Hi guys,

My eldest retriever, Bailey is coming up for 2. He is such a lovely boy, so gentle and brilliant with everybody.

But all of a sudden, he has started to growl if you go near him when he has a bone. He has never ever had a problem with this before, I can put my hand in his food bowl when he's eating from it to add chicken or something and he wags his tail, when I have previously taken bones from him before because we're going out he used to do the same.

It is more of a grumble than a full on teeth baring snarl, but it still worries me a bit. Any reason that he has suddenly started doing this, does anyone know? Any advice would be much appreciated :)

Lisa

This is about the time they test the water to see what will happen if they get the chance to be boss. I find that from 15 months they see what they can get away with until maturity. Everything they learn goes out the window, recall goes to pot, posessive behaviour begins. It is probably hormone related. I find going "back to basics" with everything helps.

Thanks Tanya, anything you can recommend? He has been castrated, if that's of any help. Have never had to deal with one of my dogs growling at me before so forgive me for being an amateur!

Yes it does sound like age.  The other possibility is that it's your younger dog pushing the boundaries and the elder one is just letting everyone know he'd prefer to hang on to his own bones!

Have you got your new dog yet (I think I've remembered you are getting a pup from the RSPCA)?   New arrivals, visitors, test meetings etc can all put a bit of extra pressure on the dynamics.

If you have no need to remove your boys bone then maybe ensure he can eat it somewhere he feels most comfortable.  I have one that likes all this stuff outside, and the other takes it all to bed with him.  It's certainly easier for the dogs but I get left with raw meat bed to clean - nice :)

Thanks dogs a babe. No we haven't, unfortunately we couldn't get that pup from the RSPCA as Oscar couldn't stand her. We are getting a lab from a privately run rescue centre that both the boys have met and adored.

Bailey's never been the boss, it's always been Oscar and Bailey has never tried to be, he is very chilled out for such a young boy.

He doesn't growl every time you go near him, it's been a couple of times in the last few days. Maybe I'm just worrying too much, I am known for it!

To be honest I wouldn't challenge him, if he doesn't respond to a firm telling him to 'leave' I find swap is a much better way of getting things off dogs. Try a nice bit of cheese or something that you know he really likes. Tell him to sit, offer the treat & then make the swap. If that doesn't work, try getting his lead out, a bit naughty, but it saves confrontation. If he is really starting to guard bones & it becomes a real problem, to be honest I would stop giving them to him. My GSD tried a little growl once, but I raised my voice & told him off, now it isn't a problem. When I feel that the bone needs to go in the bin, he gives it up, no problem.