How to stop a dog from being possessive over a ball?
Caden Glover
2025-06-27 20:15:45
Count answers: 8
We have just been taking the toy out of the mix and then she is fine. She doesn't attack or bite just bares teeth and gets in their face. We are starting to learn that she is not good at sharing toys with other dogs. Make sure you check out our WIKI for recommended resources and articles about common problems. This community is geared towards modern, force-free, science based methods and recommendations.
Mason Nienow
2025-06-27 19:55:30
Count answers: 11
To help create the right associations for dogs being approached by humans when they had coveted items in their control, I always approached bearing gifts. I moved toward the dogs with something to offer. It gave them reason to look up, sniff my hand and discover something yummy was there waiting for them. I offered them several treats before I ever touched the item they were chewing on. When I did take a hold of the bone or toy, I shared possession of it with them, rather than taking it away. Then I gave it back and let them enjoy in peace. This approach is based on the idea that making a stand to prove you can remove something from your dog’s mouth is not the best way to head off future problems of possessive behavior. The goal should be to develop a dog that trusts us enough to take away a coveted item, and this trust is built by having a higher ratio of giving rather than taking when we approach our dogs. The training takes a little practice and the ideal time to start is with a young pup that hasn’t learned (or at least hasn’t had lots of practice) with the habit of defensiveness yet.
Aida Blanda
2025-06-27 19:25:43
Count answers: 10
If your dog shows guarding behaviours, leave them well alone when they are enjoying food or playing with toys by themselves.
Always swap the dog's item for something else, being consistent and always swapping items will help dogs learn to share without being worried.
If you need to take something from your dog, swap it for something else that your dog considers to be equally or even more valuable.
You could drop several treats on the ground near your dog, so they have to leave the item to go and eat them.
Then you can calmly pick up the item while they’re enjoying themselves.
Teach your dog to swap and drop, when your dog is playing with a toy, get something they like even better.
Offer this to your dog a little distance away from what they already have, your dog should be enticed to drop what they have and come to get the new item.
You can then pick up the original item, where you can during training sessions, return your dog’s first item to them soon after you have swapped it.
This will help them to learn that letting go of something they love can be a positive experience.
Once your dog has the hang of this, you can add a cue word ‘drop’, over time, your dog should associate the word ‘drop’ with letting go of their toy, and you can ask them to ‘drop’ what they have in exchange for a tasty treat.
Read also
- How do you break a dog's ball obsession?
- Why is my dog overly obsessed with a ball?
- How to stop a dog from chasing balls?
- How to calm an obsessed dog?
- Are ball flingers bad for dogs?
- How to stop obsessive dog behavior?
- How to train a dog to not be possessive over toys?
- How do I stop my dog from taking other dog's balls?
- Which dog breed is the clingiest?