So we’ve now got Lucy, who is 9 weeks old tomorrow. [cough]spaniel[/cough] Monty is three and a half years and is being a bit possessive over her toys. Admittedly they were his three years ago but he won’t remember that surely. He snatches them and runs off to his crate, barking. He never normally barks. Any tips?
A few follow up points: Some might say that’s normal, but it’s very out of character for Monty. I suppose I can: 1. Praise the good behaviour - am doing this but I can see him stiffen up when there’s toys around and I’m not sure it’s working. Without toys he is fine. 2. Reprimand the bad - he knows if he’s naughty to go to his bed. When he has an “outburst” he will run to his bed, barking. Very unusual behaviour for him. This is all occurring in the kitchen where the pup is currently based. The downside is that is where his important food resource is, so I’m sure that’s not helping. He’s not in the slightest bit food orientated, but definitely resource guards his meals (we have cats and have had issues in the past but trained it out of him). For this reason I feed both him and pup separately for now. Edit - I think I’ve answered my own question. I need to reinforce the positive, slowly. Just as we did with the food resource guarding.
OK, my first question would be, is there any sign that he's actually upset? My dogs nick each other's toys all the time and it's perfectly normal! The bark could also be an encouragement for the pup to play - Shadow does this. When one of the dogs has a toy, the others want it, even if they would normally have no interest in it whatsoever. They will also pick stuff up and flaunt it to the other dogs, parading it around. It's hysterical and nothing to worry about in the slightest.
If you really think that there's a problem, I would use management and keep the toys to interactive play only, so they are only out when you are playing with your puppy and Monty is actively engaged elsewhere - with a kong in his bed, or practicing a settle, or behind a baby gate if needs be.
Good point. He’s definitely upset as his heckles are up. BUT this is only inside. Outside, they do as you explain and nick each other’s toys with no issues.
That’s what I’ve been doing. Pup is behind baby gate so he can see, and I can see that he’s not happy she has a toy. If she brings it to the gate, he has tried to snatch it and done his possessive/resource guarding described above.
Currently, indoors, toys are confined to the kitchen and only when the baby gate is shut. If it’s open and there are no toys, Monty is fine and there are no issues.
My lot have their hackles up really often and can mean they're excited as much as it does they're on edge. In fact, I see it more when they're excited, or parading. They get so full of themselves For now, I'd just be blocking his view when you're playing with toys with the pup. It's still really early days with your puppy, Monty's life has changed in a dramatic way and he needs some time to get to know the puppy and what it means. I personally wouldn't leap straight into training scenarios with this. I'd be working on toyless interaction with you and both dogs at the same time if he's OK with that. So, things like giving them both tummy rubs together, giving them treats together so the pup learns to take turns ("Monty", and give him a treat. "Lucy", and give her a treat). The tummy rubbing thing especially was a real game-changer for how Shadow perceived Luna.
