Once again, it is Flynn here.
My rescue pup Merlin, 6 months old (I have had him a week now) showed possibly a little possessiveness over a toy, yesterday.
We had friends up, with their 13 month old Black Flat Coated Rerevier, Katie. Not an inch of malice in her.
A great time was had by both dogs, playing beautifully, and VERY happy to take toys, including a treat bone from one another.
Out we went for a long walk (2hrs). Both having the freedom to run, which, Merlin being a lurcher, loved. At home, he curled up and slept. Then Katie, decided to show an interest in his treat bone. To my suprise where he had happily shared before, he gave a little growl at her. I said a very firm No, at him.
How do I make sure this doesn`t happen again?
I am going to my daughters at the weekend, and she too has a very placid Labrador, who is very submissive. Also a young daughter of 13 months. Obviously Merlin will be supervised the whole time.
I DO take his food away when he is feeding with No problem, several times. Also his toys when he is playing, again no problems.
My old dog a Lab x colliex staffy was SO good, on this, yet he was a bit aggressive out walking, to other dogs, in the early stages.

One other thing. Crate training. He is fine in the night, in the Crate, BUT kicks a din up when left during the day. Two min intervals, going up to 5. But no joy. I put him in with a treat, and walk outside the house. As soon as the front door is closed he starts. I don`t go back until there is a break. Let him out and tell him he is good. No treat. He is fine if we are in the house and do this.

All advice will be graetfully received. Thank you . Flynn

First off, you don't want to take food off him when he's eating as that will teach him to be possessive. After all, he never knows when it's going to be taken away. Same with toys. With food, to avoid food guarding, you get him used to you ADDING food to the bowl when he is eating. With toys, you swap for another one or a treat. You also shouldn't tell a dog off for growling, it's their way of warning WITHOUT being aggressive. If they are not allowed to growl, their only next step of action is to bite, so far better to give a growl. It's very, very common for dogs to guard high value toys and treats from other dogs -if you are worried, simply take that away when other dogs are around. He no doubt didn't do it at first as he wasn't settled enough, now feels more secure. I noticed the same with a dog of mine -he came back to me aged 18 months and for the first week any other dog could take his food off him. Now he growls if they try, so they leave him alone.

i actually think its ok for my dogs to growl & protect their stuff from my other dogs!

I would agree, I would be telling the other dog ah ah, if he/she tried to steal a toy from another dog.  An unattended toy on the other hand is fair game and possession is definitely 9/10ths of the law.

I always have far more chews than dogs lying around, and if someone wants one then they can pick up one not being used.  If a pup wants someone else's then I would distract them with an unused one and make sure they accepted that instead.

I do this as well Brainless -for instance if I buy a box of calcium bones and there are 8 big dogs together I give them 10 or 11 bones. The 3 little dogs get 5 between them. :)

I do that too. When the puppy growled at my resident dog over a chew I went and dumped the entire box of them on the floor. She couldn't figure out how to guard 16 chews. :-D She quickly figured out there was plenty to go around and never growled at him again. There are about 5 times more bones than dogs in the house. :) (3 times more beds, couple of water bowls, resources are endless around here)

That sounds like my house. You would think that I had alot more than just 2 dogs living here!!

Yes I think that's much what I said Michelle -the difference being the OP's dog was doing it with other people's dogs which is where it may be better to remove the objects rather than fall out with the owner. :)

hey i was advised to take the dogs food away when eating so we done this and never had a problem. also both my puppy and dog growl at each other if the other goes to take something of them, i dont honestly see much problem with this as long as they dont do it to people. i could take anything of both of my dogs and they would never growl at me. so as long as it goes no further than growling at each other i dont think there should be a problem. when dogs play fight they growl so i dont always think they mean it aggressively.

Stanyer21 as I already explained, taking food away from a dog CAN make them be food possessive. What works for one dog doesn't necessarily work for all so it's ALWAYS best to play safe -and nicer too. Let's face it, how would you feel if a giant who spoke a language you didn't understand took your food away? Chances are one day you'd have enough and lash out.

im just saying loads of people advised me to do this as this would help learn your dog that you were boss. i have a brilliant dog who will not even take food of my nephew who is 15 months , i feel by doing things like this helped him be the way he is now.

I'm afraid you have been speaking to people not very up on training -there is no need to show a dog you're the boss of it, things don't work like that,  -this was a theory that evolved in the 1940's and we know better now. :)

are right i did not know that, just you read it in alot of books as well, i guess they are prob a bit dated to.

