My puppy is snarling & growling at me (long .. sorry!)

Ron*N*Kel

Hi, a little back story: we are 1st time petowners & rescued an 8 week lab mix puppy. He was in a real bad living arrangement (living outside), covered in flea's etc. We have no idea of his parents etc. I have 4 children - 2, 4,12 & 14.  Orlando is now almost 8 months old and recently, within last month, has started growling, snarling and showing his teeth. First it was just towards the younger two girls.  I watch him like a hawk around them. He will do this for no apparent reason - they are not bothering him, many times not around him. For example I am on the couch in the evening, Orlando is across the room and see's them come up to me he will sneak up on them and then do the showing of his teeth etc.   My dh & I kind of narrowed it down to him not liking them around me. I am around him all day and we really bonded from the beginning! I also am a SAHM so I am home all day with him.  I guess what is starting to really concern me is now he is doing it to me! He always has done it when I feed him. I put down his bowl and he starts to growl like I'm going to take it away. This happens at every single meal. The last few nights when I am cleaning the kitchen he sat by the trash can where I was throwing dinner away and litterally had this "eerie" look in his eye. He never took his eyes off me. When I was done cleaning, I went to take the trash bag out of the can and he literally was ready to attack me. I didn't act scared, I tried to get him to sit etc. Once the bag was outside he was fine. Just this morning I was loading the dishwasher, he sat next to me and snarled, growled and showed all his teeth as I loaded it. He likes to lick the dishes as I put them in there and it drives me crazy!! I usually make him go outside when I am loading it. If he isn't outside I tell him no so I'm assuming this morning "meaness" was b/c I make him go away during this time.

 He has bitten the kids thank god, nothing serious! Like I said I am very careful with him and the girls. Something needs to me done now to stop this behavior! I just don't know what to do! Has anyone gone through this? He is not crate trained not sure if that would even make a difference. He sleeps on our floor in the hallway at night.  I should also add he loves the girls. He see's them in the morning or when we come back from an outing and he is excited to see them etc.

SparrowGreen

Some of it might be resource guarding; there is a book called Mine by Jean Donaldson that could be helpful (http://www.amazon.com/Mine-Practical-Guide-Resource-Guarding/dp/0970562942) . 

Also, do you practice Nothing in Life is Free?  It is a great training method for communicating to your dog exactly what you expect from him and what is unacceptable.  There should be some good information about NILIF in the FAQ in the green box at the top of the Pets board, and you can also google it. 

 If I were you, I would think about scheduling an appointment with a behaviorist as well.  They will be able to figure out what's triggering this behavior and help you come up with a plan to correct it.  Be sure to contact an actual behaviorist and not just a trainer. 

ETA:  Here is the NILIF link:  http://sites.google.com/site/petsboardfaqs/home/training-and-behavior/nothing-in-life-is-free 

straymo

I'd highly recommend a behaviorist (not a trainer).  It sounds like resource guarding, but a trainer behaviorist would be able to pick up on what it really going on and give you tool to safely work with him.  Someone who is not highly trained in this could in fact make the situation worse and lead to a bite. 

PS:  I suppose if I had read SparrowGreen's response, I could have just said "Ditto." 

 This is not something to mess around with and should be addressed appropriately. 

Keep us updated.

Ron*N*Kel

Thank you both so much! I'll look into the book and the behaviorist! It's so frustrating.