A great method to get the sharing process started is to teach your dog to give up items when requested. Give your dog a low-level toy at first—something he enjoys but isn’t fixated on—and place a savory dog treat directly in front of his nose so that he can smell it. He will likely open his mouth to get the treat, so label the action by saying “drop right as the toy leaves his mouth. When he’s finished, give him the toy once more and repeat the process, this time holding the treat right in front of his nose.
Repeat this scenario multiple times before asking him to “drop the treat in front of his nose.” Your dog will eventually learn, without the use of treats, that the word “drop” means he should release whatever is in his mouth. To ensure that he drops everything and everything when asked, practice this exercise with various toys.
In order to prevent your dog from ever feeling the need to become territorial of his food, you may also teach him that people who approach his bowl during mealtimes bring extra special treats. Start by approaching your dog while he is eating and throwing a high-value treat—such as chicken, cheese, or a hot dog—into his dish. As your dog finishes eating, repeat the process several times. As you approach, look for signs of appreciation, such as a broadly wagging tail and a pleased eager smile. This indicates that your dog has positively associated your approach with the distribution of the treats.
Work your way up to placing the treats right in your dog’s bowl, and before you know it, you’ll be his favorite dinner buddy.
What can I do to educate my dog to share?
A dog who dislikes sharing may hoard the tennis ball, sprawl out in his dog bed so that there is no place for a friend or sibling, and linger over the water bowl during water breaks so that no other dog can get a nose in for a sip. Teaching a dog to share with other dogs does not require that he always give up his possessions, but it does require that he feel secure with other dogs “whether they are dog beds, bones, food bowls, or toys.
Fill your pockets with dog goodies to practice dispensing them whenever another dog approaches an area that your less-than-courteous dog deems his own. Give your dog a consistent stream of high-value treats and lots of praise, for instance, if another dog investigates your dog’s bed. Be prepared to reward your dog with a handful of something tasty and lots of encouragement if another dog prowls around your dog’s toy basket.
Tell your selfish dog that sharing the ball with another dog means receiving an opportunity to catch it if they both want to during a game of fetch “And a piece of cheese, too. For your dog to understand the relationship between the other dog interacting with his belongings and the benefits he is receiving as a result, timing is crucial. If you’re consistent, your dog will learn how to treat his furry siblings and companions with kindness and consideration.
Manage the atmosphere and make the scenario easier for your dog to tolerate if you’re hosting a dog pal for a weekend stay or you have a foster pup bunking with you. To avoid potential fights, gather all toys and bones that you think your dog could have trouble sharing, feed the dogs in different rooms, and pick up the empty dog bowls when each dog is finished.
Victoria Schade is a dog trainer, author, and public speaker who has written for Martha Stewart Living, The Washington Post, and other publications.
Canine sharing is possible?
Consequently, how do you teach a dog to share toys? Dogs should be taught to share through positive reinforcement, which includes giving them release commands for objects like “leave” and “give” and counter-conditioning them to other people or animals in their reaction space.
Why is my dog reluctant to share?
Dogs frequently engage in resource guarding, which is a typical activity. Dogs are genetically predisposed not to want to share precious resources with others. Resources for pet dogs can include food, toys, or even the owner’s focus. The majority of the time, resource guarding is limited to simple communication in homes, but on occasion, the activity may increase in frequency or intensity, leading to accidents. It is best to get assistance from your veterinarian or another competent specialist before taking action on your own if you have ever been concerned about violent behavior in your dog, whether it is connected to resource guarding or not.
Even though there are numerous guidelines to reduce conflict in dogs that protect resources from their owners, protecting against other dogs poses its own set of difficulties. However, the fundamentals of working with a dog that protects resources from dogs and humans are essentially the same. Usually, fear is the emotion driving the behavior.
A meal can mean the difference between life and death for animals in the wild. Therefore, even though cherished pets never face starvation (far from it! ), the instinct to guard precious resources is still present. Any training technique aims to lessen or eliminate tension and fear to make the dog feel more at ease around a resource. It is possible to alter a dog’s motivation and emotional response by using positive reinforcement and counter-conditioning. The conduct itself stops as a result.
