help please!

[dab_20]

As some of you know, Molli has horrible food agression. She becomes a different dog around food. Well this is a problem when she gets into something that she's not supposed to. I posted about this before and some of you told me to take whatever she's being aggresive with away. That doesn't work. Molli got ahold of a popped ballon today so I picked her up and tried to take it away. Well she growled and nipped me. So I asked my mom and so she took it away and Molli goes balistic and bites my mom, which made her bleed. Molli NEEDS to stop. How do I go about doing it??

[tessa_s212]

Actually, taking it away is a BAD idea

The reason she is nipping is because she knows you will take it away and she won't get it back. Taking it away only reinforces that idea and makes her MORE possessive and aggressive.

Instead, when she has something that you don't want her to have, take it away but give her something instead that is equally as good if not better. You can also practice "the exchange game" by just taking something away, but immediately giving it back. Do this a couple times a day. Or, if it is so extreme she won't let you near, instead of physically taking it, just walk by and drop treats to her if she doesn't growl. Once she lets you walk by withough growling or even thinking you may take it away, start bending down. Throw a treat to her. Do this multiple times a day. This should progress from there until you have a dog that will actualy WANT to give things up in hopes that it will get something better in return!

Now, don't expect this to happen fast. This will take alot of TIME and dedication to training. Be consistant and fair.

[dab_20]

Thank you so much! I will try that... Molli is usually ok if I take toys away. Unless it's got any hint of food look a kong that used to have peanut butter in it. I also make her sit now before I give her her food. Will that help at all?

[tessa_s212]

Yes, NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free) will help as well. Before every meal, before every time you let her out, before getting any kind of treat, tell her to do something. Once she does that(sit, down, tricks) THEN she can get what she wanted. This reinforces you as the master and will help along with the short session of the "exchange game".

Goodluck!

[dab_20]

Yes, NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free) will help as well. Before every meal, before every time you let her out, before getting any kind of treat, tell her to do something. Once she does that(sit, down, tricks) THEN she can get what she wanted. This reinforces you as the master and will help along with the short session of the "exchange game".

Goodluck!

Thanks so much!