Help with Puppy Agression

[CarolineEdinburgh]

Hi,
I have recently discovered NDT and I'm half way through Kevin's book and already noticing the benefits but we have one big worry and that is Alfie's occassional agression. He is an 11 month old Golden retriever that we picked up from a rescue centre 4 months ago and after a couple of months getting use to each other he is coming along leaps and bounds. The issue i need help with is that he can turn horrible and snarly and really bite you if you try to get a tissue off him. He has been like this since we got him but clearly we are not helping matters because he still does it. He also reacts this way if we forget to remove the cat food from the floor and he starts to eat it and he did it once when we gave him a bone so he has not had any bones since. I have noticed that the agression is worse the further into the moment he is for example i am able to get tissues off him if he picks one up right next to me and i have a treat already in my hand but once he starts chewing he would take my hand off rather than give it to me. He is fine with his dinner, with toys and socks etc. As much as possible we keep any temptation away from him because we don't want to overload his young system but i would like to hear if anyone has any ideas on how to train this behaviour out of him before he hurts someone.
Thank you

[Lee Charles Kelley]

Hi Caroline!

Welcome!

Have you tried "The Pushing Exercise?" It's not in Kevin's book; he developed it a few years ago. It works to solve all kinds of behavioral problems, from resource guarding, to fear of the vet's office, to pulling on the leash, to not coming when called.

My feeling is that Alfie either developed this behavior before you got him (and that may be why his original owners got rid of him), or some sort of general imprint was set in place which was easily transferred to these very specific behaviors.

One caveat, you'll probably need to take the exercise very slowly with Alfie. It's good that he doesn't get like this over his dinner, but take it slowly anyway, just to be on the safe side.

Neil has an article on his website which explains the exercise in a bit more detail than mine. And Kevin has written an article in which he describes why he invented the exercise in the first place.

I hope this helps!

LCK

[CarolineEdinburgh]

Thank you LCK.
I have read Neil's article before but i have not got round to trying Pushing yet. I tried tug of war but Alfie gets very excited very very quickly and growls almost immediately, jumps up and mouths my hands, arms etc and is not interested in the toy. So I decided to hold off on tug for a while and work on others areas - proudest moments so far is anytime i get him to come back to me with the ball and jump up while still holding it!
I will re read the article on Pushing and start building things up slowly this week.
Thanks again
CarolineEdinburgh

[CarolineEdinburgh]

I am in a hurry trying to get away for the weekend but I had to write because i don't know whether to be pleased or concerned about Alfie's Pushing ability.
I have been checking out some of the videos on you tube and after are third session trying Pushing Alfie is on his hind legs pushing me for the food.
I am worried that i might have gone too quickly for him and that this might cause problems but if it is ok that he has picked it up this fast (if indeed he has and i am not doing a fundemental section wrong) that is great and i will continue to Push with him everyday.
Please let me know if you have any thought on the matters.

Thank you

Caroline

[Lee Charles Kelley]

Hi, Caroine,

It sounds like he's doing really well! Keep up the good work!

LCK

[CarolineEdinburgh]

Thank you LCK.

Had a great session today Pushing and getting him to fetch and return a ball.

Feeling very positive. Thank you for the encouragement.

Caroline