Steps to success
The key distinction between a dog protecting itself from humans and a dog protecting itself from other dogs is that, in most cases, the person isn’t really after the slimy, stale rawhide resource, whereas the other dog usually is. There are two training duties to take care of when working with two dogs in a household. The first is to get the guard dog used to being approached and the second is to get the approaching dog to stop robbing other canines of their possessions.
Utilizing sound management practices to stop the undesirable conduct is the first step in changing resource-guarding behavior. Perfect practice makes perfect! Make a list of the things, places, or circumstances that are most likely to cause the dog to become guarding. Next, either alter the environment to eliminate the chances or bar the dog from it. This may entail getting rid of beloved toys, limiting access to specific areas or pieces of furniture, isolating the dogs during mealtimes, and implementing other management techniques. Baby gates, crates, and pens are excellent tools for managing your dog’s environment and thwarting undesired behaviors. Note that dogs may occasionally need to be kept completely apart, save for during training sessions.
It is now time to get down to the business of training a dog after properly managing it has set it up for success. It is very beneficial to teach some strong, positively-trained foundation skills to each dog individually before working with two dogs at once. In case they haven’t previously, expose the dogs to clicker training. Develop a powerful “leave it” and a powerful “stay” behavior. Exercises like Doggie Zen and mat work for relaxation and self-control are also beneficial.
Train and treat the two
Start training with the dogs collectively after that. One handler for Dog A and one for Dog B are required. Start by focusing on a somewhat inexpensive item that your dog loves but isn’t particularly enthusiastic about. For many dogs, a common hierarchy of resource values can be: plush animals (low value), chew toys (mid value), and food (high value).
The intention is for every interaction to be fruitful and instructive.
The intention is for every interaction to be fruitful and instructive. At all times, keep the dog “under threshold.” In other words, if all goes according to plan, you won’t ever witness any hostile conduct.
To start, both dogs should be leashed for protection; Dog A, the guard dog, may even be tied for further security. Although error-free learning is the ideal, it’s always better to be cautious than sorry.
Put the tool next to Dog A. Bring in Dog B next, stopping far from Dog A and outside of any potential danger to Dog A. Err on the side of caution and estimate the distance based on the dog. After leading Dog B away and rewarding him with treats for not going after the resource, click and reward Dog A for maintaining composure.
Repeat, gradually reducing the space between the dogs, and reward Dogs A and B once more for acceptable conduct by clicking. Go return to the previous distance where they both succeeded and repeat if either dog ever displays behavior that is not calm and comfortable. Reduce the distance gradually and incrementally until Dog B can pass Dog A without either dog reacting.
Return to the starting place at this point, but use a higher valuable resource. Repeat these procedures until Dog B can walk directly past Dog A and both dogs are at ease, always keeping both dogs beneath the threshold. Repeat the procedure using progressively more precious resources until you are using the best available. Additionally, you can perform this exercise in many settings, particularly any area that Dog A has a propensity to guard, such as a couch.
One for you, then one for you
Do another enjoyable exercise. Tether the dogs if required and place them far apart, one on either side of you. Give Dog B a medium-value reward and say his name. Say Dog A’s name and give him a better treat right away. Move the dogs farther apart and try again if either dog shows any signs of discomfort. Continue until both dogs will calmly keep their “sits” while one dog receives a treat. Once the dogs are content sitting as close as a body length apart, gradually close the gap between them.
Keep in mind: safety first! At all times, both dogs must be entirely at ease. This exercise aims to teach Dog A that receiving a treat from Dog B indicates that he will soon receive an even better treat. Dog A will begin looking forward to Dog B’s treat since it signals the impending arrival of his own treat.
Unexpected trouble
What should you do if your dog unexpectedly protects something in the middle of an exercise? First and foremost, don’t panic! Getting angry will just make things worse. It is simpler to speak than to do that. Try your best, but remember that nothing stirs up human emotion like a growl and a pair of flashing teeth. Refrain from punishing the guard dog because doing so would be ineffective. Remove the dogs from the scenario calmly, ideally without touching either of them. It’s a good idea to send them to their mats to ease the strain. For a brief period, separate the dogs to allow for everyone’s relaxation.
