Hi All,

Something weird has happened. My dog has started to get uncomfortable by my touch. This is only 3 days old issue. Now when I give him food, he wants me to leave from there, and when I start to pat him when he is eating, he starts to growl.
I kind of know what could have happened but not sure if the two things are related. If they are I MESSED UP BIG TIME….AND HAVE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN.

On Thursday morning I was in the park with Matrix and my sister. My sister and I got into an argument and as she started to walk away with Matrix, I ran to her, scolded her and snatched the leash from her hand. The walk to the car was not good. I could sense that Matrix was not uncomfortable with me for that time. I was really angry and I know he sensed the anger.

It has been a trend- I put the food bowl down- give him a quick pat on his head- and then he starts to eat- I leave. This Thursday morning, when I gave him food and then tried to touch him, he growled at me. I corrected him, but I could see that he was not uncomfortable me standing next to him as he was eating.
Even today he was not every comfortable. So I thought of trying something different –
I stood there with his food and called him, he was very unsure to approach me; it took him 15 minutes to approach me and to eat the food from the bowl as I was holding the bowl. So at least he ate the food as I was holding the bowl but I did not touch him as he was not comfortable.
I don’t think other members of the family have this issue.

Also, it is not just the food, when I give him cookie, he is very unsure of what he is getting from me. He does take the cookie but again it not with the same enthusiasm.

If that park incident and this behavior are linked, I MESSED UP. NOW WHAT??

Thanks,
Rashmi

Just to clarify, when your sister was walking away with Matrix, you said you scolded her. Did you mean the dog or your sister?

I am certainly not helping you Rashmi in my post here so sorry for that but I am perplexed by your post.

Since dogs live in the moment, I'm very confused as to why Matrix is acting funny for so long a time after the incident. Is this his first experience w/you becoming angry?

Rashmi, are you absolutely positive this food issue is only as old as the incident in the park? I'm just wondering if it's possible that it's been a long time coming, and you're just noticing it now...I know that I had some pretty serious dominance/aggression issues w/mine at that age (and every age before and since, but this seemed to be a really "teenage" period.) I wonder b/c you seem to have a great bond w/Matrix otherwise. How's he been feeling lately? Any connection to his "moods"? Is he quite close to your sister as well, and possibly resented being yanked away from her?

I'm not criticizing at all-Lord knows my dogs have seen me angry. I'm just trying to get a handle on what could be underlying. Some dogs are more sensitive than others, and I have to say, I'm not so sure that they live in the moment as much as we think. I recently really screwed up w/my APBT. I'm so used to a really hard dog who doesn't give a rat's a$$ about corrections, that I over-corrected my poor sensitive girl for chewing a shoe. A very expensive shoe. She would literally not look at me for nearly 2 days, and she avoids my shoes like the plague. She won't enter my room if there are shoes on the floor. I feel horrible; I had no idea she was so soft, and I'm used to really having to give The Correction of the Century to my GSD for it to have any effect. Sorry to be long-winded-just trying to point another incident that may be similar...

I meant- my sister.

Thanks Jenni.

You are correct is assuming that it could be long coming but I am noticing it now. I don't think he has a better bond with my sister than with me. Yeap, he is very close to me....so you are right....I am going to spend more one to one time with him and I I know in time it will go away. Well, he minds me more now than before. So, that is why I think, it is kind of funny that he is acting in such a manner towards me. I guess this is the only way?? Correct.

your dog is how old, just over 18 months, right? very much could be entering a phase in maturation.

i had a couple of similar periods with my male when he was around that age - eventually came to the conclusion that as he was "growing up" he was testing the waters a little bit to see how far aggression would get him with me. i made sure it didn't get him very far.

it started with food aggression, but then a couple of times he would growl or be weird if i tried to pet him or went near him when he was laying down, etc. based on the evaluation and advice of some other more experienced people, we came to an agreement: i'll leave him alone once i tell him he can eat (he has to earn it or at least wait for the "ok"), but that type of behavior will not be tolerated in any other time or place - and i backed it up verbally and/or physically when he tried.

overall, i was just firm and fair and made him play by my rules - and gave him the same respect - and eventually the problem passed.

Cool. Jenni was suggesting the similar thing.

I will do as you have stated. Will ahve the food, will say okay and then good boy if he does not growl at me and then leave.

Thanks.

Rashmi.

Hi Rashmi, I have met Matrix & he is a very sweet boy. I think that it may just be a coincidence that this started after your spat with your sister, who I have also met. It sounds more like as stated here by others, that he is just having a growing up mentally spurt & testing you a bit. He is at the age for that to start to happen in a bigger way. I would just ask him to sit & give him his food & release him to eat & walk away & let him be. Don't bother him while he is eating. As far as accepting treats, again ask him to do something for it first & then when he complies, give him a treat. Start using the NIFIF ( nothing in life is free)way of life for him for a while if not forever. You have met my dogs & they work for their food & treats. Even the pup sits & gives me eye contact for a second before his food bowl is placed down & he is just 15+ wks old. They sit before going out the door & coming in. Sit before getting in & out of the truck...etc. etc. That is life around here. Just be a bit aloof to him for now & not gush over him so much & make him work for the treats etc & see what happens. Good luck. Animals do for the most part, live in the moment, but they are not all or always quick to forget some things that happen in their lives. Some are more effected than others by past incidents.