Can you train a dog to not be possessive?
Reyes Mosciski
2025-06-19 03:51:49
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Possessive behavior in dogs can be prevented. As with any behavior problem, trying to fix existing issues is much more difficult and time consuming than preventing them from ever getting started. To help head off these problems of possessive behavior, I approached dogs with something to offer, giving 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. The goal should be to develop a dog that trusts us enough to take away a coveted item. That 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.
Kim Gulgowski
2025-06-19 03:48:13
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To stop a dog from acting possessive when held, you need to help the dog understand that when people approach, they are not going to hurt the dog or take the guardian away. The secret way to stop dogs from acting possessive is to make them feel like the new person is a positive. We accomplish this by making something wonderful happen when the person arrives. I like to do this using treats. By going at the dog’s pace and making something nice happen when someone approaches the dog and guardian, I was able to help Lovie see my arrival as a good and positive thing. If the guardian is able to re-create this with friends and neighbors, she should be able to help Lovie stop acting possessive when held. This is an easy way to stop possessive behavior in dogs, but you have to practice at a level low enough for the dog to not feel triggered. After you stack enough intentionally positive experiences together, it’s possible for many dogs to develop a new behavior pattern after a few months.
Eve Brekke
2025-06-19 00:51:37
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It's really not that hard to train your dog to stop being possessive if you start at a very early age. But if you have waited until your pup has started to show signs of this type of behavior or have adopted a dog who already has developed it, there are many things you can do. The earlier you establish your role as pack leader and his as just another member of the pack, the faster he will learn just about anything you try to teach him. Training your dog to not be possessive can take very little effort when he is a puppy. But, as he gets older and the behavior becomes steadily worse, training your dog is only going to get harder. The good news is that you can teach most dogs not to behave this way, for some it might just take a little longer than others. Also, keep in mind that this type of training always goes better when you have a quiet place to train in. And be sure you have a plentiful supply of patience and time if you want your training to be successful.
Leda Kessler
2025-06-18 23:46:58
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With patience and training, you can help your dog learn to relax. Sometimes, a possessive dog needs a basic obedience refresher course. “Leave it!” This command tells your dog to ignore a compelling treat or toy and focus their attention on you, or to walk past an enticing morsel on the street. “Drop it!” A key command for all dogs, “drop it” is especially helpful for dogs who get possessive about toys. Training your dog to reliably “drop it” can help prevent possessive behaviour before it starts. “Swap” or “Trade” is a cousin of “drop it,” and is useful if your dog won’t drop the item she’s guarding. Desensitisation and counter-conditioning training is a gradual, deliberate process of changing your dog’s behaviour. It’s useful for dogs who guard their food bowl, or growl when you try to take away a toy. Desensitisation and counter-conditioning training is very effective, but takes a lot of time, patience, and consistency.
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