JRT growling and biting

Question
Hi, my JRT Buzz is always growling and biting when he is laying down or has a toy.  He somtimes draws blood and his bites are very painful.  He is neutered though.  He is very playful around new people and when he wants to play he does not bite.  He does not even let us touch him when he is laying down or has a toy/bone.

Answer

Hi Joey,

Many dogs are aggressive and protective over their toys or food. The root cause of this aggression is that your dog doesn't see you as a strong leader, and is taking the leadership role by not allowing you near things that he perceive as "his".  So to fix this problem, you need to change your own behavior to change your dog.

For safety, don't set your dog up to bite you. I would recommend no more treats or toys--unless you want to just put him in a private place with them and leave him totally alone until he's done. If he is biting you and breaking the skin, ask your vet to recommend a trainer or behavior specialist who can meet with you and evaluate the situation.

Changing your household routine and practicing the "Nothing in Life Is Free" method of dog training might be helpful, but it's not a substitute for the kind of help a dog trainer will be able to offer. You can read about NILIF here: http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

What you don't want to do is to attempt to grab a toy or food, knowing your dog has no qualms about biting!  Do not punish your dog, or yell at him. Punishment is usually counter-productive and encourages a possession aggressive response. Always give back the toy or replace it with a treat or better toy. If you always take away toys, your dog will believe he must protect its toys.

Best of luck,
Patti