I wonder if anyone can reccomed a behaviourist nr Braintree (Essex) as a friend is having a hard time of it.

Her mum and dad have a lab x retreiver, lovely dog, playful. happy etc etc, all except when she steals something she shouldn't have and you try and take it from her. As soon as you go near her she goes for your hand.

This happened last year and she ended up taking her dad to A&E for his punture wounds to be cleaned and sealed. She has since gone for my friend (lucky she has been too quick) twice, and then yesterday her dad bent down to get a wrapper off her and she went for him then her bro went to see if he could get it and she got him on the hand too..
They will perservere they just had ran out of ideas. She never used to bite as a puppy either so it's strange. They've never been mean or anything, so they are guessing it's a dominance thing?

I think they have tried to train her to 'give'. Using a toy or a piece of food and get her to give it back, then give her a reward for giving it to you, but this doesn't work with the "stolen item"

I have suggested it is time to call in the help but wouldn't know anyone to reccomend as I am not local.

It's not dominance -dogs don't think like that. When they try to swap, do they make sure what they are swapping with is REALLY something the dog will want? I.e. if you had a £10 note and somebody said "I'll swap you for a £5 note" you wouldn't want to, would you :) but if they offered to swap for a £50 note you would very likely agree.
I was going to give a link to a great article but it sees to be offline at the moment....... here's a different one:
http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/guarding-valued-objects

That is a good article - I will forward it on, Thanks.

I think they do have to be quick at the swop as if she notices then that is when she will attack the approaching hand.

Sounds like a good behaviorist would be the safest bet then -fingers crossed somebody knows a good one in the area.

I agree you have got to make it worth while my dog will do anything for a tripe stick. I never tell my dog of for pinching something it tends to make them worse they seem to expect it and it makes them more worked. If he take a shoe or slipper I ask him to go and get the other one, I think that surprises him and he usually gives it up. I find the calmer you are over the situation even if you are panicking inside like the surgical glove he pinched today and you do not want them swallowing that the easier it is to get it back. I find now that because I do not make a big drama out of the situation he doesn't run of with things so much now.

It's so easy for dogs to get to guard as it comes naturally to them.

A few good rules are:

Sacrifice what can be sacrificed..
Never be angry. Dogs can see flared nostrils and hear heartbeats, so even if you think you are showing calm, you have to really feel it inside. See it as a behaviour rather than as a personal affront.,,,
If something cannot be sacrificed, entice the dog away using distraction such as doorbell ringing or something which will get the dog out of the room hopefully....
Keep all dangerous items well away so dog can never get to them....

Teach swops, retrieves, etc but find help on doing this correctly.
Best to get in a good behaviourist, try http://www.apbc.org.uk/

Hth :)

re lindsays link I have used a behaviourist from that list and she is excellent. Not sure if I can give her name but if you pm I will. My problem was different but had tried lots before I fnd her and I have been pleased, good free follow up by phone or email too
n

Thanks, they actually have made an appt with a behaviourist now, but if that doesn't work I may well contact you for the reccomendation.

Do make sure they are careful with who they book - anyone can call themselves a behaviourist, hence the need for finding one via a reputable organisation. The wrong one can make things worse and there are plenty of wrong ones out there unfortunately.
Good luck.

Lindsay
x

if any of my dogs had something  usually food related  and they had pinched it I would not attempt to take it off them physically as I know the possibility is there that they might bite to hold onto thier find.
(for most things I say drop it but this wont always work if they really want it)(one time one of my girls picked up a chicken leg in the road and was holding onto it like grim death I was so scared that she would choke I opened her jaw and shook her head ..she was in shock and so was I   but that is a another story)LOL

I will always get a piece of something that they would love more such as  a piece of sausage,  show it to her drop it at my feet they will then leave the item be it a sweet  wrapper etc they get the food I get the wrapper...sorted
I see it as no one actually won anything, I just dont want my dogs eating sweet wrappers or maybe something that could harm them.

Possibly your friend makes a big thing out of the dog stealing something so the dog feels the need to snap I dont crack on that I am bother they have whatever I just get the higher value food and remove the said item (quickly)