My 13 month old dog challenged me by not giving up his bone. I picked him up by the pinch collar & held him off the ground til he dropped it. Was this the best way to handle it?

A couple things, if I give one of my dogs a bone then I give it to them in a crate & I do NOT bother them or try to take it away OR I keep them on a leash with a dominant dog collar. I wouldn't allow this dog to have a bone and be loose in the house. Picking the dog up by the prong could backfire on you because if the dog was feeling like he really needed to guard the bone, using the prong could actually stimulate more aggression.



Personally, once I give a bone it's the dog's. Pack leaders don't mess with food or bones once they give it. I take the dog away from the bone, not the other way around.



If I want to get the bone, I pick up the dog's leash and say "Come On, Let's go!" and lead him away. If he carries the bone, I just say Out and then we continue along. I don't reach under a dog to take a bone unless I am ready to control him with a leash and collar.



Now that I've said that, I can take a bone from any of my dogs because over the years they realize I'm fair and not going to battle them for things but there have been dogs in the past that I acquired as adults that I never would test. :) I use my larger brain and thumbs to outsmart them and avoid a fight that could ruin the relationship of trust I hope to have. I'd rather never have to go to war over something like that.



I hope this helps.



Cindy Rhodes