Try to look into what happened in the interim. What was the catalyst’s source? Before reuniting the dogs, if at all possible, delete the resource or restrict access to it. Later, include your training plan with that specific resource, place, or context. You will eventually have the chance to praise the dogs for maintaining composure in the same circumstance.
Sharing nicely
Resource-guarding behavior is difficult to change quickly. Never be afraid to seek assistance from a licensed professional trainer or animal behaviorist. Many dogs will always need some amount of supervision for safety and sanity, and it will take time and effort. However, resource protection is a behavior, and every behavior is changeable!
How can resource guarding between dogs be stopped?
Possessive aggression can be a major issue if you have numerous pets, whether it’s a dog protecting their food from another dog or defending their napping position. Your resource-guarding dog may endanger another pet, and their aggressive conduct may disturb the peace of the entire home.
The key to resource guarding between dogs is to act quickly and persistently to address the problem.
Here are some canine training suggestions to assist you break your pet’s behavior of resource guarding:
Use Treats as Positive Reinforcement
Treats are the most effective way to motivate desired behavior, and they are also the best way to address resource guarding issues. You may be sure that your dog will stop growling and snapping if they learn that sharing toys or being polite to guests at dinnertime results in yummy goodies.
When instructing your dog, speak firmly but calmly. Once your dog begins to unwind rather than becoming alert, reward positive behavior with their preferred chewy treat or tasty treat.
Treat cameras like Petcube Bites can help you control your wayward dog while you’re at work and avert potential fights over food or toys. Use the two-way audio feature to provide the command, and if your dog obeys, reward him or her with a yummy treat!
Focus on Desensitization
This method is a terrific way to help your dog calm down and stop being unduly worried or possessive of their belongings. You can help your dog get desensitized to situations that once stressed them out and caused them to guard their resources by gradually introducing so-called triggering variables, such as the presence of another dog or touching their bowl while they’re eating. Of course, you should always begin with easy activities and progress to triggering circumstances.
If, during meals, your four-legged baby transforms into a beast as you approach them, start by standing in another part of the room. Once you reach a point where you can easily pet your dog while they eat or touch their food without evoking an aggressive reaction, gradually close the distance between you.
Avoid Punishment
Even though depriving your dog of toys or treats can be a terrific way to teach him not to engage in a certain behavior, in the instance of resource guarding, this approach will only backfire. When threatened, resource guarding dogs become protective or violent because they are constantly worried that their food, toys, or other belongings may be taken away. You aren’t genuinely addressing the issue by stealing their things; you are merely feeding their dread.
When your dog acts aggressively, you shouldn’t reprimand them; instead, you should step back and give them time to settle down. Increasing our hostility toward them will only make the situation worse!
Introduce the promise of good things
Teaching a dog from an early age that nice things happen when other people or animals approach their food or possessions is one method for preventing defensive tendencies in dogs.
When it’s time for a meal, use your hands to fill your dog’s dish so that the puppy learns that when people approach their food bowl, good things will happen. While the dog is eating, you can also reach over with your hand and place a high-value reward near the bowl.
Reward patience and good behavior
By educating your dog that food, treats, and toys must be earned, you can aid in the development of self-control, respect, and positive behaviors.
Have your dog complete a job, like sitting or lying down, before offering food, treats, or giving up toys. This teaches your dog that getting what he wants is not acceptable and that food and treats must be earned.
Show ownership
Make sure your dog understands that you, not her, are the owner before providing her any food, treats, or toys. Make your dog wait before gaining access to her food or possessions as one way to demonstrate ownership. When she has sat and waited patiently for your approval, do not let her run for the food bowl or other item. Instead, stand over it with confidence.
Teach “leave and “give commands
A dog can be trained to react to the “he obeys the “leave order” when anything is in his mouth. Hold out a treat and provide the order “He releases the object and moves in your direction. Give him the treat as a reward for being so obedient, then get rid of the thing as soon as you can.
“Another helpful command to employ against your dog’s possessiveness is “give.” Your dog can be trained to give when holding a toy in his mouth. Without attempting to yank the toy away, take it in your hands with care. Show your dog some treats with your other hand. Speak the order when he releases the object to take the treats “Give. Give him the treat as a reward and give him the toy back.
