Why Is My Dog So Aggressive with His Toys?

To reduce dog aggression with toys, use positive and effective ways. Does your dog growl and snarl when you attempt to remove the toys? Do you ever notice dogs fighting over a toy in your house?

What Is Toy Aggression In Dogs?

Resource Guarding is a common term for this sort of aggressive dog behavior. They are familiar with stolen toys and other valuables (such as laundry, toilet paper, etc.).  

Note of caution about dog hostility against toys.

It is significant to be aware of dog body language and psychology if you have never done any canine obedience training before. You should train your furry friend to play with dog toys.

Finally, I want you to know that this is not a matter of power. When someone attempts to take away your dog's favorite toy, the pet is likely to snarl and growl in response. Your pet will respect you more if you are a strong and confident leader.

Signs of Dog Aggression with Toys

• If you try to remove his toys, he'll growl, snap, or bite you.
• A wary expression on his face as he stares down at his dish of food.
• Approaching his meal will result in him growling, snapping, or even biting you.
• Fights between dogs for food and toys.

Why Do Some Dogs Display Toy Aggression?

A dog's innate drive to defend itself against a perceived danger is the source of its hostility. The behavior may be required in the wild, but it should not be allowed in your house, where it may quickly turn into a significant issue. Resources may be guarded for the following reasons:

Resource guarding is a learned habit that some pups pick up from their mothers or other puppies in the litter. Growling over food bowls or dog toys has been reported in puppies as young as three weeks old.

New competition on the scene: Dogs may not display indications of possessive aggression if just one is in your home. Squabbles over toys, bowls of food, aggressive dog chewers or even territory might arise when you bring in another dog.

"Security dog": Possession aggressiveness is a typical issue among dogs who have spent a lengthy period at an animal shelter. The other dogs at the shelter may regard them as competitors for scarce resources.

How to Stop Toy Aggression?

If your dog is growling as an indication, make sure you are responding to the growling correctly. There's nothing worse than making your dog give up what the dog is guarding. Even if you're not hurt, your dog will not learn anything. As an alternative, you may train your dog to trust you around its valuables. The best thing you can do for your dog discovers a method to persuade the dog that giving up the object will result in a positive outcome.

• Train your dog

According to the American Kennel Club, training your dog to drop anything in his mouth involves exchanging one object for another. As an initial step, begin by giving your dog an enjoyable toy and reward him with his favorite toy or a tasty treat. Tell your dog to "drop it" and hold out your hand until he does so. A treat or his favorite toy might be a way to show him that he will get something in return for following your instructions.

• Control his access

Controlling your dog's favorite toy in the early stages of training is a good idea. You can create a puppy playroom in a spare room in your house if you have one. Make it clear that you won't permit him to keep the toy when you let him out of the room. Keep the toy in your dog's crate if you're crate-trained. He is taught that his toy is safe, and he is also prevented from engaging in toy-related hostility outside a designated area.

• Offer a special reward

Instead of removing your dog's prized possession, give him something new and exciting to play with, such as a delicious treat or a fun toy. You may use the "drop it" command to convince your dog to give up the thing he is protecting if he is holding it. Make sure you're getting something of value in exchange for your efforts.

You may give the object he was protecting back to your dog when he has finished guarding it and received the other reward. Every time your dog is resource guarding, repeat this activity. Your pet will eventually realize that it doesn't need to be concerned about protecting its stuff.

Consult a Trainer for Dog Aggression with Toys

It's imperative that you use extreme caution if your dog is truly attempting to attack. If your dog's hostility is growing worse, or you don't see any change on your own, consider hiring a dog trainer or behaviorist to assist you to modify your dog's behavior.