LGD pup - gate conflict UPDATE pg 6

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Regardless of the exact reason of why Turk might be displaying these behaviors (from past litter issues or not) I still find it odd that he would be so vocal about something that, clearly the other pup doens't find an issue about. I still think he's feeling some fear or he wouldn't feel the need to be so vocal.....I don't think that for a six month old pup you can see it as anything else. I agree that this isn't about dominance (most things with dogs are not about dominance, rather poor owner handling/training/understanding. I wouldn't want such a reactive dog being my LGD to be honest and I hope that his behavior irons out as he matures.

You asked for education about what behavior you are actually looking at re: food issues. That is called resource guarding. Not dominance behavior, now, food can be an issue of rank, however not all of it is (I would go out on a limb to say most if it is not.)

 

[zzGypsy]

so I guess what it comes down to is this...

at 6 months old, while I've got reservations, I'm not ready to call it quits with this dog yet. I've got time, I'm not losing money on this, and I can wait a bit to decide as long as noone's getting wounded.

given that, what, if anything, do you guys think I should *do* about addressing the behavior? or do y'all need more information?

I get it that this dog is not ideal. however, if there is an opportunity to redirect his behavior, correct it, build the dog's confidence, retrain myself, I don't know what, but something to *do* then I'd like to be working on that. that's the information I'd love to have. doing nothing doesn't seem like the best plan to me, and if I'm not rehoming him just yet, I need a plan. or an exercise. or homework.

I'm always happier when I have a plan. not that they all work out, but it gives me something to work with.

the last trip here yielded a plan... "I get steak when there's goats in my dish." that was really helpful, and we've made progress using it. the world's not perfect, but its definitely and considerably better.

I need a game plan...
step 1) get turk fixed.
step 2) ...

help.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I don't know that I would do anything about the growling at the goats, honestly. He's not attacking and he will eventually figure out how to get around them without the issue -- hopefully. He growls and snaps, nothing you can really do about it because you're not there all the time.

 

[Mzyla]

When I got my Female at 8 weeks of age (75%Pyr-25%Karakahan) - she was growling at anybody and anything that was near by, during her eating, snapping when I tried to pet her (during eating)...
This was going on for several weeks.... She was rather skinny and hungry.
She was cleaning her bowl and and also cleaned any left-over from my other 3 dog's bowls.

It took about 3 or so months of me feeding her well, she's got rounded belly and became less hungry to the point that she was even leaving some food on a plate.
I didn't give up of petting her, while she was eating.

Today - I can pet her, brush her during her meals. She is not growling and not really looking for food.
She just knows, that food is plentiful and she won't get hungry no more.

All of my dogs are jelous for effection from me. I try to give them equal attention, so they know I love them all.

Patience and perseverance will give positive effects. Be patient with your dog(s). Try to feel (think like a dog) what are the seeking? What are they affraid?
What exactly are they trying to accomplish?

In my case - Milenka was trying to fill her stomach up, trying to survive! Now she don't have to

Here is VIDEO of my dogs living in harmony with each other and with the goats:

Hope everything will work out with your dogs.

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
yes, and yes. and if it doesn't iron out, he'll have to get another job. he's definitely on probation but I'm not ready to fire him yet, given his age.

Quote:
ok, that's useful information. I'll go see what I can find to read about resource guarding. thank you!

learning is good, its one of my favorite things.

 

[zzGypsy]

ok, found some stuff to read on resource guarding.
I'm getting this... the food dish thing is resource guarding. the interceding between seka and me at the fence is resource guarding.

oddly, the articles I found didn't mention anything about goats and doorways...

could that be a resource guarding thing as well?

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
I don't know if the interceeding is resource guarding or not, it could be. Possessive behavior, including resource guarding, can often been seen in interactions between a couple of dogs and the owner. I don't think the gate issue is resource guarding, I don't see the resource in that scenario. More likely it is that he's been corrected by the goats and he's warning them away from him before he moves out or in. While its nice to be able to name the behaviors it still doesn't exactly tell you what to do....

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
I don't know if the interceeding is resource guarding or not, it could be. Possessive behavior, including resource guarding, can often been seen in interactions between a couple of dogs and the owner. I don't think the gate issue is resource guarding, I don't see the resource in that scenario. More likely it is that he's been corrected by the goats and he's warning them away from him before he moves out or in. While its nice to be able to name the behaviors it still doesn't exactly tell you what to do....

yep, wish it did.
still it helps me to understand what I'm looking at and think about it correctly. not to mention being able to ask for help on here more effectively.
thanks for your patient instruction on this.

 

[watchdogps]

Ok, good, looks like you are heading in the right direction. Re:dominance between the two - generally a dog who acts like a jerk isn't dominant, but insecure. A true "alpha" rarely does anything, but can stop a dog in their tracks with a look.
Now, the goat door thing. How is he about his body and small spaces in general? Will he squeeze between things? My adult male hates tight spaces. He won't go through a door that's ajar. He will whine for me to open it. If Turk is like that, i t could well be that the goats are just too close for his comfort. How is he about being really close with the goats in other situations? Does he mind being close, actually touching them? Not nosing/interaction really, but will he stand with them touching bodies, not paying attention really? I'm trying to grasp what his comfort level with them is. A dog can be "good" with them but still not be truly at ease.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I get it that this dog is not ideal

if it doesn't iron out, he'll have to get another job

I've got reservations

he's definitely on probation

I think you're trying to overanalyze everything, and I also get the impression you don't really like the dog very much

He's a puppy trying to learn how to deal with the world, and he really hasn't done anything out of the ordinary for a livestock guard dog.

Just chill out a little, and let HIM work out his way of doing his job as long as he's not HURTING the goats, and odds are he will become a fine animal​