Quote:
Originally Posted by slicksps
If they're growling over a toy/food etc. it's a great time to exert your power as their leaders and just reach down and take it away. Do be careful if any of this possessive growling starts at you and don't tolerate anything of the like.
They will quickly learn that growling makes the things they like disappear and should stop both short and long term.
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I would be VERY WARY of "just taking" an object which a dog is resource guarding whether from another dog or a person. Resource guarding is a fear related problem. Fear of loosing something valuable. By justing taking the object you are confirming that fear, the dog learns that growling is not working and so they may climb the ladder of aggression and snap or bite.
That's a pretty dangerous thing to do IMO and a quick way to get yourself bitten.
I do agree that if two dogs are squabbling over a toy or one dog is inclined to guard a toy/food from another dog then in the short term, removing the object and not leaving toys/ food or whatever out when both dogs are together is a good idea until you can get proffessional help.
Daynna- If I were you I would simply not allow them to have toys when they are together for the short term. Your dogs are just under a year old correct? It could be a stage of adolescence that they are going through but I would certainly contact a decent behaviourist if only for a chat about the situation.