Once again, THANK YOU ALL, for all your advice.
Am I never going to get this puppy traing right? I just want a happy balanced and VERY socialable dog.
Merlin is such a sweetie and as I have said before, a bit timid, that I DON`T want to screw him up.
He does create, when left during the day, I guess anxiety, but hopefully that will ease off.
Any other advice from all of you will be heeded.
Thank You so much, Flynn

Flynn, there is no "right" or "wrong" way when it comes to how people raise their dogs, the "right" way is what works for your dog! You will gain more experience with your dog, he will need a bit more time as he came from rescue and sometimes it can take them a little while to settle, sounds like he is doing great. As you have already learnt every dog is different so its a case of trying things with your dog and seeing what works. Relax and enjoy him the puppy times go too quickly!

I would just qualify that a little, there is no ONE right way to train dogs, but there are definitely WRONG ways.  Flynn sounds like they are doing fine, like motherhood this puppy rearing can be overwhelming at times, but we all get there with various support along the way.

Hello, Everyone,
Just an update on Merlin.
He is doing really well. I have heeded all the advice, Thank you all so much.
He now knows he has to stay in his bed, (there are three downstairs, one in the sittingroom, one in the kitchen and one in the hall.) when we are eating.
I am able to make him sit and wait, while I put his food bowl down.
Since he came to us on the 5/11/07 we haven`t had one accident, nor has he chased the cat.
We took him into town, in the car, and he was as good as gold, just lay in the back of the Estate. No we didn`t leave him by himself, I stayed with him while my son went to the chemist.
He now accepts the Crate at night, settles in it and not a peep out of him, `til morning. HOWEVER still a problem when left in it during the day, even for three mins.
He is good with other dogs, even those that come up yapping to him, despite being frightened and running back to us, with his tail between his legs, (we ignored this.) I would have thought had he been an aggressive dog he would have retaliated?
Thank you again for all your support.
Best wishes Flynn

He sounds like he is finding his feet and obviously feels settled with you!

Do you need him to be crated during the day?

Hello, Angels2,
Thank you for your reply. Yes, at the moment Merlin does have to learn to stay in the crate during the day. The reason being, that when my Daughter, her Partner and 13 month old baby come to stay with their 3 yr old chocolate lab, I will need somewhere where he can go, when and if we need to go out, mind I would NEVER leave them for hours on end. Also if we go to their house, I cannot guareentee, (spelling) that he wouldn`t chew. He has had a couple of sly attempts here! But a No is sufficient for him to stop.
I am really feeling a lot more confident with him, especially with everyones support on this forum.
Silly really, as he is our fourth rescue dog, all of whom had problems that we dealt with, and they all made super pets.
I think it is because he is so quite timid and I don`t want to make things worse.
All the others were in your face dogs! Especially the last one who was a lab x staffy x collie, a right character.
When we had Barney put to sleep, three weeks ago, at the age roughly of 12, it was the first time in 28 years we had been without a dog.
I think I have lost my confidence a bit? I so want a balanced dog, who is sociable. Don`t mind that he is mischievous. Just don`t want him to be aggressive.
Anyway, I really appreciate all the help.
Flynn

>The reason being, that when my Daughter, her Partner and 13 month old baby come to stay with their 3 yr old chocolate lab,

Sorry,coming into this a bit late,but why would you have to crate him when your family visits? I take the Lab will also have to be caged,not just your dog? It's like he's being punished(crated) when your family visits. If he's upset to go in the crate during the day,i wouldnt push it. JMO :)

Hello, Ktee,
Thanks for the reply.
No, I would NEVER punish a dog by putting him in the dog crate.
My last three rescues were crate trained, as the first one, Brindy, (a lurcher bitch) came to us at 4months, we were her 5th home. I was advised to crate her, by our local dog trainer, as she was soiling everywhere. Also had a 2yr old collie x gsd at the time, and BOTH chewed when left, despite chew toys etc. They used to use it as their bed, as the door was always left open when we were around.
Merlin is quite happy to go in it, especially as he gets treat kongs. (Have to fill them with his complete food, as he can`t get the shapes out) He is happy to sllep in it at night, tho` I admit he is now up in our room, supposedly on his bed, but creeps up onto ours! As does the cat!
I nipped round to our immediate  neighbour this evening to give her some magazines, (we are a semi) was only gone a few mins, and he started, despite having the whole house to himself.
Even if I go out of the room and shut the door, he will whine, even if my husband is with him, in the same room. I am sure it is anxiety seperation.