Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello

My Girlfriend has a 6 month old collie/lurcher. He is a very loved Dog and get played with a lot and seems happy. Yesterday he pinched a tub of ice-cream of the Kitchen worktop. He then ran of with it. When we tried to get it from him he growled at us. I didn't know what to do. I thought he must't be allowed to get away with pinching the ice-cream but If we try to get it off him he my bite. It may be wrong but I know he must have seen my wariness to taking it off him. My girlfriend was maybe thinking he may bite and grabbed the pot of ice-cream and got her hand bitten very aggressively.
What would have been the bests way for us to have dealt with this situation, before the bite happened?
He's a lovely dog but this is worrying.
Bobble Bob

>>Hello
>>
>>My Girlfriend has a 6 month old collie/lurcher. He is a very loved Dog and get played with a lot and seems happy. Yesterday he pinched a tub of ice-cream of the Kitchen worktop. He then ran of with it. When we tried to get it from him he growled at us. I didn't know what to do. I thought he must't be allowed to get away with pinching the ice-cream but If we try to get it off him he my bite. It may be wrong but I know he must have seen my wariness to taking it off him. My girlfriend was maybe thinking he may bite and grabbed the pot of ice-cream and got her hand bitten very aggressively.
>>What would have been the bests way for us to have dealt with this situation, before the bite happened?
>>He's a lovely dog but this is worrying.
>>Bobble Bob

>>>>>>>>>>

You can condition a dog to let you take things from him by trading him for things he doesn't feel strongly about, by teaching him to retrieve, by running the other way and getting him to chase you rather than cornering him, and by working with him gently at quiet times to get him comfortable having you handle his mouth. Now that he has bitten a human, though--and a family member at that--you need to work with a veterinary behavior specialist on this problem.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I'd try keeping a leash on him in the house as well, this will help you control him if this type of situation occurs again, it's important not to scare him as this could lead to fear biting, a fear biting possesive dog is NOT a nice dog.