Resource/territory guarding???

Behavioral Issues
Log in to reply
  • PujiP

    Hello all! We are looking for some advice on one of Charlie's less desirable behaviours :( (BTW, Charlie is a 6-month-old basenji-pug mix. We've had him just over 3 months. He was neutered a few days ago.)

    Whenever my husband is kneeling down and rummaging around at ground level, Charlie has been perking up, rushing in his direction, snarling, and grabbing at his arms and/or legs - whatever's closer. It doesn't seem to matter what Charlie is doing at the time, or where the action is occurring, or what my husband is rummaging through. The other day, my husband was in the guest room where Charlie hardly ever spends any time. Today, he was in the kitchen, getting something from the bottom cabinets.

    This has been occurring more frequently in the past week or so, although we can see roots of this behaviour in his earlier months with us. For example, if we spilled some kibble, Charlie would rush to pick up as much as he could before we got to it, but he wouldn't growl or bite.

    Our approach so far has been to try to avoid situations that we think will trigger him. Also, we've both been reprimanding him with a stern 'eh' when he snarls - which usually gets him to pause. Today, I got him to sit-stay, and then fed him treats while my husband was rummaging at ground level. Tomorrow, I'm going to look into getting a behaviouralist to advise us. In the meanwhile, do any of you have any insights or suggestions for us? We would really appreciate it - it has been really disheartening to see this kind of reaction from our pup!

    (Here he is in one of his sweeter moments :rolleyes: )

    attachment_t_2624_0_charlie_20071201_162.jpg

    0
  • QuercusQ

    I *think the growling etc during the rummaging behavior *might be play. It is hard to know without seeing it. But I have had pug clients that did that behavior lunging, growling at their people's feet, trying to get them to play… as startling as it sounds! Often a human being on the floor is a clear invitation in the dog's mind to crazy play time.

    And the trying to eat faster after spilled food *could be a precurser to resource guarding...but maybe not. A lot of dogs innocently do this....

    I like what you are doing by having him sit and get treats while DH is rummaging...perfect traiing plan. Work on exchanging objects with him for treats, if you are concerned that there may be some resource guarding.

    A behaviorist would be a great idea...just make sure you get someone who respects independant thinking dogs...and uses mainly positive reinforcement training techniques. Good luck :) He sure is cute!

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    1
  • tanzaT

    And keep using the sit/stay. It would be great if your husband could be the one to enforce the sit/stay with the rewards for the correct behavior. If he can do the "eh" to get his attention or better yet right as he is getting to him… and the he puts him in the sit/stay with the treat, that might help. Also, who feeds him in your house? Try changing to your husband feeding him... bumps him up in the food chain to the dogs point of view....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • JazzysMomJ

    I can't help with the behavior – sound like you already got great advice anyway -- but my! oh my! What a cutie you have !!!

    0
  • S

    Could it be his age? He is trying to move up in the pack family?
    Have you had him into any training/obedience classes?
    I really do believe these classes help give you and your dog a way to interact with their humans.
    I would be interested to hear what the pro has to say re this behavior.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • BarklessdogB

    He's really cute!

    0
  • PujiP

    Thanks, all, for your great advice! We will work on the sit-stay with treats while DH is rummaging. We'll also look into classes and a behaviouralist for Charlie.

    Hmm, I hadn't even considered that Charlie's behaviour might be an invitation to play. Typically, he either brings us a toy and drops it at our feet, or starts play bowing and nipping when he wants to play with us - but that's if we're just sitting around and he wants attention.

    He is a resource guarder when it comes to his rawhides and pizzles, so we are working on object exchanges (using Jean Donaldson's protocol in her book "Culture Clash"). He was doing really well, then had a set back (after a few days without practice exchanges), and we recently started from square one. He is almost back to where he was - dropping his rawhide on command and allowing me to take it. I will definitely keep this up!!

    Thanks again for the input!! I will post again with updates :)

    0
  • QuercusQ

    <>
    Yay! Perfect resource! Keep up the good work!

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0

Suggested Topics

  • T

    Random yelps when grooming/licking

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    5k Views
    T
    She now did this after getting up from a loong long 2 or 3 hr nap , after doing her downward dog and cat stretch , stretching down then back into a normal position she whined and turned to her left hind side , muscle cramp ?, stifle stuck?, is really weird I've squeezed every place it might be and nothing , she does go into a sit when I'm around her back end and squeeze her back end ? Could that be an issue ??
  • S

    Recently started wetting bed/blankets!

    Behavioral Issues
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    3k Views
    listemeL
    We brought Zelda from New Hampshire to Virginia to live; she was sure she was supposed to potty only on ice! :D
  • ShannaniganS

    Marking Territory, and Dependence

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    4k Views
    ShannaniganS
    Thanks for all of that, listeme! We're working on "leave it" and "drop it" (similar to trade, for now, hoping he'll start dropping without trading eventually). Leave it was more out of necessity, lol, while drop it he seems to find fun. I am truly convinced that he is a magic puppy today! Came home after having to leave him home alone in the crate for 5 hours (I felt horrible!) and expected to have a huge mess in the crate to clean up. Instead, there was a puddle of pee on the kitchen floor just OUTSIDE of the crate, and nothing inside! Either he was on his hind legs or learned to lift a leg, but either way - awesome!!!
  • BasenjiDivaB

    Male/Season question

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    YodelDogsY
    @BasenjiDiva: I'll probably give the Ecchinacia and goldenseal a try. Where do you find it? I get mine at Wal-Mart.
  • SunnyS

    Is it normal for females to mark territory

    Behavioral Issues
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    Yes, it is normal for bitches to mark… my girls (I have three at home) mark all the time... and usually over top where the last one went... on walks or at shows/lure trials, they will mark over top other Basenjis....
  • jys1011J

    Resourceful/Territorial??

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    We have two cats, a 13 yr old and a 2.5 yr old. They have lived in harmony with Gypsy their entire lives. They used to snuggle together to sleep. In fact, the old guy has outlived two other dogs! Then Jazzy moved in. Two years later, it's STILL a battle. We worked hard –HARD -- on "Leave it!!", and Jazzy has EXCELLENT obedience for that , except where the cats are concerned. IF I see the cat first and say, "Leave it", she almost always will. But if the cat catches her eye first, she's gone before I even know what happened, and she won't stop once she's in run-mode. We keep a gate across the hall that leads to the kids' bedrooms and bathroom. The litter boxes, which used to be in the garage, are now in that bathroom {I HATE that!!}, as is the cat food/water. The gate is removed at night after Jazzy is tucked into her kennel and replaced in the morning. The cats have learned to stay in the bedrooms during the day, and roam the house at night. They don't seem to mind; all they really used to do was sleep on the couch all day. Now they sleep on the beds all day. Sometimes the younger cat comes down while Jazzy is sleeping and gets up on the back of the couch because she knows she is safe as long as she stays there {Jazzy is not allowed on the furniture and honestly never breaks that rule, even when the cat is there}. I feel bad about it, but what else could we do? Ah well. maybe it's a more natural lifestyle{?} Some dogs just don't get along with cats. And some cats just can't get along with dogs. Sometimes you just have to take personality into account and make accomodations.