How to fix toy aggression?
Charles McKenzie
2025-05-31 21:23:37
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: 17
We have just been taking the toy out of the mix and then she is fine.
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Is there anyway to manage this kind of behavior or deter her from being aggressive.
Lydia Mayert
2025-05-24 14:54:08
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: 22
If your dog shows guarding behaviours, leave them well alone when they are enjoying food or playing with toys by themselves.
The best way to prevent dogs from resource guarding is to teach them from the start that there is no need to worry about losing anything they find valuable.
Always swap the dog's item for something else.
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.
You can teach your dog to drop and swap during fun training sessions.
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.
Talia Stiedemann
2025-05-24 13:32:31
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The main way that dogs learn Toy Aggression is through play. Everyone loves to play with their dogs, games like fetch or tug of war are extremely popular, however, one mistake that is commonly made by owners with their dogs is forgetting to engage in winding down. You need to take the time to wind them down, slowly transitioning from the semi-aggressive play to a much calmer demeanor. This will ensure that your dog understands that the playful aggression is associated with the game, and not necessarily the toy itself.
Now what do you do if that aggression has become real, and now extends towards all of your dog’s toys? The best way to combat Toy Aggression is with positive reinforcement through rewards. Instead of trying to take your dogs’ toys away, try to practice first by replacing them. Take one toy they are protecting but give them another one in return. This way, your dog can learn that the loss of a toy is not a big deal. As you practice this, make sure to express vocal praise, and sometimes even replace the toy with a treat. It is important your dog feels safe, so try to hold any of your frustration inside, and only associate praise, love, treats, and toys with the loss of a toy.
Rudy Thiel
2025-05-24 11:13:33
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: 16
To fix toy aggression, start desensitization work with your dog to get them used to you taking things away. This gets your puppy at a young age conditioned and used to you taking things from them, that way they think nothing of it when they are older and larger. I always recommend keeping all toys put up, meaning, if you come over to my house, you will not see one dog toy on the floor. I only get out a toy when I’m working with my dog and he is doing well on obedience, then I use the toy as a reward. This does two things: 1) It helps build his drive for the object and 2) It teaches him that all of the toys are MINE and he only gets them when I give him access to them. Now, you can eliminate the issue by telling them to “out,” calling them away from it, and picking the toy up. Your first course of action would be to find a qualified dog trainer in your area. As I tell people on a daily basis, “You cannot fix any issue in a dog that doesn’t listen.” To me, obedience and control over your dog is paramount for fixing almost any behavioral issue in your dog. So, while working with your toy aggressive or toy possessive dog, there has to be a correction for the unwanted behavior and positive reinforcement for the desired behavior. Find a qualified trainer to work with your dog on these issues, do not try to fix this on your own.
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