Well it has been awhile since I have visited my funny friends, have missed you, Shadow is 9 months now and doing great. She is able to go for walks up my street with me and has the house training down, still likes her crate especially when she eats and sleeps. Switched her food without a hitch thanks to the pumpkin advice when she was 3 months.I decided I would get her a blanket for the floor when we watch TV. Well she decided she loved it so much that when we go by her she goes to nip at us and show her teeth. Has anyone else had this happen?I have seen her do this if we go to grab her dish in her crate, but I have gotten through this by handing some of the food to her. She doesn't do this with her toys, we take them out each day and she is fine.So for now the bed is put away Well that is all that is new, hope everyone is well.Lisa

You were right to put the bed away.

I wouldn't allow her to have toys, unless they are being used as training tools, and controlled by you.

Some dogs can't take a hint from the fact that you give them the toy in the crate, and take it away. They simply cannot be allowed toys unless you're physically involved in the play.

She's at the butthead stage of the game, so just remain consistent.

Thanks Aaron
The blanket/bed stays away---I agree with the butthead stage, she can be a stinker, mostly she is a sweetheart and is so willing, loves her treats. I have been trying to do different things with her and walk her in different areas on my street,she is still alittle jumpy when the cars come by but she has "sit" down and I use that with her treats. Learning everyday
http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=5719611007/a=25538948_25538948/

Well after I wrote the last time I realized shadow was in heat, her disposition has continued to be possessive of things like a towel, a blanket, corner of the rug, and other small items. This is very new, I thought it was just that doggie bed, now I realize it's not. This might seem like a stupid question--is it wrong to let her realize she needs to share the corner of the rug, because we can't take the living room rug away. We now are seeing if we take it all away in avoidance she will still do the behavior, my example of this is when I had a dish towel on the she wanted that too. She has another week before we can tell if she's done being in heat. I tried looking on older posts before I wrote. Thanks Lisa

Well, I'll start .... When you say "corner of the rug," I'm gathering that the dog is guarding her "territory" as well as anything in it?



Even though this can appear with sexual maturity (and yes, can be related to heat cycles), it can't be ignored.

Is there any detail you can add about who (or what situation) triggers the displays?

Also, can you describe the obedience training she gets, and her exercise?

And do you know the acronym NILIF?

And (sorry for all the question) has the dog had the food-dish issue all along or is it new, too? Can you detail this:

" ... I have seen her do this if we go to grab her dish in her crate, but I have gotten through this by handing some of the food to her." What do you mean by "handing some of the food to her"? You mean distracting her with additional food so you can remove the dish?

Have you always fed in the crate?

this is what I did for my dogs, when I would go near their bowl I would ADD something yummy to it, you might try that everytime you get near her "space". honestly I never had to deal with space/crate/food aggression issue because I trained to it as soon as I got the dog.

 Quote: Lisa Bernier

Well after I wrote the last time I realized shadow was in heat, her disposition has continued to be possessive of things like a towel, a blanket, corner of the rug, and other small items. This is very new, I thought it was just that doggie bed, now I realize it's not. This might seem like a stupid question--is it wrong to let her realize she needs to share the corner of the rug, because we can't take the living room rug away. We now are seeing if we take it all away in avoidance she will still do the behavior, my example of this is when I had a dish towel on the she wanted that too. She has another week before we can tell if she's done being in heat. I tried looking on older posts before I wrote. Thanks Lisa

Warning lights! Dog is young, these antics will get serious if nothing is changed in the coming months.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the questions so that we can get to the root of thisI will try to answer all your questions:

We noticed when she was younger she loved getting a bath and drying off with a towel. SHe did like if we put the towel in her crate to dry off, but we haven't done that in awhile because she liked to eat the thread. But now since my earlier posting about the bed that I took away she will see laundry or even a towel on the floor and try to grab it and will turn at us and snap when we go to take it away.

I had her in puppy K when she was 6 months. I have listened to the pack training dvd and still listen to the obedience. I tried to do alot in the beginning, until I got good advice from this site not to implement too much. She has the sit command down--pretty much before she goes out, when she needs redirection, and just to get her attention because she still tries to nip in playing which we tell her "no". She does know when we tell her no. I also had used my own "walk nice" in the beginning and when I say this she is very well behaved on the leash.

I walk her a mile each day in between her going out every couple of hrs for a pee and just to be out. My husband takes her out at night for a walk and to run outside. We have a time when we play with toys. She likes her crate and sleeps in it during the day and at night. We let her have time out of the crate to walk around the kitchen/living room and at night she will be with us.
I don't know what NILIF is

We have always fed her in the crate and still do.I will add the food thing didn't always happen just once in awhile when her bowl was to the back of the crate and there might have been some food in the bowl that I didn't know about, I would redirect her with food to take out the bowl, lately I just give her water out of the crate and then she is out so I can take out the bowl and then take her outside.

She has somewhat of a schedule, Morning out, in the crate--fed, out--in the crate some in the day---out every couple of hrs for pee---a walk---crate---out at about 5pm for a run and play--fed--crate--out inbetween for pee---downtime with family---sleeps in crate. I am hoping my schedule gives you insite too. I haven't opened the crate at night to see if she wants to sleep other than the crate--the reason why I mention this is I have noticed many dog owners have their dogs sleep on a bed etc. She is very fond of her crate-I think she feels safe there if we get visitors.We can all see how my implementing a new bed worked out.

Okay Connie what do you think?
I hope I didn't bore anyone. I appreciate this.

Just wanted to add----now that I looked up NILIF--- we let her know that everything is ours until we give them to her--toys, food--treats--she is a big treat hound and will obey me when I have her sit---down---and stay---she will answer to"come" most of the time--still working on that one.

Well, it sounds to me like she needs some boot camp before she maneuvers into a management position.

You have the pack structure DVD? And you followed it?

And you know something about NILIF now. That should be strictly in place, IMO.

http://leerburg.com/search/dosearch.php?terms=nilif&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0


And I would be doing basic ob sessions (marker sessions) every day -- more than one short session a day.

For me, right now, I would want this dog's day to be very structured/scheduled.

Also, it doesn't sound like a lot of exercise. A mile a day walking? How long is that run? How can you up structured exercise? Also, how much marker training do you know?


Sorry about more questions! Quick ones, though.