Have you ever experienced a dog who is guarding food treats and toys? A loving dog owner wrote in asking about a situation that keeps arising….”we give our dog Wilma rawhide treats. When they get small we have to take them from her so she doesn’t choke or swallow them. But when we go to get them she’s guarding them. If we call her to us, she will NOT obey the command to come, which she does so well at other times. All she wants is to guard her treat. Sometimes she’s guarding food and toys too. How do we overcome these situations?”
First of all, using the command to COME for taking something away from your dog is counterproductive. (
https://pawsiloveyou.com/course/3minute-the-most-important-command/). Don’t ask your dog to come to you when you are going to take something away from her. Instead teach her that when you ask for whatever is in her mouth that you only want it for a moment. And you will give it right back.
Start by holding one end of a long narrow treat
To teach your dog whose guarding food, treats and toys, start by holding on to one end of a long narrow treat. For example use a bully stick, or edible Nylabone. Command her to “out”, “give” or “drop” and work it out of her mouth. The instant you get it, praise her, and immediately let her chew on it again. Continue to hold on the other end. Command her to let go one or two more times, while holding the opposite end of the treat or toy. Again say “good dog” and give it right back. https://pawsiloveyou.com/course/3minute-my-dog-destroyed-my-couch-how-to-stop-chewing/
When the lesson is over and it’s time to put the toy or treat away, give her something WONDERFUL in its place. Give her a treat that she can eat until it is totally gone in a short period of time. This way your dog learns that there’s no need for guarding food, treats, and toys. She won’t worry about you taking her stuff. She now knows you’ll ALWAYS give it back or give her something at least as good in its place. https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/choosing-safe-dog-chew-toys