Can anyone give any advice - I have a 7 month old Basset Hound (from working stock) which I have had since he was 7 weeks, he has gradually become more and more possesive over treats and toys, I have now removed most toys from his reach.

If either myself , my husband or my 18 month old Spinone bitch go near him when he has a toy/chew in his mouth or go near the item he has left on the floor because he doesn't really want it he will growl and snap aggressively, he has now drawn blood a couple of times.
(he now has all his adult teeth).
He is otherwise a very friendly happy dog.

If he was my dog I would remove all toys and treats and only allow them when you say so. If he is playing with a toy play with him, take the toy away praise him then give the toy back. This way he won't associate it as a bad thing that he never gets his toy back. If your allowing him to have a good chew and then after awhile give him a treat in place of the chew toy for allowing you to have it. The toys are yours and not his, he must realize that all toys and treats are yours and only his when you say so. Also replacing the toy/treat with something he is more willing to give it up and it becomes a good thing. I can take anything away from my dogs being a toy, treat, human food. They know that it doesn't matter what they have its always mine. My children and hubby can do this also and this is something I enforced from day one.

I do not have any toys down at all, they only get toys now when I give them to my dogs and thats because Junior figured all toys were only for the boston's and Taz (hybrid-158 pounds) wasn't allowed to have any. The result was a one eyed boston (Junior-22 pounds) he attacked Taz over a chew bone which Taz always gave up but this time he wasn't. Now they get toys when they are in their kennels and thats only when I go out or at bed time.

I guess what Iam saying is that not all dogs will share with other dogs and its better to be safe then sorry.

Good luck
ttfn :)

Hiya Lisa
I'm afraid I can't offer you any advice, as my Basset boy is only 4 months but I just wanted to say hi :) as you don't really come across many Basset owners here.
He's my first Basset and is sooo typical of the breed...STUBBORN !!!!! lol
I'd try what Dollface has suggested, for sure.
Good luck

Hey!
I'm a Bassett Owner too! My girls's 10 mths old now and seems to be always barking for attention. I don't want her to think she will always get a fuss after barking at me but it seems the only way she stops. Any help would be appreciated.

My Kandi does get quite possesive but not to that extent. When I give her a treat, She bolts away from me to devour it on her own. I'm also trying to get her to stop mouthing me when she gets over excited as now its getting messy! (lots of drool)

I know I haven't been of much help but it would be nice to read about Bassetts from time to time. You can e-mail me if you like.

Cheers

First don't pet her because she sees this as praise and will only continue doing it. If she is barking at you totally ignore her, when she stops then praise her. If she doesn't stop you can use a shake can the noise should distract her and she should stop then praise her and say good girl NO bark. Another one if she is constantly barking at you for attention put the leash on her this way she is going with you every where and if she starts barking drill her on her obedience and alot of downs because it is harder to bark when in a down and she is getting your attention. Don't give much praise at the end drop the leash and walk away. She barks again drill her again. You could also say quite/no bark and give a quick leash corection and well if that don't work drill her. This has worked with some of my dogs, where I have found spraying them worked as well. Don't yell that may just cause her to bark more because she will think you are just joining in. If she is barking at a sound praise her for that then call her to you and then give her praise for coming and being quite.

My dogs will bark if they hear a noise or someone is at the door, the word I use it quite. Me I'm still working on this also. One starts barking it sets the other 4 off so it gets pretty loud. I have noticed when I'm out on a walk Junior likes to bark or whine when he sees something or another dog I give him a quick leash correction and say leave it, and I have found if I'm able to give the correction just before he decides to go off it works and he just walks on by.

good luck. I'm sure someone will be along with more idea's since it is better to have more then one way to train because not all training methods work for all dogs.

ttfn :)