I'm not sure how to go about this because I don't have access to another dog (well, okay, maybe the neighbor's fat pug, but she's so out of control I wouldn't dream of using her to help train my dog). I plan on cutting rawhides out of his diet, because I've heard that dogs get very aggressive over them (any idea why?) and they aren't that good for him to begin with. I think the best prevention method would be to start claiming "his" toys as "mine" so that he doesn't feel the need to protect them from other dogs. But I'm fighting my parents every step of the way (today the argument is over his diet, despite my very best convincing arguments, they won't switch him to raw)... I would like to have this problem fixed before/if we ever get another dog. So is the best way to do it preventionary or reactionary?

 Quote: ashley hiebing

I'm not sure how to go about this because I don't have access to another dog (well, okay, maybe the neighbor's fat pug, but she's so out of control I wouldn't dream of using her to help train my dog). I plan on cutting rawhides out of his diet, because I've heard that dogs get very aggressive over them (any idea why?) and they aren't that good for him to begin with. I think the best prevention method would be to start claiming "his" toys as "mine" so that he doesn't feel the need to protect them from other dogs. But I'm fighting my parents every step of the way (today the argument is over his diet, despite my very best convincing arguments, they won't switch him to raw)... I would like to have this problem fixed before/if we ever get another dog. So is the best way to do it preventionary or reactionary?

I'm lost. If there is no other dog around, how do you know there is dog-dog aggression of any kind?

Haha, sorry I didn't make that clear. Our neighbor brings their dog over to play sometimes, and though she seems to adore our dog, if he's outside playing with his kong ball or chewing on something, even if she comes near, he snarls at her. Also when we bring him over to play with my grandmother's dog, he'll grab her dog's toys and get very possessive of them. Any human can take it away no problem, but other dogs can't even get close.

I don't leave toys or treats out with more than one dog. As you saw, that can start fights.

Okay, so this is simply a matter of prevention? Much easier than I expected. Thanks for your help =)

Is this your dog, or your parents dog? Do your parents live with you by necessity? There is a lot you can do, and I'd start by saying "No one cares for or plays with my dog but me" -- this is obviously unworkable if the dog belongs to your parents, and they're going to do what they want to do no matter the strength or vigor of your argument.

Well, prevention treats the behaviour, but if the dog is having those issues there may be more problems that come to the surface. Have you read the Groundwork for establishing Pack Structure article?

 Quote: connie sutherland

I don't leave toys or treats out with more than one dog. As you saw, that can start fights.

This is definitely the best way to keep things from getting ugly - and an ounce of prevention....

There was a post recently about multiple dog households and preventing rank issues (like who gets control of "high value" items, ie. yummy treats and toys) and one of the best pieces of advice (once you WITHOUT A DOUBT hold the position of pack leader in the eyes of ALL your dogs) was to simply not create a situation in which your dogs feel the need to compete over an object or food.

Even dogs who will let their humans take bones from their mouths without even lifting a lip could perceive the presence of another DOG to be an entirely different threat, and their reaction will likely be very different (I have one of these dogs). You can work on toning down the aggression, if it's really nasty, but chances are, for a possesive dog, anytime you create the potential for competition, you're going to get competition.

I say, pick up all the toys and never leave chewies or other food treats out in the presence of multiple dogs. If you DO give chewies to each dog, separate them - even to just opposite corners of the same room - and SUPERVISE. Don't let them even begin to approach the boundaries of each other - no circling, no sniffing, no begging or whining at each other. YOU control the resources, and you control the dogs - to the degree that each feels safe from the threat of competition, and confidence in you to maintain peace.

Just my 2 cents.

~Natalya

Yes, you said it perfectly, Natalya.

I am right there when my dogs eat, too.

QUOTE: each feels safe from the threat of competition, and confidence in you to maintain peace. END

 Quote: david eagle

Is this your dog, or your parents dog? Do your parents live with you by necessity? There is a lot you can do, and I'd start by saying "No one cares for or plays with my dog but me" -- this is obviously unworkable if the dog belongs to your parents, and they're going to do what they want to do no matter the strength or vigor of your argument.

Well, prevention treats the behaviour, but if the dog is having those issues there may be more problems that come to the surface. Have you read the Groundwork for establishing Pack Structure article?

He is my dog. The only thing I don't do is pay for vet bills, food, toys, etc., because frankly, I work part-time at minimum wage and can't afford it. Any other dog we get would also be taken care of solely by me. It's not that my parents don't care about him, it's that they don't understand his needs as well as they should (i.e., that he needs to be walked EVERY day for an HOUR instead of once a week for 20 minutes). And yeah, I've read the pack structure article (as well as just about everything on the site). It's very obvious that my dog respects me more than anyone else in my family. If he's out in the yard, my parents could tell him to come, but he just ignores them, but when I tell him to, you bet he's gonna come running =)

This possessiveness is the only thing I've noticed that bothers me. Other than that, he is the most balanced dog I've ever seen. I just worry that without the cooperation of the rest of my family, problems will be created that wouldn't have even come up otherwise.

Ashley,

Connie and Natalya are right about the toys.

Also, am I understanding correctly that you live at with your parents?

If that is the case will it be like that for a long time, or will you be moving out to your own place sometime soon? If you go back to school is there a chance that the dog would ave to be left with your parents? Just want to make sure that I understand the situation here.

It sounds to me like that if it is your dog and your responsibility, there is no reason to have your parents deal with the dog, save the only odd occasion.

You may want to consider keeping the dog in your room when you are not around. You take the responsibility for walking and training and feeding the dog, and the dog can be around the family when you are there too to make sure the family is following the rules.

I would suggest that both you and your family may not be ready for another dog. How would you feel about waiting until you are able to move out and be %100 in charge of the new dog, including taking finacial resoponsibility for it?