Rehab - Dealing With Resource Guarding

Meet Buster - a very bossy young man. He is generally a happy 2½-year-old Lab. But he becomes dangerous when he has something of high value like food, a bone or a special place. Using Cesar Millan's term, he becomes a 'red-zone' dog around things he wants and considers his own.

This is important for guardians to see and understand: Buster does not guard - he owns! He never learned to trust so he found a way to make everything his. That cannot be tolerated in a family companion. As children are not in charge, neither is little Mr. Buster!

He came to me a very violent dog with a history of severe biting. This shows itself in the first moments of the video.

This is a very quick review of his progress over 8 weeks. Watch as Buster learns to be fed, learns to eat quietly with others present, then learns to eat next to others.

Watch the subtle change in approach as the weeks go on: at first I get "in his face" to softly confront his terrible behavior. As he begins to relax and relinquish control he is rewarded with a much softer manner from me. But at no point is he allowed to take the reins again. That is crucial in rehab work.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• animal
• dog
• train
• rehab
• shelter
• rescue
• adopt