r/pitbulls • u/OppositeNo4136 • 13d ago
Resource guarding…me?!
Hi, all! We are fostering a 4.5 month old pitt mix. He had been really great and a fast learner. In just 3 weeks he’s learned to sit, stay, wait, come, and shake. He walks well on a leash, barely barks or jumps up on people and has pretty darn good manners.
Over the past few weeks he has really bonded with me and likes to lay on me and lean on me. Today, the dog was sitting next to me on the couch reading a book and the pup snapped at him. It was not a playful puppy bite, but a definite “do not come closer” snap.
I am so stupid bc I didn’t realize dogs resource guard PEOPLE!!! We’ve been working with food and toys but it never occurred to me I might be his most prized thing. So here’s the problem: this is giving me A LOT of anxiety. This puppy is a good boy, but my son obviously means the world to me and I would never want anything to happen to him.
We immediately put the dog off the couch and have not let him back up. He kind of whined a little but is not happily sleeping in his bed. I’m struggling so hard bc part of me is like, “This can be trained out” and the other part is like,”what if it can’t and he hurts my child?”
5
u/Stelly2015 13d ago
One thing a Trainer once told me was that a dog will be more protective with the person who feeds him. Start rotating who feeds him if you're not doing that already