Afternoon all!
I'm new to Leerburg. I came across this site recently.

I just want to introduce myself and my dog background just once for when I have questions later. I don't know if all this will ever be necessary, but it makes me feel better if I just get it all out. It may help when I have specific questions.
Either way everything I'm posting here is what eventually brought me to this site.
I apologize in advance if it is just way too much info. I don't have a way to shorten it...

Eight years ago we got a GP/Lab mix, Charlie. We took him to Petsmart training for two rounds of six-week classes. He was a good dog. Leash aggressive because the head halter we used in the beginning bothered him. I just dealt with it until he suddenly passed away in February of a massive heart attack.

Two years ago we took in my mom's dog, Tana She's about nine. She resource guards food and treats/kongs, but only bared teeth. She only did it at my mom's house with her fosters. She never did it when she moved in with us to our first dog. She learned it from her first owner's older dog which is why they gave Tana to my mom.

Two months after Charlie passed away I couldn't stand the silence. We got a puppy. In hindsight it was probably too soon. But I can't give up on her because of my ignorance.
We don't really know her breed. Some say Anatolian Shepherd mix and some say GSD mix. On another dog forum I'm basically getting scared out of my mind b/c everyone says ASD and how terrible it is to have them as a pet. But she came from a regular rescue and I didn't know what she was until later. Not like I really would have known NOT to adopt her anyway.

So we didn't realize what we were in for when we got a ten week old puppy. For the first seven months of his life Charlie lived with my mom since we were in a condo and she had a house.
We signed up for PetSmart training. It basically worked with Charlie. But the whole raising/managing him situation was different then as it is now. I used to work in the PetsHotel so I could be in doggy day camp with him. We lived in a different city with a dog park where it was usually older people there during the day when I took him. Not many dogs. He did well his whole life at a dog park.

We moved to a new town last year. A college town. I didn't really like the local park, but I trusted both my dogs and both my dogs did perfect with come when called. No issues.
Charlie passed away. We get a new dog. She's five months today. I took her to the park for the first time two weeks ago. I didn't like the interaction with her and a lady's dog so I don't think I'll go back. It's not the same atmosphere.
Last week we took Milla to doggy day camp three times. I'm guessing it was too much.
Now if you remember Tana is a resource guarder. I should have known even the slightest resource guarding, even Tana's bare teeth, would impact Milla. That's all Tana did when she ended up with Milla's food toy.
Three weeks ago I took Milla to the vet. She sat buckled into the front passenger seat. She threw up. I went to cover it with the towel she was on and she growled and made a small weird bark at me. I couldn't see what she did. I assume a small snap.
The next day, Saturday, she had training and first day camp experience. Tuesday she went again. Wednesday morning she ate too fast threw up and resourced guarded ME from cleaning it up.
That evening I gave her her treat/food dispensing ball. Right after I gave it to her I remembered I needed to take her out. We live in a house now, but I put her harness on her so she didn't run off into the bushes.
I went to put her harness on her when she had the ball and she barked and snapped at me.
I picked it up, put the harness on. Then stupid me "tested" her what she would do if I got her to sit and gave her the ball. I had her sit and put the ball down, but if she stood up when I put it down I picked it up. The third time her favorite cat walked up, she loves him, and she snapped at him.
I freaked naturally. I immediately picked up ALL treat toys.
The next morning I fed her and her favorite cat walked up again while she was eating. She growled at him. She'd never done that.
Now I hand feed her b/c that's what I read to do. We never did the hand feeding in her bowl or putting hand in bowl while she ate. Charlie and Tana never had that and they were fine.

I'm sorry this is so long, but this has been an ordeal for us being semi new at any behavior like this.

So now I put food in her bowl by hand and keep my hand in the bowl while in her kennel. She is facing through her kennel so she can see any cats or people walking around. She hasn't had an incident since.

The Thursday after that first real outburst, the 16th, we took her to daycamp for an all day. She made it five hours and bit a PetHotel associate. She didn't break skin or anything.
I thought her teeth were hurting. I took her to the vet. It wasn't the normal vet I use unfortunately. But another in the same office.
Two weeks prior I had her get shots and she did fine when the vet I prefer bent down and examined her teeth.
This time the vet tech had Milla in a painful looking bear hug and looked to put all her (heavy) weight on her. I should have said something. Milla did TERRIBLE. She was freaking out and her back legs were splayed out behind her and being pressed on by this vet tech.
Now I believe Milla was acting out partially from some sort of pain she got in camp. As the next day after the vet visit she didn't want anyone touching her hips. She got extra mouthy. We gave her six days so far of limited play to rest her back legs. Just in case.
Some how in my search b/c the trainer suggested a behaviorist. They are so expensive....everyone tells me she will be fine. I have cats and a niece and three nephews all under 3 to think about.
Milla loved them when she met them. She still loves her cats.
Things are far less stressful with treat toys gone.
Milla loves loves people. Which Charlie didn't.
So in my search for a behaviorist and search hoping last week was a one time thing and she will never resource guard again...hoping that I will never have to worry about her throwing up and attacking a cat walking by...hoping that a cat doesn't throw up and get attacked if Milla is in the same area....hoping that someone doesn't drop food and as Milla finds it a cat or kid doesn't walk by....I some how came upon this site. Whew. Sorry once again. Hopefully I can refer back to this post when someone asks what all has happened.

