Question:

I adopted a 5-yr old dog couple of months back. He is extremely submissive and calm around humans. I can take food/toys right out of his mouth and he will simply wag hs tail! However, when it comes to other dogs, he is totally different. He wants to be the dominant dog in a group, and has shown signs of toy aggression. For example, if all dogs are playing fetch with one ball and he is not able to catch the ball, he is totally fine. But if a person puts the ball in his mouth or gives it to him specifically, he becomes very possessive about it. He growls at any other dog that might come near him. In fact, two times we had to pull him away from a fight for the same reason.

To teach him it is wrong, I immediately put him on DOWN-STAY. he sat happily and totally forgot about the toy. But couple of minutes later, it happened again.
I would really appreciate any advice on how to correct this behavior.

Thanks!

G.K.

Answer:

Your dog is exhibiting classic signs of possession aggression. (That you knew already)

The root cause of this aggression I believe is hidden in your initial post. He doesn't get the ball when everyone plays together. I assume the other dogs are just younger/faster than your pup. When he finally gets the ball he doesn't want to give it up to the dogs who have been, in his eyes, keeping him from getting the ball in the first place. He does not view you or other humans as competition for the resource (toy in this case) because 1. humans are the source of him getting a hold of this toy in the first place and 2. when you are at home, toys and food are provided by humans and always refilled for or returned to him at some point.

To correct this problem, the ideal situation would be to seek the help of a professional trainer and work with them to correct the problem. I am just an amateur trainer who loves to put his two cents in, so take the following advice for what it is worth...

You are correcting him in the proper way for the show of aggression, but you need to work towards eliminating the trigger for this behavior. (Having a possession in the presence of another dog) To accomplish this, I would try to create a positive association with the situation triggering his aggression. You will need to enlist the help of a dog owning friend (preferably a calmer dog if possible) , an open area with minimal chance of contact with any other unleashed dogs, a toy or ball similar to the one he has fought over in the past and a pocket full of treats. (or other reward that you may use in training. I personally like clicker conditioning, but that is a whole other post)

In this controlled situation (leashes on both your dog and a the helper dog), send your helper dog a safe distance away, far enough that your dog is able to focus on you. If your dog will sit facing you, give the ball or toy as a reward for sitting. When he has the ball, give your helper the signal to walk parallel towards you (just to pass by, not directly toward you and your dog at this point), maintaining a good distance away from your position. Reward for non-reactivity towards the approaching dog with a treat. If he reacts aggressively, wave your friend back to his starting point, walk him away from your starting point then take the toy. Walk back to your original starting point and repeat the steps above again.

He is eventually going to get the idea of what your are asking of him. When he doesn't growl, not only does he get to keep his toy, but he also gets a reward on top of it. When he is not reacting from a distance, take a step or two closer to the helper dog's passing route. Repeat in 15-20 minute sessions until you are able to have your helper dog walk right up to your position.

Timing your reward is key to this behavior modification. You have to reward just before the other dog reaches a distance which triggers the idea of them becoming a challenge for the toy. Then you work to lessen the distance of the trigger until it is non-existent. This may happen in the first session, but it may not. Persistence and positive reinforcement are your best tools in curing this behavior. Remember to stay calm during corrections, as he is going to feed off your emotions.

Hope that I have been of some assistance and thank you so much for adopting a pet. Being very involved with our local animal shelter, it always makes me smile when I hear about someone adopting an older shelter dog!

Good Luck,
Ron