got angry and rolled Kirby immediately onto his back into a submissive position...it really worked well for us. Sammy sounds to me like a loving dog so I would work on some exercises to show you are alpha to him.

I'm sorry - I know how it feels. We were upset when we encountered this with Kirby. We really worked with him to make him understand we are alpha to him and the unwanted behavior has totally stopped.

[lmtoth2]

I had to add something We didn't want to be worried about what we gave them so we really worked with Kirby (give him the bone, take the bone...over and over...we praised when we took it and he was quiet...his reward was getting it again). It really worked...just a few times of this and he got it. He had some issues with understanding I was dominant to him so I make sure to get him on his back and give him belly rubs over and over. You can definitely overcome this.

[MaxandMe]

sorry this happened to you but nipping it in the bud is the best thing
you've gotten some really good advice

Peanut at 6mos old tried that and we'd take turns giving her a bone and taking it away , praising her for good behavior then she'd get it back

keep us posted and let us know how it goes

[blueteal]

Gene is right, the way to handle is to give and take
that is the right correction.....................

[tykesmom]

Originally Posted by blueteal

Gene is right, the way to handle is to give and take
that is the right correction.....................

I second that...I've never had any problems with Tyke - I don't think she has an aggressive bone in her body, but we had to do this with both Eskies. It was a little easier because we started this when they were puppies, but poor Sampson might have issues from his "earlier life." Just keep using the same love and patience you have been, and I'm sure you can work Sammy through this too!

[Natalie]

I am so sorry Sampson scared you! Puddles has done this A LOT with us, bones and kongs. I've also heard it called "resource guarding." He is a zillion times better now, but I make sure the kids stay clear of him when he is into a bone or kong. EVERY time I give him a bone or kong I make sure to take it away repeatedly. He only gives an occassional little growl once in a while, which he gets reprimanded for, but it does work to give it and take it away over and over. In my opinion I would not just take the bone away. I would make sure you let him have it back when he is good and keep testing him.

[River Rat]

When she was about seven months old we gave Chouette a large marrow bone to munch on, since I'd noticed that she seemed to be developing a stronger desire to chew. She was very absorbed with it outside for awhile. Then Rosalena, my ten-year-old granddaughter, came over to her and tried to take it away from her, and Chou growled at her. We were all shocked, scolded her, and insisted that she drop the bone and/or give it to Rosalena and us several times. Chouette looked very embarrassed and uncomfortable, and when I scolded her she immediately squatted and urinated a couple of drops submissively, looking up at me, and then was terrific about letting us have it, repeatedly.

We did let her keep it at the time, to avoid reinforcing her obvious fear that we'd take it from her permanently, but then I went in and did some reading in the Wilson and Killcommons "My Smart Puppy" and the previous book "Good Owners Great Dogs," and saw that some dogs become overly possessive and aggressive with "body parts" like bones or pigs' ears. So I took the bone (she was now in the house and it was on the porch) and disposed of it. We are also having Rosalena do more training with her and feeding her, when she's here, as well as reinforcing preceding her out of doors and down hallways, which we had been working on anyway.

I was concerned about whether that was enough, so I posted a description of the incident on the My Smart Puppy forum, with a little more background about training and Chouette's temperament in general and got a quick response from Sarah Wilson, who said

Here's the thing: as you read, some dogs can handle body parts... some can't. Your, for now at least, cannot.

This can be a limited situation... no bone, no growling.

I think you handled it well and she was clearly stressed by the matter so... no marrow bones when kids are around.

If safe, and it certainly sounds it from here but I cannot know, you can practice with her - taking the bone, praising and giving something of a treat then returning the bone to her until she learns how to handle this. If she does, great. If she doesn't, she'll be bone-free which is no great loss.

You sound great and she looks like a cutie....

Sarah

I wrote back that my inclination was just to ban juicy marrow bones, so I gave the two I'd bought to our neighbor for her lab, who was very grateful.

Leslie

[lindamarie]

I haven't read what everyone else has said, so I hope I'm not repeating.

I don't know how old sampson is, but whatever age, in a way, it has to go back to basics.

1.I would start by taking an "body parts" away for now.
2.Then I would go back to basic puppy training where you start putting your fingers in his mouth and making him know you can do this. He needs to know that you can go in his mouth ANYTIME you want.
So, when he has nothing in it, start by rubbing his gums, playing with his tongue etc. Even approaching him when he's eating and kindly taking his food away. Hold it over his head and make him SIT, (incidentally, he should also sit before each meal and wait until you release him to eat. He HAS TO KNOW that YOU are in charge of anything that goes in his mouth!)
Then say GOOD BOY!....and place it down with an OKAY to eat.
3. Look at how much YOU are ALPHA! We had to relearn this and make Bogart know that he does NOTHING without our permission.
No beds, furniture, anything until he knows YOU are allowing this and everything to happen.

Yes, this incident should worry you. He's a good boy, I'm sure! But, he's showing you who's Boss.........not good!

Good luck!!! I wouldn't give him those bones until he's aware of who YOU are...the ALPHA.
Then, maybe start with something he prizes to chew on.
Sit on the floor with him and give it to him, pet him while he's chewing it and take it away for a moment. then say.GOOD BOY!....and give it back! Repeat this a few times until you can be sure he can handle things like bones.
When you do the bone the next time, do the same procedure above. It's YOUR bone.....YOU are boss ...........and YOU can take it away....YOU ARE ALPHA!

[lmtoth2]

Chouette looked very embarrassed and uncomfortable, and when I scolded her she immediately squatted and urinated a couple of drops submissively, looking up at me, and then was terrific about letting us have it, repeatedly.

funny you mention that about 3 weeks ago Kirby was waaaay too aggressive with Dex (Dex had a toy Kirby wanted and Kirby snapped agressively at him)...so after Kirby snapped my husband scolded Kirby (probably more harshly/louder than a typical "NO"). He said Kirby immediately got that look on his face of "oh crap I messed up" and Kirby submissively peed and rolled to his back, giving up the toy.

It is funny how obvious it is that they realize they've done something wrong. We haven't had any such issues since.