I purchased the Training with food video. I only watched up until the chapter of putting dog onto a platform so far since I need to do the first part.
I need to watch the beginning again because I'm struggling with getting her to do the side to side. She doesn't follow that fast. I feel like I'm doing the chase thing with her. I'm not sure a timeline of how I should do things. We bought some extra good treat food. I know my timing still needs work though.

What treats do you use?

Also... do you think that was a one-time thing with Milla? I try not to let her sense my worry. I try to remain confident when around her so she can be confident. She turned five months old today.

Start with this: http://leerburg.com/groundwork.htm

Once you've done the groundwork you can start to address the resource guarding but just doing the groundwork might stop it with the age this pup is at. I would feed the pup in a crate in a separate room that the cats don't have access to for now.

As far as the not following treats thing you need to do shorter faster bits of food luring most likely until she gets the idea and is more excited by the game.

I would not return to that vet. Man handling a dog is not necessary with good restraint technique. My vet can handle my Cattle Dog who does NOT like to be handled smoothly and competently. He is generally muzzled for everyones safety. He might scramble a little bit now and then when they're switching positions but he's never put in a hold that could hurt him. They can also handle my American Bulldog who is pure muscle without problems.

Day camps do a great job of teaching dogs to be defensive and use their teeth. I would stop going.

Thank you for your suggestions.

So do you think if she is fed where she is no where near the cats at all that she will forget all about resource guarding when she's older?

Also, some people keep saying to take the food up while I feed her. To me that sounds like it would exacerbate resource guarding.

I "DO NOT" take the food away from a dog while eating and YES that can push the dog to a higher level of aggression.

I start out putting the food bowl down with half it's food.

When that is finished I place more food in the bowl by hand.

This may have to be done when the dog walks away from the empty bowl but you "slowly" progress to where you can drop the food in a handful at a time as the dog is finishing.

You need to be able to read the dog well to reach this point.

You basically want the dog to know that approaching the food bowl means more is coming.

I've always done this with my children and now my grand children.

Hi Anastasia & Welcome to Leerburg You're in the RIGHT place !!!

Our regular posters who've already replied are Experts (I'm just a pet owner)...

I would get a NEW vet, because that one employs UNTRAINED techs

I would avoid Dog Parks AND Day Care with your ASD's history.

When I've had to hand-feed rescues in the past, I always did it without using a bowl so there's no dish to guard

If you must take anything away from the dog, TRADE IT for a Higher Value Treat FIRST.

I would then progress to in-crate-only feeding in a PRIVATE room (no other animals or anyone else around).

You can click on ARTICLES in the banner on top of this page & read everything pertinent to your situation for FREE.

DVDs I highly recommend getting ASAP (also available on Streaming):

Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Pet http://leerburg.com/308.htm

Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months http://leerburg.com/120.htm (works 4 adult dogs too)

Managing Dogs in the Home http://leerburg.com/managementdvd.htm (BRAND NEW)

The Power of Training Dogs with Markers http://leerburg.com/219.htm

These VIDEOS are worth their weight in Diamonds & Platinum

Hi Anastasia, welcome!

I go with Cathy, Bob and Candi.

I never take food away from the dogs. With one exception: I always weigh the daily portion for each one. But when I'm in a hurry, I do it per eye. Then it may happen that I give too much. I then come back after 15 minutes and when the dog has withdrawn from it's bowl, I remove it, because I don't want them to have food available round the clock. But this is of course not the same as taking it away from the dog itself.

Mostly I give them food rewards on walks when I can generalize some exercices on quiet places. additionnally I make two training sessions per day, means food rewards again and then the daily portion will be used up. (Of course training too is done separately)

What kind of food? I think, you will have to find out, what your dog likes and of course, inform yourself about quality brands.

I rarely use kibble, I keep though some to have always a reserve at home. I don't like the colouring stuff, the preservatives, the flavout enhancers etc. I also know, that lots of firms recycle anaestezised cats, dogs and other animals, who died from dfferent illnesses. That's why I changed to raw food diet. Leerburg has good articles and books about this.

As treats I use chicken breasts, kidneys, liver, lean meat, white cheese etc, cut in small pieces. Some meat can be very slippery and so not practically. But when cooked a bit, it is much less likely to drop. I also used hot dogs, but rarely, for they are too fat. I think Cindy has somewhere a recipe how to make treats out of minced meat which she bakes. She can prepare a big quantity and then deep freeze.

So just some suggestions. You'll certainly find something that suits you.

But it's of course the choice of each individual person.