BY FRAN JEWELL
I was at a park a few years ago and watched a woman sitting at a bench next to a picnic table with a little dog on her lap. As she ate her lunch, she occasionally gave the little fellow a nibble of her sandwich. Along came a couple of little girls about 7 or 8 years old, minding their own business with some dolls in their arms walking over to the big toy. As they approached the woman with her little dog, the dog watched intently. When the girls got closer, the dog jumped up, standing on its owner, barking and snarling fiercely. The owner quickly patted the dog, telling him it was okay. As the girls left, the woman went back to her sandwich and giving her dog nibbles.
To many people, I have heard this behavior described as the dog being protective. As a certified dog behavior consultant, I call this behavior “possessive.” The difference between the behaviors is distinctive and very important.
As an owner of German shepherds, knowing the difference is significant because true protective behavior is the standard for the shepherd. Possessive behavior is a character flaw that denotes a fearful dog. German shepherds should not be fearful.
A dog that is “protective” can discern the intentions of others – are they friendly or do they mean harm? A truly protective dog will not display aggressive behavior unless the owner is truly threatened. Children walking by the owner are not a threat. Protective dogs are confident and friendly when introduced to new people or are in new situations. But, if there is a real threat to the owner, they know the difference. Truly protective dogs recognize and respect their owner as their leader.
A dog that is possessive sees almost anyone as a threat to taking away their possession, whether it is food, a bed, the car, their person or their home. Possessive dogs see their owners as someone THEY own. In the case I observed at the park, the dog clearly possessed the owner as well as the food they were sharing. Then the owner positively reinforced the bad behavior by trying to soothe him with petting and telling him it was “okay.”
Possessive behavior can also come from fear; the dog FEARS someone will take away its possession. Even someone walking by them while they sit on their owner’s lap can be seen as something to fear and defend. The dog makes it clear “THIS IS MINE!” and then uses growling, barking or bite threats to defend it.
Big dogs can be possessive, too. They can actually try to hold the owner by leaning on them, sleeping on them and maybe even growling if the owner moves.
Possessive behavior is not an acceptable behavior. It is dangerous to anyone that the dog decides could be a threat. It doesn’t matter if the dog is small or large. Many times people think it is cute when a little dog acts so strong and possessive. It is not. It is just as dangerous, if not more so for little dogs to behave this way because they are so quick and their body signals are sometimes harder to read.
Dogs that are possessive and fearful need their owners to be good leaders in a manner that the dog understands. And an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure!
Fran Jewell is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit www.positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.